Kia ora,
Welcome to the autumn edition of our newsletter. There’s plenty happening across the region, from the success of our Good Farm Planning Hub and hands-on workshops, to exciting progress in projects like Whakaora Te Taranaki – Wai Restoration to Health.
You’ll also find updates on LiDAR mapping, predator control, fish passage work, energy efficiency, and more. It’s a great reflection of the passion and commitment within our rural communities.
Thanks for being part of this journey towards a more sustainable and thriving Taranaki.
Paul Turner, TCC Project Manager
Brendan Attrill and Patea River Catchment Group Honoured
Congratulations to Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Huinga, who was named the Supreme Winner of the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards on 3 April. Brendan’s holistic approach to farming impressed the judges, balancing strong environmental stewardship with smart business practices.
On his 163ha dairy farm, Brendan milks 350 cows and uses industry-aligned goals to guide sustainable farm planning. Judges highlighted his outstanding herd management, focus on animal health, and financial strategies that support long-term environmental investment. Brendan’s commitment to sustainability, from infrastructure to daily operations, made him a standout in this year’s awards. A huge well done to Brendan and to all the finalists whose dedication to the Taranaki land continues to inspire.
Also, congratulations to the Patea River Catchment Group on their incredible trapping project that was showcased at the awards, a well-deserved recognition of their dedication and hard work. Patea River Catchment Group has established an impressive trapping network across 2,500ha of farmland. Their driving goal is to support and improve the local environment while also increasing the knowledge of farmers and hopefully seeing kiwi thrive in the area.
Good Farm Planning Hub: Practical Support for Smarter Farming
The Good Farm Planning Hub continues to support Taranaki farmers in developing customised plans that balance profitability with environmental responsibility. At its heart is the resource hub, goodfarm.nz, a one-stop platform offering free planning tools, templates and learning opportunities to help farmers navigate changing regulations and plan for the future.
Through workshops, one-on-one support, and partnerships with local experts, the programme has helped farmers tackle individual challenges and implement practical solutions. The website provides clear guidance on integrated farm planning, designed specifically for Taranaki’s needs.
Two new modules have recently been added:
Biosecurity Planning – A practical guide to managing risks from pests and diseases, supporting both on-farm resilience and regulatory compliance.
Effective Waste Management – Covers everything from effluent and e-waste to composting and water conservation, helping farmers build plans that work for their systems and meet environmental standards.
To explore the resources or download templates, visit goodfarm.nz/resources and stay connected through Facebook or your local catchment coordinator.
Building Resilience from the Ground Up
The Toolbox for Resilience Education project is all about helping farmers and Catchment Groups prepare for and respond to adverse events like floods, storms and droughts. It delivers practical resources at two levels:
Farm Level: The Your Farm Emergency Plan module gives farmers the tools to plan for and manage extreme weather, supporting productivity and community safety.
Catchment Level: A regionally adaptable resilience module will be rolled out nationally via Catchment Groups, with Catchment Coordinators playing a key role in leading workshops and building local readiness in partnership with Civil Defence.
This project fills a gap in current farm planning and was developed as part of the Integrated Farm Planning initiative by MPI.
Also underway is an update to MPI’s People, Health and Safety module. In collaboration with Jody McCaig of Practical Compliance, this resource will aim to help farmers understand where they are on their health and safety journey, supported by a self-assessment tool and upcoming workshop.
LiDAR Mapping: Powering Smarter Farm Plans
TCC’s LiDAR-powered farm maps are helping farmers across Taranaki make smarter decisions, especially when it comes to freshwater planning and identifying critical source areas. We've now created an impressive 488 Hill Country Farm Maps and 2812 Riparian farm maps and shared more than 3000 maps with farmers to date.
But we’re not stopping there. We’ve also shared our approach with Catchment Groups in other regions and even presented to Gisborne Regional Council, showing how powerful this tool can be.
As the project wraps up, we’re working on ways to make this data even more accessible and future-ready. That includes:
Creating an online portal so farmers can securely access maps specific to their property
Filling in mapping gaps and updating dashboards with erosion, wet area, and flow path info
Developing tools to support catchment-specific planning, from pole planting mitigation layers to contaminant load modelling.
