Your Catchment Group Coordinator
Sarah Thorne
027 588 5200
sarah@thrivingsouthland.co.nz
Catchment Group Contacts
Eoin Mckenzie
027 307 6928
Bob Schmidt
021 488 409
Kelly-Anne Hopper
027 549 0240
About Us
The Waihopai Catchment Group formed in 2019 with a simple goal: to understand and improve the health of local waterways for future generations. Based in eastern central Southland, the group brings together farmers and community members all keen to do their bit. With a small core team and a wider network of 50 locals, the group run practical and useful events a few times a year to help share ways to look after their waterways. Their focus is on water quality, education and community connection, and they’re always open to new people and new ideas.
Waihopai community – working together to look after our waterways.
Catchment Area
The Waihopai Catchment Group covers a large rural area in eastern central Southland (Oreti Freshwater Management Unit), including Myross Bush, Kennington, Woodlands, Rimu, Dacre, Spurhead, and Morton Mains - right down to the Invercargill City boundary. Although the group’s boundary does not reach New River Estuary, their connection to it is important to them.
Recent Events
Waihopai is really good at running practical, local events. These have included a hands-on stream health field day with the launch of two AquaWatch waka - real-time water quality monitoring units - into local streams. These boat-like sensors track dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature, pH, and conductivity, giving the group instant insights into stream health. The day included eDNA sampling, expert advice on winter grazing, advice on different ways you can monitor the health of your streams and a BBQ lunch thanks to Rabobank.
The group also hosted a lunchtime talk by Jim Risk from Ballance Agri-Nutrients on Nitrogen use and efficiency. Jim covered everything from soil testing to cost-effective practices, and the discussion was followed by another delicious BBQ courtesy of ANZ’s Amanda and Mike. Both events were held at the Morton Mains Community Centre.
Projects
Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring with AquaWatch
Waihopai Catchment Group wants to better understand the health of their local streams and has been lent two AquaWatch waka — floating sensor units that provide real-time data on key water quality indicators.
Loaned by AquaWatch and the Re-imagining the Mataura Project, these waka are helping the group monitor dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature, pH, and conductivity in a local waterway. The data is accessible online and can be used to track changes in water quality, identify the main issues and what is likely to be causing them, and help suggest actions to mitigate these issues.
Jock, Eoin and Bob installed the units, and Eoin checks the units weekly to keep them clear of weeds and debris. Our next steps are to analyse the data and find out what our main issues are and the mitigations that could help reduce them.
AquaWatch have been great to work with, especially in helping the group set up the waka, interpret and understand the data, and come up with their next steps. The group really liked how all their information is written in short and helpful way, that is really easy to understand and follow.
This project is a big step forward to help the group get current information to understand the health of their local waterways, and support the community with practical, science-backed tools.
Woodlands School Stream Health Session (part of the group’s long term work to support the school with their Outdoor Learning Area)
Looking After Our Local Waterways Field Day
Nitrogen Efficiency Workshop with Jim Risk from Ballance Agri-Nutrients
AB Lime Visit – Southern Regional Landfill, Fertiliser Blending Plant & Dairy farm
Woolshed Mini Speaker Series – Edible Bale Wrap, Agri Waste Landfill Chat, Update on Farming Rules and Regulations, and the Latest on Waihopai Catchment Group
Wetland Field day
On Farm Recycling Field Day & Reducing Waste Working with Trish Rankin
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
