Welcome to our October Newsletter
With record amounts of the wet stuff tumbling down during September, It’s an unbelievably tough time for our rural community with relentless wet weather conditions.
We're really proud to see everyone hanging in there together. Phone calls being made, networks being leaned on, food being dropped off, and beers being shared – that's Southland spirit.
Really hoping that old saying, “Southland will get you down, but it won’t let you down,” rings true soon.
Remember to keep in touch with friends and families and reach out to support services - that’s what they are there for (some contacts are listed below).
We’ve been working on a special project and this month are proud to launch our 'Catchment Convos' podcast. Each month we will be bringing you stories about impactful projects and grassroot efforts by local farmers and communities, and how they are driving change and sustainability in our region. It’s real people, real change, and doing things the Southland way.
Hosted by our very own senior catchment co-ordinator Rachael Halder, the first episode looks at how regulation impacts us and what the future might hold.
Rachael is joined by NZ Institute of Economic Research senior economist Bill Kaye-Blake and Thriving Southland project lead Richard Kyte to put some context around a topic that often seems to rumble on without any clear horizon.
The next couple of episodes will be looking at Edendale Aquifer Group’s amazing projects (and you can read more about that below too) – with guests Tim McRae and Birgit Pemberton, while Agritech will be the focus of the third episode of ‘Catchment Convos’ to round the year out!
The first podcast is out today check it out here or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Stay safe out there everyone.
Welcome our new Catchment Coordinator, Ginny Kennedy
This month, we’re excited to welcome Ginny to the Thriving Southland team as our new Catchment Coordinator! With a strong background in managing sheep and beef properties and recent experience in farm planning and environmental consulting, Ginny brings a wealth of knowledge. She’s based in the Te Anau area with her husband and two kids and we’re thrilled to have her on board!
Enter now for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) Catchment Group Showcase
The BFEA Catchment Group Showcase celebrates the efforts of rural communities working together for environmental improvements. This is your chance to share your Group’s achievements in freshwater health, community resilience, and stewardship.
Why enter: In April 2025, one Southland Catchment Group will be showcased at the BFEA awards evening. This prestigious opportunity offers expert feedback, regional recognition, and a professional video to help promote your Group’s work.
How to enter: Submit your application by end of the month (30 October), via the BFEA website. The winning group will be selected based on key criteria, including identification and prioritisation of key issues and actions for the catchment, community involvement, and climate change understanding.
Don’t miss out—apply now and showcase your Catchment Group’s success! Apply here
Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group wants your help
Thank you to all of you who have supported and engaged with the Makarewa Headwaters Revival Project so far. It has been a busy 18-months for the Catchment Group and our major project focused on the reduction of wild ungulates (specifically deer and pigs) in the Makarewa Headwaters. Checking in with landowners, managers, hunters and community members is really important to us, and we have just launched our refreshed survey for 2024.
We really appreciate your help and time with this survey. It shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes to complete - 2024 Revival Project Survey
If you would like to stay informed on the progress of this project, and on all the other great community things happening in our catchment, you can follow our Facebook.
Some exciting opportunities to join the Thriving Southland Board
The Board of Thriving Southland Association Incorporated is seeking applications for three new Board members. Could this be you?
Thriving Southland does amazing things in our community – just read this newsletter to get an idea of a few! We’re looking for dynamic, passionate individuals, who care deeply about Southland and our grassroots approach to economic, wellbeing and environmental improvements. The appointments are for 12 months starting November 2024. Applications close 14 October and election takes place at the AGM on 20 November.
You can apply by submitting a short profile, that includes why you want to join our Board, your governance skills, relevant sector knowledge and qualifications. E-mail applications to office@thrivingsouthland.co.nz
You are welcome to connect with Richard Kyte, Project Lead, or Jeff Grant, Board Chair, to arrange a time for a confidential discussion.
More details on our website.
Do you have a problem with Chilean Flame Creeper and Darwin’s Barberry?
Then this article is for you! Environment Southland and Environment Canterbury are preparing applications to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to gain permission to introduce two new biocontrol agents, Darwin’s barberry rust fungus (Puccinia berberidis-darwiniiI) and the Chilean flame creeper leaf beetle (Blaptea elguetai). Environment Southland is leading the Chilean Flame Creeper application, and would love to know your views, especially if you grow brassicas.
Left: Darwin's Barberry, Right: Chilean Flame creeper
See the Environment Southland website for more details, including how to submit your feedback click here. Environment Southland and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research are also holding two online Q&A sessions focusing on the Chilean Flame Creeper application on Tuesday 22 October at 11-12pm and 7-8 pm. You will need to register beforehand by emailing communications@es.govt.nz
Feedback on the Darwin’s barberry rust fungus application closes on 28 October, and feedback for the Chilean flame creeper leaf beetle closes 1 February 2025.
