Fonterra’s Living Water Partnership

Living Water started in 2013 as a 10-year partnership between Fonterra and the Department of Conservation. This partnership brings together farmers, scientists, councils, mana whenua, and local communities to make a real difference for freshwater in New Zealand.

The partnership works in five regions across the country:

• Northland, Kaipara Harbour – Wairua River catchment;
• Hauraki, Firth of Thames-Tikapa Moana – Pῡkorokoro-Miranda catchment;
• Waikato, Peat Lakes – Areare, Ruatuna, Rotomānuka catchments;
• Canterbury, Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere –Ararira-LII catchment; and
• Southland, Awarua-Waituna – Waituna catchment.
• Each region has its own strategic plan and annual works plan.

A new project supported by the Living Water Partnership which was announced in January 2022, will help on-farm advisors grow their understanding of biodiversity, with a view to further building biodiversity objectives into Farm Environment Plans.

“Farming with Native Biodiversity” is a 20-month project coordinated by the NZ Landcare Trust and funded by the National Bioheritage Science Challenge (Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho), Living Water, Silver Fern Farms and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

For more information on this project see the link below:

https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/our-stories/articles/fonterra-brings-biodiversity-to-the-forefront-of-farms.html