PAPANUI CATCHMENT
Primary Township Ōtāne
Area 16,400ha
Land Use: 84 percent of the catchment is in pasture, ten percent in arable and five percent in exotic forest. Notably, less than one percent of landcover is in native vegetation.
CATCHMENT
GROUP
Catchment Committee Chair Simon White, Miles McBain, Ben Harker, Megan McBain, Sharon Ritchie, James Tod, Brent Oliver
Catchment Co-ordinator Pixie Seligman
Email tukicoordinator@gmail.com
Phone 0277212423
ABOUT OUR CATCHMENT
Historically, the Papanui catchment was an area of mahinga kai for Māori, providing resources such as freshwater mussels, birds, and flax. The catchment’s resource-rich landscape supported numerous pā,
many of which were located along waterways and the shores of Lake Roto-ā-Tara. Five marae continue to represent the mana whenua of the area. These marae remain focal points for the community.
European settlement in the 19th century brought extensive modification to the landscape. Following major flooding, a stop bank was built along the Waipawa River, wetlands were drained, and forests were cleared to create farmland. Lake Roto-ā-Tara, once a major feature of the catchment, was drained to reclaim fertile peatlands for agriculture. These changes have shaped the catchment's present form but also left lasting environmental impacts.
THE BIG PICTURE
The Big Picture
As part of The Big Picture project, TLC has developed independent, science-backed catchment plans for each of the 17 sub-catchments of the Tukituki River. These farmer-led plans address key environmental challenges specific to each area while identifying practical, affordable solutions. These plans do not impose rules or regulations but they give farmers and catchment groups a roadmap for future planning to improve water quality, boost farm productivity, and open the door to future funding opportunities.
TLC partnered with environmental planning consultancy Environment, Innovation and Strategy Ltd (EIS), who collected data specific to each sub-catchment, including erosion maps, flow path models, land use capability, soil types, and water monitoring information. Alongside the scientific data, in December 2024, TLC hosted workshops for farmers and growers in each sub-catchment to make sure the solutions aligned with the realities of farming and growing in each sub-catchment.
Papanui Draft Sub-Catchment Plan: Summary
Papanui Draft Sub-Catchment Plan: Full Report
Papanui Catchment Maps
TLC FARMER TOOLBOX
Tools for the Papanui Catchment
As part of The Big Picture, TLC has developed the TLC Farmer Toolbox, designed to support landowners in making informed decisions and enable them to implement changes with confidence, ensuring that time and money are invested wisely.
The TLC Toolbox includes the following:
-
TLC’s On-Farm Action Planning Tool - prioritise on-farm environmental actions based on their cost-effectiveness and impact.
-
TLC’s Plant Selection Tool - choose the right plants for on-farm environmental projects by matching your planting zone and purpose with suitable species.
-
TLC’s Surface Erosion Tool - determine the most erosion-prone areas on your farm to identify priority sites for effective soil conservation measures.
-
TLC’s Water Runoff Mapping Tool - identify sites for on-farm edge-of-field mitigations such as sediment traps, constructed wetlands and detention bunds.
-
TLC’s Riparian Mapping Tool - better understand riparian condition and vegetation class along waterways to prioritise where riparian management should occur.
-
TLC’s ETS Guide- download TLC’s ETS Guide for key information on the Emissions Trading Scheme, including its purpose, benefits, eligibility, enrolment process, and potential costs and returns.
-
TLC’s Willow Management Guide - download TLC’s Invasive Willow Management Guide for insights on willows in the Tukituki, control strategies and riparian restoration.
-
TLC’s List Of Advisors - connect with local advisors for tailored advice and potential funding opportunities.
