Catchment group gets $410k boost
The Government is investing in a farmer-led catchment group in the South Waikato to help its efforts to improve land management practices.
Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri said $410,000 has been allocated over the next three years to the Pokaiwhenua Catchment Group to help its work to restore the Pokaiwhenua Stream, which is a tributary of the Waikato River.
‘‘The Pokaiwhenua has been identified as a high-priority catchment where improvements in water quality are needed,’’ she said.
The catchment has 240 landowners and covers approximately 43,000ha from near Tokoroa to Lake Karapiro.
‘‘This funding will enable the farmer-led Pokaiwhenua Catchment Group to work with a larger number of landowners to develop ways to boost water quality and biodiversity in the catchment.
‘‘The group will carry out water quality monitoring, coordinate education on freshwater, greenhouse gas emissions and protecting significant natural areas, and support farmers to develop Farm Environment Plans,’’ Whaitiri said.
The funding is on top of at least $3.6 million already allocated to support catchment groups across the Waikato region by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and builds on work to support farmers’ hard work in leading New Zealand’s export-led recovery from Covid19, which has contributed to record export returns.
‘‘This aligns with a key component of the Government’s Fit for a Better World roadmap to restore freshwater environments to a healthy state within a generation and grow food and fibre sector exports by an extra $44 billion over 10 years.’’
‘‘Catchment groups provide a valuable platform to promote good on-farm practices and sustainable land management, showcase innovation and success, and positively shift the dial for the environment,’’ Whaitiri said.
‘‘This funding will enable the farmerled Pokaiwhenua Catchment Group to work with a larger number of landowners to develop ways to boost water quality and biodiversity in the catchment. ’’
MekaWhaitiri
Associate Agriculture Minister