Your Catchment Group Coordinator
Stacey Stuart
021 566 229
stacey@thrivingsouthland.co.nz
Catchment Group Contacts
Simon Hopcroft
027 201 0377
Janine.Simon@xtra.co.nz
John White
027 202 3945
johncopelandwhite@hotmail.com
ACE Project Outline
About Us
The Lower Aparima Catchment Group is a community-led initiative formed in April 2016, uniting farmers, industry professionals, and Riverton locals with a shared commitment to the health of the Aparima River. Our strength lies in collaboration, from deer, beef, sheep, and dairy farmers to recreational river users, all working together to protect and enhance our local environment.
We’re proud of the high level of engagement from our community, with active participation through email, social media, and on-the-ground projects. The group has become a vibrant hub for environmental action, focusing on practical solutions, education, and partnerships to improve water quality and estuary health.
Our goals include expanding water monitoring, trialling innovative technologies, and strengthening rural-urban connections. At the heart of our work is a commitment to building a resilient community that values sustainable farming, recreation, and shared responsibility for our waterways.
Catchment Area
The Lower Aparima Catchment spans a rich and varied landscape, shaped by Southland’s unique physiographic zones. From the Bedrock Hill Country and Oxidising zones to Gleyed soils and Lignite Marine Terraces, each area influences how water and contaminants move through the land. The catchment follows the natural contours to encompass the hydrological area of the Aparima River and its tributaries, stretching south from the Otautau township to the main hub of Riverton. It includes the small settlements of Fairfax and Thornbury, each contributing to the character and diversity of the catchment. Understanding these zones and communities helps us tailor solutions to improve water quality and support sustainable land use across the region.
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.
CONTACT US
25 Don Street,
Invercargill 9810
