It’s been a busy April for Catchment Groups and the Thriving Southland Coordinators, with more to come as we look forward to the 2025 Southern AgriTech and Innovation Day on 1 May at Waimumu!
Only a couple of days away, so block out your diary quick. This is one event you will not want to miss and there’s still time to grab a ticket and get a heads-up on the next big things in Ag happening on the land.
If our keynote speakers weren’t enough to entice you, then you may be interested in the hugely popular Innovation Stations, that are back again with everything from Smart Ag-robotics, to next level nutrient management for your farm, Wearables: The Future of Animal Management, Solar Opportunities for Southern Farms, and The Act of the Possible: Turning Data to Dollars and Pest Smart: Drones, AI & Auto Traps.
A Pasture Panel Discussion will cover ‘Grassroots to Blue Sky - maximising pasture & forage production’, while a Farmer Panel Discussion will focus on ‘Farm Efficiency - Using Tech, Data, and Teamwork for Better Results’.
Can’t wait to see you there!
Looking to develop your Governance skills - could you be our new Associate Board member?
We’re looking for a dynamic, passionate individual, who cares deeply about Southland and our grassroots approach to economic, wellbeing and environmental improvements.
As an Associate Board member, you will support the Board to direct and supervise the management of the business and affairs of Thriving Southland including strategy, financial and leadership oversight.
Thriving Southland does amazing things in our community, supporting 37 Catchment Groups, 2000 local members of those Groups and covering 97% of the Southland area. This is your chance to be part of our governance.
This voluntary (unpaid) appointment is for 18 months starting June 2025.
Applications close midnight, 16 May and it’s easy to apply. Just send us a short profile, that includes why you want to join our Board, your governance skills, relevant sector knowledge and qualifications, to Richard@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. Find out more about the role here.
NZAS Sponsorships & Donations programme
NZAS support our community through a twice-yearly funding programme for Southland-based non-profit organisations. There will be two funding rounds in 2025 with applications closing on 31 March and 31 August.
Funding up to $5000 can be sought for many things, but relevant to catchment groups is the funding for initiatives that raise awareness of, protect and enhance the environment, and activities that acknowledge significant days/events to encourage community connection.
Please see the guidelines/application form for details and please note that submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Click here for more information.
If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Carson, Specialist Communities, NZAS on Andrea.Carson@riotinto.com or 03 218 5440.
Annual Survey Congratulations
Thank you to everyone who completed the Thriving Southland annual survey. We had a record number of responses this year. We’re just analysing the results now and will share them with you in the coming months.
Congratulations to Mike Bashford, who was the winner of the grocery voucher prize for completing our annual survey. A massive thanks to everyone who participated!
Southland Balance farm Environment Awards
Congratulations to all the amazing entrants, finalists and winners at the 2025 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
It was a great evening and was wonderful to see so many of our Southland Catchment Group Community there.
Makarewa Headwaters were the 2025 Southland Catchment Group showcase and were fantastic. Their energy and passion for their community, working together to reduce animal pests, was inspiring.
Blair and Jody Drysdale, Clarke and Megan Horrell, and Cam Nelson were finalists. All received well deserved awards, and the Southland Regional Supreme Winners were Cam Nelson and Christina Vaughan. Huge congratulations to all who were involved. Keep an eye out for the upcoming field day on Cam Nelson’s Farm.
Thriving Southland Partners with Bridgestone Tyres to Support Rural Communities
We are excited to announce a new partnership with Bridgestone Tyres, a trusted name in durability, safety and sustainability. This collaboration will help support Thriving Southland’s work with farmers, rural professionals and Catchment Groups, on a range of environmental and community initiatives across the region.
Bridgestone’s sponsorship enables Thriving Southland to continue delivering vital projects, events, and resources that support sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. From wetland restoration to catchment-wide initiatives, this partnership will ensure Southland’s rural communities have the tools and backing to make a lasting impact.
"Having Bridgestone as a partner is a fantastic step forward for Thriving Southland and our Catchment Groups. Their commitment to rural communities aligns with our mission to help Southland farmers take charge of their environmental goals while running productive businesses. With their support, we can continue to drive positive change across Southland." Richard Kyte, Thriving Southland Project Lead
Bridgestone is well-known for providing high-quality, durable tyres that support on-farm efficiency and safety. Whether navigating challenging farm tracks or Southland’s rural roads, we all know how important it is to rely on robust and reliable tyre solutions to keep things moving. More than that, Bridgestone’s commitment to innovation and reducing environmental impact mirrors Thriving Southland’s vision for a sustainable future.
"At Bridgestone, we are passionate about supporting rural communities and industries that rely on durable, high-performing tyres to get the job done. This partnership with Thriving Southland allows us to be part of meaningful initiatives that benefit both farmers and the environment." Jon Tamblyn, Bridgestone Director of NZ Business
Over the course of the partnership, Bridgestone will feature in our social media posts and our podcast, helping to share insights and resources with the Southland community. They will also have a presence at the Southern AgriTech & Innovation Day on 1 May, providing farmers with expert advice and a closer look at their products and sustainability efforts. For more info, visit https://www.thrivingsouthland.co.nz/partners-and-sponsors/.