Walter Fieldes, Environment Southland Biosecurity Officer – Plants, is happy to have a chat and answer any questions – 03 211 5429 and 021 500 664.
Edendale Aquifer Project
The Edendale Aquifer Group is looking at challenges in our catchment with a community-wide approach. We're starting by learning more about our waterways, aquifer, and landscape, using high-resolution data, to better understand the catchment challenges and using this information to pinpoint areas where nitrate mitigations could work best.
With support from Thriving Southland, Fonterra, and Reimagining the Mataura for this project, we’re working on two pilot wetlands, which will help us figure out the best course of action for our 42 km terrace.
We’re also working with DairyNZ to model four farms to see how plantain and other nitrogen-reducing options can be “stacked” to get bigger overall reductions.
A lot of hard work has already gone into this project, and we’re really excited to see more of the community jump on board. We’ve recently purchased a Portable Nitrogen Tester with the help of some fantastic local businesses. This tool gives us a nitrogen reading in just 30 seconds, helping us track what’s happening across the catchment.
We are holding nitrate testing every third Friday of the month, starting 18 October, every 3rd Friday of the month, from 12pm to 1pm. Join us at Brydone or Seaward Downs Hall.
Resource of the Month
Many little helping hands and a wonderful wetland tool launch!
Lots has been going on in the Mid Ōreti. Ainsley, Brad and Sarah went and helped Winton Kindy plant out their new native plants. These were donated by the Mid Ōreti Catchment Group through the Group’s Mini Forest Movement. The kids really liked the cardboard houses they put on the plants to protect them (aka plant protectors) and were very good at digging the holes and gently putting the plants into the ground. Many little hands made light work, and great fun was had by all.
Our monthly native plant nursery drop in sessions are getting warmer and busier. This month we had some new volunteers join the crew (some bringing the offer of seedlings!), and lots of Carex seedlings were potted up, along with 20 trays of native seeds being sowed out. Everyone is welcome to come to these sessions, and it is a great way to build up some new skills. They are the first Tuesday of each month, from 4 to 6 pm at the AB lime Nursery.
Last, but definitely not least, our wonderful wetland tool for the Winton Stream Catchment is going to be launched on 10 October at the Winton Salvation Army. Ainsley has led this work for the past year, from idea to final workshop. Even if you don’t own property in the Winton Stream catchment, it will be well worth coming to this workshop to see if you would like this innovative online tool to be developed for your special part of Southland.
The tool is an easy-to-use interactive map of the Winton Stream Catchment, which lets you zoom into your property, follow the contours of your land looking at over land flow pathways and water accumulations, and see where the best place for a wetland or runoff control structure could go.
Useful info also pops up on the N, P and sediment benefits of putting a wetland, run-off detainment bund or sediment trap there, or for smaller mitigations that also help with our water quality goals, such as recommended areas for temporary fencing during winter grazing or planting areas of high erosion. The project is also pulling together a Wetland Directory full of all the practical and useful info the group have discovered during the project, and creating a short a video on how to use it.
Balfour Catchment Group Project gaining momentum
The Balfour Catchment Group Project is gaining momentum, and exciting progress has been made. Recently, Waimea project lead Lee Burbery and DairyNZ senior water quality scientist Justin Kitto, spent the day in the field alongside Engineering Consultant John Scandrett, Environment Southland land sustainability team member Becky Crack, and local digger driver extraordinaire Stephen Black. Together, they meet with local farmers and assessed potential Edge of Field Mitigation (EOFM) sites across the Balfour fan.
"Targeted Solutions to Balfour’s Environmental Challenges" is an impressive initiative that demonstrates the power of local collaboration. The Balfour Group has taken the lead in recognising environmental challenges unique to their catchment, gathering input from local experts, and working toward solutions. By partnering with DairyNZ’s Waimea Project, they are getting crucial support in implementing EOFM systems on sites identified as high priority during phase two of the project. With the expertise of local farmers, scientists, and engineers, the project is well-positioned to make a meaningful impact on water quality. We're excited to watch progress.
Mini Forest Movement Native Plant Nursery drop-in session
Tuesday 1 October from 4pm to 6pm (first Tuesday of every month)
AB Lime Nursery, 10 Bend Road, Winton
All welcome to come to our monthly native plant growing working-bee evenings at the AB Lime Nursery. Your help will go toward growing plants for the Mid Ōreti Mini Forest Movement Project, which provides native plants to the local community and landowners for their planting projects. Training is provided and all ages welcome. Stay for as little or as long as you like.
