Hats off to the farmers

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The Pomahaka Water Care Group celebrated the completion of a project that has seen 102km of fencing and 110,000 native riparian plants established on over 104 different farms in the Pomahaka catchment in South Otago.

Pomahaka - Kānoa - Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit

Transcript

Duration: 1:36

[A still shot of the Pomahaka river]

In 2020, The Pomahaka Water Care Group was awarded $2.3m of grant funding through the Provincial Growth Fund.

[Panning shot of a river that has been fenced and planted]

They fenced and planted rural waterways to improve water quality.

[Panning shot of a plant nursery]

They planted 200 sites

[Shots of native plants on the back of a truck]

On 104 South Otago farms

[Shots of farm scenery and grazing livestock]

With 110,987 native plants.

[More shots of native plant seedlings on the back of a truck]

23 fulltime employees

[Shots of people at work. They wear hi-vis clothing and plant seedlings by the waterways. They hammer in protective covers made of cardboard. They talk amongst themselves.]

8 fencing contractors

10 apprenticeships

Providing 30 industry qualifications.

102,709m of fencing

[Shot following the fence line with workers in the distance]

25,000 fenceposts

[A panning shot showing hundreds of fenceposts in a yard]

Keeping livestock out of our waterways.

[A fast panning shot of a field of cows]

[A panning shot reveals a sign in a field. The sign reads ‘Pomahaka Water Care Group’ Jobs for Nature Corridor Planting Project. On the sign are logos for Kānoa Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit and Te Uru `Rākay New Zealand Forest Service]

[A still shot of the Pomahaka river. Logos for Kānoa, MBIE and New Zealand Government]

Fencing and riparian planting works in two ways. Fencing prevents stock from entering waterways, protecting freshwater from effluent, nutrients and sediment. Riparian planting creates an additional layer of protection by stabilising banks, providing shade, cooling water and enhancing oxygenation. By creating a buffer between water and the land, water quality is improved and habitats for birds and freshwater species are created.

In 2020, The Pomahaka Water Care Group was awarded $2.3 million of grant funding through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF). The aim was to fence and plant waterways, and create regional jobs in the community. Many of these workers at the time were displaced from careers in hospitality and tourism due to the global pandemic.

Not only have these workers developed valuable skills and expanded their future career options, they have also engaged in meaningful work within their community to replenish and restore the mauri of their waterways.

Lloyd McCall of the Pomahaka Water Care Group says, "Our committee is all about farmers helping farmers. In 2014, we were told by the regional council that the Pomahaka was the most degraded rural river in Otago - and that was a bit of a shock. All of a sudden we realised that the only people who could fix this was the farmers, the people on the land."

And so the Pomahaka Water Care Group was established. The farmers went to work and rolled up their sleeves. They started a community nursery, and began some riparian planting.

Lloyd says the farmers of the Pomahaka took ownership of the problem. "We started doing our own tests and taking responsibility for the effect our businesses had on the overall area. It’s an awesome thing. Once you take ownership of the problem, then you can start doing things. The farmers felt empowered."

By the time Kānoa – RDU presented an opportunity to do a major planting project in 2020, the Pomahaka Water Care Group was ready to go. "We already had lots of farmers who were really engaged and more than happy to up the tempo. Thanks to them, we were in a position to put together a shovel-ready project."

“We’ve really got to take our hats off to the farmers because they have taken the ball in their hands and they’ve run with it, and they’ve made a difference.”

“All farmers really want is to be able to pass their farm onto future generations. And they know that they can only do that if their business continues to be sustainable.

“If we look after our farms and our environment, then eventually we’ll be rewarded for it. We’re big on sustainability going forward.”

About the Fencing of Waterways programme

The Pomahaka Water Care Group is one of 35 projects funded under the MBIE’s Fencing of Waterways programme.

The Fencing of Waterways programme embodies a core principle of Kānoa – RDU: to enable the development of people and their communities to ensure their wellbeing and prosperity.

Five people stand on grass, in front of a dense bush area, next to a freshly planted tree, which is the height of a person. All people are wearing gumboots and rain jackets, and are standing in a line, smiling at the camera.

Kanoa-RDU join members of the Pomahaka Water Care Group to celebrate the completion of the PGF funded, $2.3 million Pomahaka Corridor Planting project in Tapanui, South Otago. From left to right: Peter (PWCG member), Janet (Ministry for Primary Industries), Mark (Kānoa), Lucy (Kānoa), Lloyd (PWCG Chair).

In 2020, this programme was awarded $40.9 million of funding through the PGF to fund fencing and waterway projects nationwide and create regional jobs in their communities.

As well as providing both immediate and long-term environmental improvements, Fencing of Waterways also delivers meaningful training and employment opportunities – an incredible two-fold benefit.

Since the establishment of this programme in 2020, over 200 kaimahi have undertaken training alongside experienced contractors, in areas such as fencing, first aid, site safety, driver licencing, pest control, water reticulation and planting and nursery skills.

The output of the programme to date includes the installation of over 927km of fence lines and over 979ha of riparian planting for erosion and sediment control through $40.9 million of administered PGF funding.

Recipients of Fencing of Waterways funding have reported feeling particularly passionate about the value of this investment for their waterways and whenua. The Fencing of Waterways projects are delivering on time, within budget, and meeting contractual expectations of Kānoa – RDU.