The Kim Hill Debate – March 23, 2017

If you missed this year’s debate – Water, a global issue affecting NZ – hosted by Lincoln Envirotown, here’s a link to the full debate.

The Living Water partnership (DOC & Fonterra) was one of the sponsors for the annual Kim Hill debate. The topic Water – a global issue affecting New Zealand made for an interesting debate!

This year’s panelists were:

• Bryan Jenkins: Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management
• Ken Hughey: Lincoln University and Department of Conservation
• Peter Townsend: Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce
• Brent Clothier: Plant & Food Research

Lincoln University Dairy farm Open Days – November 18 & 19, 2017

On Friday November 18 around 280 students from several Canterbury High Schools visited Lincoln University Dairy Farm to find out more about farming and milk production. The Living Water Partnership (Fonterra and DOC) has a focus on Environmental Sustainability in Dairy Farming – that means healthy ecosystems to underpin New Zealand’s environmental health, community well-being and economic prosperity, now and in the future.

Groups of students came along to the Living Water stand and learned about environmental sustainability, biodiversity and the ‘web of life’ – the way everything is connected. Thanks to Mikey who led each group in an interactive activity to find out more about those connections.

Living Water were also there to chat to some of the many thousands of visitors who came along to the Community Open Day on Saturday November 20.

There was also a chance to see the commitment LUDF has made to bringing back some native biodiversity, with several areas of planting around the farm.

Kids Discovery Plantout Day, Lincoln Primary – 18 October, 2016

150 students from Lincoln Primary along with teachers, parents and staff and volunteers from Living Water,Te Ara Kākāriki, Enviroschools, Lincoln University and Waihora Ellesmere Trust, along with Aunty Daphne from Te Taumutu Rūnanga, had a great day out at Ararira Wetland/Yarrs Flat.

Groups of students spent the day planting native trees and shrubs, learning about biodiversity, insects, wetlands though the ages and having a go at traditional weaving of harakeke.

Lincoln Primary School has adopted the reserve as an outdoor classroom and return regularly to add to the native plantings. Smaller groups also visit throughout the year (see the post below for details of their visit in June) to check on the growth of the plants and to monitor biodiversity – they post information about what they find on the Nature Watch NZ site.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful 2016 – clean-up week 12 – 18 September, 2016

For the annual KNZB Clean Up Week Living Water supported the activities of  Lincoln Envirotown who hosted Lincoln Kidsfirst Kindergarten, Lincoln Primary School and Lincoln High School in the Liffey Domain.  Rubbish was collected around the area and with help from Enviroschools and Waterwatch the students discovered what was living in the Liffey Stream and carried out some water testing.  Staff from the local New World supported the event, providing a sausage sizzle for everyone involved.

Canterbury Plantout 2016 – 3 September, 2016

Living Water was the main sponsor for this fantastic event, led by Te Ara Kākāriki (TAK).

160 volunteers arrived at Ararira Wetland/Yarrs Flat, a DOC Reserve, on the lake margin and in glorious sunshine planted over 1000 native plants. Lunch was provided and there was a chance to relax and hear from a couple of knowledgeable speakers about the biodiversity of the area before heading off to Tai Tapu for more planting. TAK hosted a BBQ dinner, with a live band, to round off the day and say thank you to all involved.

To see some photos from the day click here.

Bugs, Bees and Butterflies – Kidsfest 2016    July 15, 2016

Over 500 children and caregivers headed along to Lincoln Event Centre on July 15 to find out more about the biodiversity in their backyards. The hugely successful event was run by Lincoln Envirotown, with activities run by Lincoln High School Students. It was sponsored by Living Water.

Attractions included the very popular craft tables, viewing the world of insects through microscopes, and a glass beehive.

Monitoring Lincoln Primary School’s Restoration Planting Project – June, 2016

In October 2015 Lincoln Primary School students planted around 300 plants at Ararira Wetland/Yarrs Flat, a DOC Wildlife Reserve on the Te Waihora lakeshore.  In June 2016 a group of students returned to find out how the plants were faring and learn more about the biodiversity of the area. Observations included a 5 minute bird count, an invertebrate hunt, and
measuring the survival rate of the plants.

Observations of beetles, spiders, worms and other invertebrates were uploaded to the school’s Naturewatch site – experts can help identify the species the students aren’t sure about.

Despite the site being very exposed and the soil being quite saline in places, the students found that almost 90% of the plants were doing well – well done Lincoln Primary!

A Stream Runs Through It – May 20, 2016

Have you heard of the CAREX project? It is an acronym for the Canterbury Waterway Rehabilitation Experiment. Carex (also called pūhio) is also the scientific genus of an important plant used in riparian plantings throughout New Zealand waterways.

The CAREX project, run by the Freshwater Ecology Research Group at the University of Canterbury, is being supported by the Living Water partnership (DOC and Fonterra), and is one of a number activities Living Water are undertaking or supporting in the Te Waihora catchment.

Their research focuses on ways to rehabilitate waterway functions that support and sustain Canterbury livelihoods. They aim to:

• Reduce aquatic weed (macrophyte) cover to < 50% and reduce the need for cleaning of waterways;
• Reduce the amount of fine sediment cover to < 20% to improve ecosystem health;
• Reduce in-stream nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) levels by 10-30%; and
• Showcase successful riparian and in-stream management methods.

One of their projects is underway at the Simpson ‘s dairy farm near Springston. You can hear the CAREX team, the Simpsons, and the Living Water team talking about the project on RNZ’s Country Life programme, broadcast on May 20. CAREX also put out regular newsletters with updates on their work. You can find these on their website.

A Vision for Ararira Wetland/Yarrs Flat

Thanks to the team at the Design Lab, Lincoln University School of Landscape Architecture, for their work on a plan for Ararira Wetland, the fantastic Reserve at the end of Wolfes Rd.

The Reserve is managed by the Department of Conservation and is part of an extensive shoreline area that provides important habitat, including extensive salt marshes, for many migrant and native wading birds. It also provides habitat for species such as bittern, marsh crake, swamp nettle and tuna (eel).

Until a few years ago the part of the Reserve nearest to Wolfes Rd was leased for grazing. The intention now is to restore this area to native vegetation, increasing biodiversity and providing a gateway to the wetland areas on the margin of the lake.

The first planting got underway in spring 2015, with Lincoln Primary School and the Canterbury Plantout.

A Strategy for Living Water

Good planning underpins all successful projects and the Living Water team have invested time and energy in consulting widely and preparing a strategy for the first three years. You can read the strategy here.