Hello and welcome to our March newsletter!
It’s really encouraging to see that Catchment Groups are becoming more aware of Thriving Southland, and know that we’re here to support and assist to develop your great ideas into awesome projects.
Like the cheese ad says, good things take time, and we know people in rural communities are always busy, so we’re delighted at the buy-in we’re getting. There’s a lot of energy and leadership in our Catchment Groups, and it’s great seeing it channelled into inspiring community action.
We’re working on individual catchment science fact sheets, and an environmental and cultural history of Southland at the moment, which are just two examples of information you’ve asked us to deliver. Knowing the history and science of your part of the world is hugely empowering, and a vital part in the planning of events and projects.
Thriving Southland is working alongside the wide range of primary sector stakeholders in the region to help fill any gaps and deliver the information our Catchment Groups are looking for.
While we are in a very fortunate place in New Zealand in terms of Covid-19 response, Thriving Southland have been working on contingency plans to have on hand in the event of alert level rises as it did on Sunday. This could mean we move larger meetings and gatherings online or to webinars. We believe looking after each other and keeping Groups connected to not lose energy and momentum under such circumstances will be vital.
Catchment Group meetings have been firing up again all around Southland and there’s already been some exciting happenings to report on as autumn arrives - read on to see what’s been happening and what’s coming up!
Catchment Group Profile
Waimatuku Catchment Group
Catchment Group Profile
Waimatuku Catchment Group
Waimatuku Catchment Group Profile
When was the Group started?
The Group was originally started by two passionate people around a kitchen table. The first official meeting was held on the 18 Aug 2016 with four founding members still part of the catchment committee.
Roughly how many members do you have?
76 members in our catchment attended a meeting in October 2019 to get the Catchment Group up and running actively again. We have a 14-member committee which meets regularly.
How often do you meet, and where?
We currently meet as a committee five times a year at Waimatuku Catchment chair Graeme Appleby’s property in Drummond.
What projects/events is the Group working on?
We have a catchment event coming up at the end of March (30 March, 10.30am - 2pm, venue TBC) with a look at one of the QE2 blocks within our catchment and a waterway assessment.
What's the best way for people to contact you?
Email: waimatukucatchmentgroup@gmail.com or phone Graeme Appleby 0274335737
The Aquavan is coming south!
The Aquavan is heading to Gore and Invercargill, bringing live marine critters and touch pools to schools and communities. The aim of the project is to create awareness and understanding of the connectivity between river health and the coastal environment in a dynamic hands-on way.
The Aquavan is coming south!
The Aquavan is heading to Gore and Invercargill, bringing live marine critters and touch pools to schools and communities. The aim of the project is to create awareness and understanding of the connectivity between river health and the coastal environment in a dynamic hands-on way.
The focus will be on understanding of catchments, indigenous biodiversity, interconnection of waterways, ecosystem services and the ecological and cultural values of fresh water and costal marine environments.
We are running public events alongside the schools’ education programme, so bring the family, come along and have some fun!
Many thanks to the Waihopai and Gore-Waimumu Catchment Groups for sourcing funding through Thriving Southland to bring this amazing educational resource to Southland.
Dates:
Thursday 11 March
Location: Gore Town & Country Club
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Event listing here
Saturday 20 March
Location: ILT Stadium Southland Foyer
Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm
Event listing here
Waikawa Catchment Group gets together
Around 15 people from the Waikawa Catchment Group came together at the Waikawa Hall on 3 February to discuss funding opportunities, work being done in the Waikawa catchment, and to form a plan for developing the Group, and understanding the community’s goals for the catchment going forward.
Waikawa Catchment Group gets together
Around 15 people from the Waikawa Catchment Group came together at the Waikawa Hall on 3 February to discuss funding opportunities, work being done in the Waikawa catchment, and to form a plan for developing the Group, and understanding the community’s goals for the catchment going forward.
Team Visit to Southland Disability Enterprises
The team were invited to Southland disAbility Enterprises Ltd on 15 February to view their recycling plant and meet the team. We saw plastic agrichemical containers that had been chipped ready for recycling, and discussed how a local solution to bale wrap recycling would be a great idea. If you have an idea please get in touch with us here
Mid Oreti’s New Red Shed
We love the Mid Oreti Catchment Group’s new Red Shed Catchment Group space - at ABLime (10 Bend Road, Browns). Huge thanks to Fiona and Steve Smith for letting the group use this space, and to Ainsley from ABLime for teaching the Rapid Habitat Assessment for stream health. So easy and quick. Stream improvements are being discussed, and the Catchment Group aim to better the average stream health scores for next time. A brainstorm of events and projects for the year also took place.
We love the Mid Oreti Catchment Group’s new Red Shed Catchment Group space - at ABLime (10 Bend Road, Browns). Huge thanks to Fiona and Steve Smith for letting the group use this space, and to Ainsley from ABLime for teaching the Rapid Habitat Assessment for stream health. So easy and quick. Stream improvements are being discussed, and the Catchment Group aim to better the average stream health scores for next time. A brainstorm of events and projects for the year also took place.
Can we grow our own natives?
A good size group of people from as far away as Waikaka and Invercargill met at the Fortrose Estuary on 19 February for an informative evening stroll learning native planting tips and skills.
We were lucky to have Rex McGregor, Janice Price and Craig Jenkins along to share some of their wealth of Information. We went for a walk through O’Neill’s Bush loop track where questions were answered along the walk, with Rex and Janice often referring to techniques that match the environment. With so much to learn, we have only just made a start on the journey. The key take home message was to give it a go, with nothing to lose by trying to make a start. We look forward to hearing how people’s native plant growing journeys progress.
ACE news
Great to see the Aparima Community Environment Project (ACE) getting some media coverage. We’re thrilled to be involved with this amazing group - and excited to see the community projects rolling out. Read more about their plans here
WEDNESDAY 3 MARCH
9.30am - 4.30pm, Otautau Sport Centre
Future Farming Expo 2021 – Brought to you by ACE Catchments
With increased awareness of the impacts on land and water as well as shifting consumer behaviour, there is a real opportunity for the food and fibre sectors to meet these challenges. Join the ACE catchments in a discussion with industry leader experts on how the food and fibre sectors are researching, innovating and leading to reduce the farming environmental footprint.
Register here to secure your spot.
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TUESDAY 30 MARCH
7.30pm, Top Pub, Winton
Makarewa Headwater Catchment Group Meeting
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TUESDAY 30 MARCH
10.30am - 2pm, Venue TBC. More information to come.
Waimatuku Catchment Group Meeting, QE2 and Creek Field Day
Nga mihi
Richard Kyte (Thriving Southland Project Lead) and the Thriving Southland Team
