On the East Coast, farmers, foresters, and iwi are working together under the Whangārā Community Catchment Group to tackle environmental challenges in their own backyard.
The Whangārā Community Catchment Group was formed in 2022, sparked by a few locals wanting to work more collaboratively across the district. That idea quickly gained momentum, and now most farms, forestry companies, and Ngāti Konohi hapū are involved working across the Turihaua, Pouawa, Waiomoko, and Pakarae river catchments.
The group’s vision is simple but powerful: Connecting Whangārā – Oranga wai, oranga whenua, oranga tangata (Healthy water, healthy land, healthy people). Their goals are about strengthening community ties, looking after the environment, inspiring younger generations, and building something that lasts.
Stephanie Gardner, WCCG facilitator says, “For us, it’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about bringing the whole community together to fulfil our common purpose of restoring the health of our land, waters, and biodiversity.”
Recent wins
One of the group’s proudest achievements is its annual hunting competition, launched in 2024. The 2025 event saw 1,400 animal pests culled, with 21 teams participating from across the district.
“It had the whole community involved. Everyone pitched in and we were all buzzing by the time we met for the prize giving and celebration. It was great to bring more awareness around the significant damage that pest animals are doing to our native forests and native species,” says Gardner.
Another highlight has been the wetland restoration project, with funding coming from Wai Connection, Trees That Count, and the Westpac Watercare Project grant. The group conducted wetland bird surveys that revealed the presence of rare species like the Spotless Crake and Fernbird in wetlands across the district.
That discovery kicked off a restoration project that’s now underway on 11 farms, with trapping network already set up in three wetlands. Native planting and fencing are next on the list, and the group plans to keep building on this work.
Community effort
For those involved, the best part is the sense of shared purpose. “It’s been amazing to bring the whole community together,” says Gardner. “Working at a catchment scale means we can have a far greater impact as opposed to working in isolation, and we can support each other along the way.”
Being community-driven gives the group real momentum. “The sky’s the limit for us. We’re excited to be restoring the health of our environment and our community.”
Special thanks
Special thanks go to Ngāti Konohi for their ongoing support and partnership. Their involvement has been instrumental in shaping the group’s direction and ensuring that cultural values are woven into our initiatives.
Sharing your stories
The Whangārā Catchment Group is just one example of the incredible work happening across New Zealand’s farming communities.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) celebrates farmer-led community action. If you have a story to tell, or want to celebrate what your catchment is up to, message us on Facebook.
B+LNZ has a range of resources for farmers and catchment community groups on the Knowledge Hub.
