How We Can Help

Jed River Catchment Project An environmental vision for the Jed River catchment in Cheviot is taking shape, with school children playing a key role in biodiversity improvements.

The Jed River Catchment Project was sparked in 2018 as a local community vision to improve water quality of the river so children can safely fish and play in it again, to create a biodiversity corridor from the mountains to the sea, and a filtration wetland area between the township’s oxidation ponds and the Jed River.

The catchment has several tributaries rising in the Cheviot Basin foothills that flow through to the coast north of Pariroa/ Gore Bay where the river ends in a hapua, or lagoon. The first site worked on is the Hutchison Reserve/Woolshed Stream tributary.

The first step was to attack willows and other weed trees that were choking parts of the floodplain; sucking up large volumes of water and crowding out native vegetation. This has been achieved without chemicals, with willows cut down and mulched, and stumps covered by weed-matting. Some follow-up to eliminate resprouting has been required but the willows are now history. Planting began in 2023 and by the end of the 2024 season 3000 native plants were in the ground.

Local freshwater ecologist John Preece has overseen the planting strategy – which is to establish pioneer species with emphasis on shelter plantings to reduce the impact of wind and sun on the northwest edge of the reserve. Kohuhu and manuka dominate most of the site but also introduced are cabbage tree, mingimingi, karamu, lowland ribbonwood, lacebark, flax and toe toe.

School students have played a huge role in planting out the reserve, as well as testing for water quality and aquatic life. There are social as well as educational spinoffs generated by this project and involvement of the schoolchildren has inspired families in the community. There is now a community garden on the Hutchison Reserve site.

Expert advice and financial support has come from several sources, including Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura, Ngai Tahu, Environment Canterbury, Mainpower and Hurunui District Landcare Group. Input from the Wai Connection – Tatai te Ke Wai, a government-funded community catchment programme, provides another layer of expertise.

A group of engaged farmers is embarking on a project that aims to control feral pigs and other ungulates from within their collective properties. Feral pigs are the biggest pest issue on the farms as they not only compromise indigenous biodiversity, but they also greatly reduce farm productivity. Pigs destroy the understory of native forests with rooting preventing sustainable recruitment of native species increasing weed persistence as well as ruining pasture paddocks and predating on lambs. The extensive scrubland/treeland within the properties provides ample habitat for these ungulates.

This group with the help of funding from HDLG and Environment Canterbury are utilising the help of expert Graham Corbishley. Graham has been involved with ungulate control for more than 45 years. He is currently managing a number of successful feral pig control projects in NZ and has merged his extensive hunting skills, knowledge of feral ungulate behaviours, project management and consultation skills to lead some new directions on feral pig control. These methods include:

• Ground based thermal scanning (often complimented with binoculars during daylight hours)
• Aerial thermal scanning using a drone
• Use of 4G cameras (live view)
• Use of monitored bait sites
• Effective Trapping, using smart traps with remote control trigger utilising 4G cameras and electronically controlled dropping gate
• Ground based thermal shooting (generally thermal and sometimes assisted by indicator dogs or baited sites)

Contact

Billy Bartrum

027 212 2322

billy@hurunuilandcaregroup.co.nz

The Upper Waiau Independent Irrigators (UWII) is an Incorporated Society (established in 2012) of local landowners with a long term interest of intergenerational farming, each with diverse farm systems. Group member farms are located adjacent to the banks of the Waiau Uwha River in North Canterbury and cover a total of 18,115ha. These farms run from the twin bridges at the Northwestern end of Leslie Hills Road to Bourne Stream bridge on the Leader Road West. There is a range of farm systems operating within the group from dairy production to red meat breeding and finishing enterprises. The resource which binds this group together is water, with each property utilising irrigation to mitigate the dry North Canterbury climate. Group members are passionate about understanding the state of their environment and how they can continue to farm sustainably and profitably while considering the protection, restoration, and enhancement of the catchment they live in. This has led to members of the group undertaking various environmentally focused projects on their properties and working with consultants to set up independent water testing sites with a regular monitoring schedule.

The members of this group are also members of HDLG and operate as a sub-catchment group which receives funding from HDLG to undertake water monitoring.

The Blythe Valley Catchment Group (BVCCG) was established in August 2023 as a sub-group to the Hurunui Land Care Group (HDLG), covering 6537.42 Ha of coastline, it comprises of 22 landowners with over 80 family members. Between them the catchment group members own or manage over 11,000 Ha, the group includes not only farmers but also forestry groups, lifestylers and individuals.