Waiau Catchment Project - mapping their catchment’s soils
The Waiau Catchment, which includes the Te Anau Basin, Orauea, and Lower Waiau, is working on a project with Land and Water Science to update soil information and create high-resolution soil maps to better support the community with farm productivity and focused environmental improvements. They have a 12-member committee from the three catchment groups, who are keeping this project on track and making sure the findings are available to the whole community. The project is thanks to funding from Wai Connection, administered by Thriving Southland.
The project has four phases, and we're currently working on Phases 1 and 2. We are integrating all the existing data to create preliminary soil maps and then ground-truthing those maps with 100 soil pits across the catchment. Land and Water Science will then create the high-resolution soil maps to provide local farmers with actionable, data-driven insights into soil characteristics that will enable optimised fertiliser application, improve soil health, enhance farm productivity, and help create environmental sustainability.
You can follow this project on Facebook, the Thriving Southland website or by sending your email address to waiaucatchmentproject@gmail.com to get regular updates and invites to field days.
Gore Catchment Group Riparian Planting Day gets Mayoral thumbs-up
The Gore Catchment Group partnered with Enviro Schools for a fantastic day out on the farm recently, getting stuck in with riparian planting alongside Charlton Stream. A huge thank you to the Goodwin family for hosting, organising and co-funding the project alongside the Catchment Group.
With the help of Gore Main School and Te Tipua School students, we planted 400 native plants along the stream, with the goal of improving water quality, creating habitat, and providing shelter and shade for the waterway.
We also trialled Garto Plant Guards, developed by a Southland family, comparing them to conventional guards.
We were also joined by Mayor Ben Bell, who wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty!
While this planting was a one-off project, it ties into the Catchment Group’s wider work — including the development of Ward’s Wetland, a space that will serve as a learning hub for understanding wetland function, hydrology, native habitat, and more. A massive thanks to everyone who came along and lent a hand!
Source to Stream Bus Trip to Pomahaka
The Titiroa Catchment Group recently joined forces with the Pomahaka Water Care Group for a fantastic day out, exploring practical, low-cost ways to reduce sediment loss and slow water flow through the landscape.
This bus trip was part of the Titiroa Source to Stream Project, which focuses on understanding how water moves through the catchment and identifying priority areas for sediment mitigation. The idea came from a survey sent around the group — and farmer curiosity did the rest!
We explored sediment reduction structures, starting with a detainment bund that holds back water for up to three days, allowing sediment to settle before slowly releasing. We also saw Carex secta planted in a gully where a shelterbelt cut through — helping filter sediment without disrupting drainage. A daisy chain of sediment ponds and traps followed, leading to a large sediment pond at the bottom of the gully. The trip wrapped up at the Waipahi Wetlands, a QEII-covenanted site that filters water from a catchment of over 1,100 hectares.
Farmers enjoyed the learning, the networking — and an outstanding packed lunch from Fortrose Café, complete with a birthday cupcake for Thriving Southland’s 5th birthday!
Between the Domes get together sparks great convos
Between the Domes Catchment Group hosted a community BBQ at the Selbies’ woolshed near Lumsden. Guest speakers Simon Saunders (local farmer and Thriving Southland Board member) and Jason Herrick (President of Southland Federated Farmers) spoke about local challenges and opportunities, sparking some great conversations, and both spoke highly of their experiences with catchment groups and catchment group achievements.
There was a real sense of connection on the night, with plenty of pride in what the group’s already achieved—and enthusiasm for what’s ahead. Urban attendees in particular were keen to work alongside the rural community to help improve water quality in Lumsden’s waterways.
A big thanks to Peter Sim for manning the BBQ—the local venison was a hit—and to Jenny Campbell for the delicious salad. The Selbie woolshed was the perfect spot for a great evening, thanks Laurie.
Local Solutions for Local Nutrient Issues, field day and BBQ
The recent field day with the Edendale Aquifer Group and DairyNZ gave local farmers a practical look at what’s possible when nitrogen (N) leaching mitigations are modelled and stacked. It was an excellent turnout, with great discussion and thoughtful questions from both the case study farmers and experts in the room.
Modelling across five Edendale dairy farms showed that stacking low-cost changes — like reducing N fertiliser by 10% and incorporating 10% plantain into pasture — could reduce nitrogen leaching by up to 17%, on average, with little to no impact on operating profit. These are the “low-hanging fruit” many farms could be targeting right now.
When plantain content was increased to 20% of pasture dry matter, N loss reductions of up to 26% were seen, with only a 1–4% drop in profit. Larger gains were possible through baleage wintering, stand-off infrastructure, and deintensification — though these come with higher cost and complexity.
