Your Catchment Group Coordinator
Katie Alderton
021 399 343
katie@thrivingsouthland.co.nz
Catchment Group Contacts
Robert Young
027 294 9882
rsyoung@yrless.nz
Chris Affleck
027 371 7740
afflecks@yrless.nz
About Us
The Waikaka Catchment Group was formed in 2017 by locals who wanted to take action to protect the Waikaka and Pukerau streams. These waterways are a big part of the community and run through farms, townships, and are places families to swim and fish. The group’s made up of a great mix of sheep, beef, dairy, and cropping farmers, along with locals from Waikaka and Pukerau. It’s been inspiring to see how they’ve pulled together to share ideas, learn from each other, and take real ownership of their environment.
Catchment Area
The group’s focus is on the Waikaka and Pukerau catchments in Eastern Southland, which includes the Waikaka Stream and its surrounding farmlands and townships.
Recent Events
The group continues to host its annual Winter Grazing Tour, with strong support from Lower Aparima Catchment members and neighbouring groups. The 2025 event didn’t disappoint. This year’s tour included a visit to a sediment trap on the banks of the Aparima River, servicing a 30-hectare catchment area, and the restoration of a series of oxbow lakes. These showcased how starting small and chipping away can lead to something big. The tour wrapped up with a look at various winter grazing methods, including wintering on grass and crop, including strip and block grazing methods. A healthy discussion followed, exploring the potential of new technologies such as virtual fencing and alternative bale net wraps.
Projects
The Lower Aparima Catchment Group has played a key role in the three-year Aparima Community Environment (ACE) project from 2021-2023, working alongside other sub-catchments to drive positive environmental change. As founding members, the group contributed local knowledge, leadership, and on-the-ground action to support the project’s goals of improving water quality and building community capacity. Through initiatives like stream walks, paddock planning, and workshops on good management practices, the group helped raise awareness and lift standards around winter grazing, nutrient use, and farm planning. Their strong community engagement and practical approach have been instrumental in the success of ACE, showcasing what’s possible when rural communities lead the way.
In 2023/24 the group invested wetland prioritisation mapping of the catchment with the aim of this project seeks to increase local knowledge using scientifically advanced mapping systems to empower land user decision making. The wetland prioritisation mapping in conjunction with input of local knowledge will assist with determining potential future mitigation options that will drive improved water quality outcomes.
Thriving Southland is a community-led group with a vision to create a prosperous Southland, healthy people, healthy environment from the mountains to the sea.
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CONTACT US
25 Don Street,
Invercargill 9810