The key aims are to help with understanding and complying with changing regulatory requirements, to identify and protect biodiversity and environmental values and to assist with addressing specific needs that the community identifies. Raising awareness of biodiversity assets and seeking funding to help assist protect and enhance these assets is a priority of the group.

The group have embarked upon a trapping program with approximately 209 traps and removing over 1900 pests since beginning. they have also initiated the protection and restoration of a wet land, have proposed a 48 Ha covenant for consideration to QEII, planted approximately 4000 native plants in 2024 so far and are actively seeking funding to support additional initiatives. Stream Health Assessment, water quality testing, eDNA sampling and a biodiversity assessment has been carried out with the support of qualified ecologists.

This group is made up of the property owners within the 3,390-hectare Countess Stream Catchment whose objectives include enhanced biodiversity, improved water quality through wetland restoration and riparian planting, and the protection of sensitive areas like springheads. It will also strengthen mahinga kai practices and access by further developing a contemporary nohoanga site concept, with plans to expand into the wider Waiau Uwha project. By restoring wetlands and building on existing work, the project will contribute to healthier ecosystems, stronger stream health, and more resilient, sustainable farming systems.

The key aims are to help with understanding and complying with changing regulatory requirements, to identify and protect biodiversity and environmental values and to assist with addressing specific needs that the community identifies. Raising awareness of biodiversity assets and seeking funding to help assist protect and enhance these assets is a priority of the group.

The group have embarked upon a trapping program with approximately 209 traps and removing over 1900 pests since beginning. they have also initiated the protection and restoration of a wet land, have proposed a 48 Ha covenant for consideration to QEII, planted approximately 4000 native plants in 2024 so far and are actively seeking funding to support additional initiatives. Stream Health Assessment, water quality testing, eDNA sampling and a biodiversity assessment has been carried out with the support of qualified ecologists.

The Hurunui Independent Irrigators is a recently revived group comprising farms with individual irrigation consents in and around the Hawarden area. The farmers have reactivated the group due to concerns about retaining their consents, which are due for renewal in a few years.

Additionally, they aim to advocate for their interests during the next plan change process.

The group’s objective are to:

• Understand the current state of the environment in their area.
• Develop and implement a plan to address identified issues, both collectively and individually.
• Record and track progress to demonstrate improvements.
• Use this evidence to strengthen their position during consent renewals and plan change

The Greta Valley Pest Control Group has recently formed as a new sub-group of HDLG, building on the foundations laid by the neighbouring Blythe and Waikari catchment groups. The group's creation aims to link the pest control efforts across the wider area, enabling coordinated action across the Greta, Waikari, and Blythe catchments.

The group spans approximately 6700 ha and includes 12 landowners, all committed to reducing pest populations in the area. With an increase in pest activity, particularly in and around forested areas, the group recognises the need for a strategic and united approach. Drawing inspiration from the success of the Blythe Catchment Group, the Greta team will work closely with Richard Shaw to develop and implement an effective pest control strategy tailored to the landscape and challenges of the Greta catchment.

The group’s primary goal is to trap mustelids, rodents, possums, and feral cats, with a focus on enhancing biodiversity, improving habitat for native species, and supporting broader environmental initiatives across the region.

The lower part of the Waikari catchment is a tight knit community and by forming a sub-group of HDLG they hope to enhance this whilst tackling some pressing environmental issues. The group is made up of sheep and beef farmers and will cover approximately 5000 ha between the eight landowners.

The Groups objective is to trap mustelids, rodent’s, possums and cats within the lower reaches of the catchment to improve biodiversity and protect and enhance native flora and fauna within the trapping area. The group is also involved in HDLG's stream assessment project so will utilise this data to better understand local water quality in the area.

The Cheviot Irrigators Group (CIG) is a unique irrigation collective in the Hurunui District, supporting independent irrigators to meet Good Management Practice (GMP) and enable members to operate as a permitted activity under the Hurunui Waiau Rivers Regional Plan (HWRRP). Members are predominantly sheep and beef farms (with a small amount of irrigation), but the group also includes dairy support operations, a horticultural operation, and dairy farms.

TAs a member of CIG you will sign onto the Environmental Strategy and the group collectively reports to Environment Canterbury annually.