This work is part of the SFFF Plantain Potency and Practice Programme led by DairyNZ. The Edendale Aquifer Group is proud to be contributing to this national effort to increase plantain in pastures, aligning with our wider goal: understanding nutrient movement — especially nitrogen — through the catchment and trialling practical tools to reduce losses.
A big thanks to Fonterra for putting on the BBQ, and to everyone who helped make the day a success.
Waikaka Stream Catchment Group host sediment loss and erosion mitigation sessions
The Waikaka Stream Catchment Group recently hosted two on-farm sessions — one at Blair Whyte’s property and another at Trevor Stark’s — to explore practical ways to reduce erosion and sediment loss across the catchment.
The group has been working closely with Dr Clint Rissmann from Land & Water Science, who has developed high-resolution mapping technology that identifies where in the landscape sediment mitigations will be most effective. These tools help give farmers confidence in their current management, while also encouraging a shift toward multiple smaller mitigations upstream, reducing the risk of large-scale blowouts.
The farms visited already have sediment traps in place, and discussions covered a wide range of options — from ponds, wetlands, and natural rough areas to using tussocks and flax for filtration. The sessions drew a mix of farming systems, all interested in how this technology can support smarter, site-specific solutions.
Next up, the group will begin a sediment mitigation action project, funded by Environment Southland and the Mataura Catchment Liaison Committee, to demonstrate practical structures in the field. In the coming months, the group also plans to host farmer-led focus groups to dig into the mapping and collaborate on localised strategies.
Once the mapping tool is finalised, end of May, Waikaka catchment farmers will be emailed access to the maps.
Upper Mataura Catchment Group get to grips with water quality
On 10 April, the Upper Mataura Catchment Group hosted Clint Rissmann from Land and Water Science in Athol for an engaging evening of local insights and practical advice.
Clint shared water quality results from the group’s January testing round, confirming that the Upper Mataura water quality is generally pretty good.
He confirmed that the main risk to the Upper Mataura catchment is from episodic run off, which is likely occurring during a few heavy rainfall events each year, resulting in quick surface run off that carries nutrients, sediment and EColi directly to waterways.
Thanks for the great evening of learning and collaboration!
You can never start too young!
Eddie Nelson is a great help at Mid Oreti’s monthly native nursery drop in sessions. Eddie is just 14-months old and is a regular along with his mum, dad and grandad. This month, together with Brad, Ainsley, Gabby and Maurice, they repotted 100 koromiko seedlings, 50 carex seedlings, 28 flax, 25 rohutu and 100 pittosporums in 2 hours!
All plants grown go to the Mid Oreti Mini Forest Movement, which donates locally grown native plants to local schools and community groups and provides discounted plant packs to local landowners. Eddie really loves taking his special seedling home.
This month Mid Oreti gave 200 plants to St Thomas Aquinas School in Winton. Their Room 5 students were amazing, and smashed out the planting in 45 mins. It was great to see their plantings linking up to Winton School's native planting (also using plants from the Mid Oreti Mini Forest Movement) on their school field.
It was a fantastic month for the group with members Cam Nelson and Christina Vaughan (Eddie’s mum and dad) becoming the 2025 Southland Regional Supreme Winners at the Southland Ballance Farm Awards. Watch out for the upcoming field day on their farm.
And, we got our Southland Wetland Directory printed! It is packed with practical tips and inspiration to help Southland landowners feel confident in taking the first steps to create their own wetlands, bunds, and sediment traps. You can download it here.
And finally, in May the group are adding a bush seed collecting event before their monthly nursery session (all details in the upcoming event section below). All are welcome and if you are keen to come and have a 4WD please bring it to help transport everyone easily up to the bush block.
Waihōpai Catchment Group – Looking after our local waterways
Wednesday 7 May, 11am to 1pm
Meeting at Morton Mains Community Centre - 264 Dacre-Morton Mains Road – before heading to a nearby stream
Waihōpai are exploring the health of their waterways, and this event will include setting up monitoring, sharing easy ways for locals to find out about their stream’s health, and a useful intensive winter grazing update from Rob Bird of Environment Southland. This will be followed by a delicious lunch, thanks to Rabobank.
Mid Oreti Catchment Group – Bush Seed Collecting Workshop & Mini Forest Movement Native Plant Nursery drop-in session
Tuesday 6 May from 2pm to 4pm
AB Lime Nursery, 10 Bend Road, Winton
From 2-4pm join the team from AB Lime and head to their remnant native bush block Motu Ngahere. Enjoy a short loop track through the forest to identify species and get tips on growing them yourselves. Transport is provided, but if you have a 4WD and can assist with transport to the bush block for seed collecting, we’d really appreciate it.
After collecting seeds head back to the AB Lime nursery for a workshop on how to prep and sow the seeds. Feel free to come and go as it suits from 4pm-6pm. All ages welcome.
Have a great May,
Ngā mihi
Richard Kyte (Thriving Southland Project Lead) and the Thriving Southland Team