This crucial analysis will help us grasp what’s really happening in our aquifer and what our challenges and opportunities might look like.
For more information and to RSVP, contact Tim Mc Rae 027 240 2592, Tessa Miller 021 400 431, email edendaleaquifiergroup@gmail.com
Understanding our Water | Our aquifer, our landscape and our river
Thursday 10 October from 10am to 12pm
Edendale Rugby Club
BBQ to follow
With nitrogen reduction in our aquifer as a key goal, the Edendale Aquifer Group is kicking off our Understanding Nitrogen Project by getting a clear picture of our water quality.
Join us for an event led by local consultants Land and Water Science, who, on our behalf, have requested, analysed and interpreted water quality data from Environment Southland, and will share it with our community.For more information and to RSVP, contact Tim Mc Rae 027 240 2592, Tessa Miller 021 400 431, email edendaleaquifiergroup@gmail.com
Marshalling the Best – New Wetland, Bund and Flow Pathway Tool
Thursday 10 October, from 11am to 1 pm (lunch provided)
Winton Salvation Army, 7 Dejoux Road, Winton
Learn about the online tool and its creation, explore why wetlands are important, have hands-on training with the tool and meet the people who made it. You are welcome to bring your laptop. An innovative online tool developed for the Winton Stream Catchment, which would be amazing to expand across Southland.
Edendale Aquifer Group Nitrate Testing
Starting Friday 18 October, 12pm to 1pm, every 3rd Friday of the month
Brydone or Seaward Downs Hall
Live within the Edendale Aquifer Group boundary and want to join in? Pick a sample spot (whether it's a tap, stream, or any water source you're curious about!), grab a clean glass jar, rinse it three times in the water you’re sampling, and bring it to our next testing session.
We’ll be there no matter the weather, so come along, rain or shine, and help us gather real data that shows what’s happening in our catchment!
Check out our Facebook Page for the latest testing date and location: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565506807107
1km each way - Community Roadside Rubbish and Recycling Pick Up!
Sunday 20 October, from 10am to 1pm -
(wet weather back up Sunday 3 November)
Community drop off points throughout Greater Dipton, Mid Ōreti and Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Group
From a brilliant idea from Peter McDonald and the Greater Dipton Catchment Group, Greater Dipton, Mid Ōreti & Makarewa Headwaters Catchment Groups have got together and organised this fantastic event. Get your family and head 1 km each way from your mailbox (it can be smaller or longer – it is up to you!) and see what you find.
Each catchment community will have a community drop-off point, where you can take your rubbish and recycling collected on the day. The local Catchment Group members manning these sites will have some spot prizes kindly sponsored by Winton New World, along with some disposable gloves and rubbish bags. AB Lime, Baker Wools Winton and PGG Wool are amazing supporters of the event too.
You don’t need to be a member of these Catchment Groups to join in. Why not take a walk and help clean up your special part of Southland! Just remember to stay safe – have a spotter looking for traffic, wear high vis and gloves.
The Ōreti Catchment Groups would love to try and make this a Southland-wide event next year. Check the Dipton Community and Thriving Southland Facebook pages for more information on the event.
More information on local community, Catchment Group and Thriving Southland Facebook pages, or call Peter – 027 434 0314 or Sarah – 027 588 5200
Thriving Southland AGM
Wednesday 20 November, 1.30pm
Otautau (venue TBC)
Save the date for Thriving Southland's AGM on 20 November in Otautau.
Further details to come. Event link here.
Practical grow your own native plants workshop and planting sessions
Friday 22 November, from 11am to 2pm (times to be confirmed)
Mabel Bush Hall
Join Hedgehope Makarewa Catchment Group in this practical session on how to collect, grow and plant out native plants, with our wonderful hand on experts – Brad Gibson - Biodiversity Field Officer at AB Lime & Sandra Campbell – Region Advisor Otago for MPI On Farm Support. Bring your old ice cream tubs and gardening gloves to sow out some seeds and bring your questions!
Followed by a delicious BBQ lunch, and an afternoon planting 200 native plants around Mabel Bush Hall with Hedgehope School. Call Sarah – 027 588 5200 – for more information.
There are likely to be more events in the pipeline so make sure you check out the events section on the Thriving Southland website and the Facebook page for details.
Stay safe out there!
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor.
Anxiety New Zealand 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
Depression.org.nz 0800 111 757 or text 4202
Lifeline 0800 543 354
Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254
Have a great October,
Ngā mihi
Richard Kyte (Thriving Southland Project Lead) and the Thriving Southland Team
