Fonterra’s water partnerships delivering for Northland

Sometimes it can be easy to take water for granted – most of us simply turn on the tap and barely give it another thought.

At other times, like during the severe Northland drought last year, we become acutely aware of how important it is.

World Water Day comes around annually and while we may face different circumstances each year, it gives us all an opportunity to reflect on just how precious water is to our people, our livelihoods, the wider economy and the environment.

By focusing on its true value, Fonterra has been taking steps to work with others to better protect this vital resource for generations to come across New Zealand, including Northland.

The Wairua River is one of five catchments at the centre of the Living Water programme, a 10-year partnership between Fonterra and the Department of Conservation (2013-2023), aimed at implementing game-changing and scalable solutions to show dairying and freshwater can thrive together.

One of the programme’s focus areas is to help mana whenua build capacity and capability in order to be able to exercise their role as kaitiaki (guardians) of water.

For example, Living Water supported members of Ngā Kaitiaki O Ngā Wai Māori gain their electrofishing qualifications, enabling them to monitor the health and numbers of the species living in the waterways of the Hikurangi Swamp.

Delaraine Armstrong, Chairperson of the hapū is delighted they play an important ongoing role in restoring water quality.

“After two years of unpaid work learning and assisting the Living Water team with the monitoring, it’s great to have Fonterra and DOC’s confidence to deliver this monitoring contract, where we can value and pay kaitiaki to do this mahi.”

“If the Repo (swamp) is healthy and well, then Māori believe that the people are healthy and well.”

Sarah Yarrow, Living Water

National Manager says: “From the beginning, we’ve been focused on finding ways to integrate Mātauranga Māori into our projects and helping to support mana whenua capacity and capability to restore Kaitiakitanga.”

“By partnering we are making it easier for farmers, iwi and communities to accelerate freshwater improvement.”

Another partnership paying dividends is Fonterra’s work with Whitebait Connection, a programme run through the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

It’s one of many areas across New Zealand where Fonterra is working with its farmers and communities to restore rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal estuaries as part of its Sustainable Catchments programme.

Kim Jones, Project Manager at Whitebait Connections, says a recent biodiversity study on the Tauroa stream, an offshoot of the Ruakākā river, has shown some unexpected results.

“We found a lot of freshwater mussels, which can be quite rare, they are classified as ‘At Risk Declining’” says Jones.

“We found quite a few up on the sides of the river which look like they’ve been eaten by rats. That opens the possibility that doing more pest control along the river could help with water quality too.”

Fonterra’s Sustainable Dairy Advisor for Northland, George Kruger is another who has played a big part in water improvement in Northland.

He’s been working with farmers to better understand their impacts using Farm Environment Plans, which are sector leading and include time-bound actions to improve environmental outcomes. 42% of farms supplying Fonterra now having one, on the way to a target of 100% by 2025.

And on World Water Day he is clear on just what water means to us all.

“It’s essential to sustaining life, whether it be related to the industry I work in, the community I live or the environment that surrounds it. It’s not surprising that space exploration always centres on trying to discover evidence of water.

“It’s the difference between Earth and all the other lifeless rocks out there.”

Further information is available at www.fonterra.com/sustainability