We’re laying the groundwork now, so this investment in data can support better planning, funding applications, and on-farm change for years to come.
One great example of this in action is the Wetland Mapping Project being run with Taranaki Regional Council. TCC is using LiDAR data to help identify potential wetlands across the region. The first on-farm ground-truthing was recently held on farm in Pihama, where the modelled data led to the discovery of a prime site for a constructed wetland. A follow-up workshop with TRC and the Pihama team will help share insights and encourage further action.
This collaborative work is yet another way LiDAR is helping turn big data into practical, real-world solutions for Taranaki’s land and water.
Makuri Catchment Wetland Restoration Project
The Makuri Catchment Project has successfully completed the restoration of the wetland at Huiroa Domain, a great example of what a community-led initiative can achieve. The project not only improved the local environment but also created a shared space for everyone to enjoy. It’s a meaningful step towards a healthier catchment and shows the power of local collaboration in action.
Taranaki Joins Global Nature Challenge
Taranaki nature lovers took part in the City Nature Challenge 2025 from 25–28 April, snapping and sharing photos of local plants and wildlife through the iNaturalist app. From awa to coastlines, farms to backyards, participants helped put our region’s biodiversity on the map as part of this global citizen science event. Thanks to everyone who got involved – every observation counts!
Learn more at inaturalist.nz
Drought Resilience in Action at Pihama
An inspiring on-farm event was held on 11 April in Pihama, where local dairy farmers Cat and Simon Walker shared how they’ve built resilience into their farm system through soil health and diverse pastures. With nitrogen inputs reduced from 220 to just 19 units/ha, their diverse pastures are now outperforming traditional ryegrass and clover – even under drought conditions.
Guest speakers Dr Debbie Care and Nic Conland explored topics like soil biology, pasture diversity, emissions reduction, and market opportunities. Attendees appreciated the practical insights, local experience, and open discussion around strategies for farming with more resilience and wellbeing.
Thanks to the Pihama/Oeo Catchment Community for hosting, with support from TCC, Quorum Sense, MPI, Verdi, DairyNZ, Taranaki ReGen and the TOI Foundation.
Empower Your Farm's Future: Integrated Farm Planning Workshops
Two successful Integrated Farm Planning workshops were held in Stratford on 27 March and 10 April, bringing farmers together to build practical, future-ready farm plans. Designed by farmers, for farmers, the free workshops offered hands-on guidance and tools to support more efficient, profitable, and sustainable farming.
Participants walked away with the foundations of an Integrated Farm Environmental Plan and new insights into planning for long-term resilience. Delivered through the Good Farm Planning Hub, the events were proudly supported by Taranaki Catchment Communities (TCC) and Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
For more resources and upcoming events, visit goodfarm.nz/taranaki-farming-events.
Strengthening Farm Biosecurity Workshop
Thank you to everyone who came along to our on-farm biosecurity workshop in Stratford on 10 April, hosted at Richard Clough’s farm and run in partnership with Biosecurity Taranaki, OSPRI and DairyNZ.
It was an eye-opening morning of knowledge-sharing, expert talks, and real-life tips and examples about protecting our land and livelihoods. Kristina from Taranaki Vets shared handy insights into what can go wrong without good biosecurity - and how the Good Farm Biosecurity module (available at goodfarm.nz/templates) is a practical tool for every farm. Farmers walked away with more confidence, new ideas, and a deeper understanding of why biosecurity matters, and how strong biosecurity practices can quickly pay off with healthier livestock and reduced risk.
A big shoutout to Ray Nairn – winner of the Gallagher HR4 EID scanner!
Wai Connect Fish Passage Project – fish passage assessment day a success!
TCC has partnered with local iwi, NIWA and Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) on a fish passage project to restore native fish habitats across rural waterways. The 12-month initiative includes building a model fish passage system and delivering educational workshops for Catchment Groups to carry out their own audits.
Awatuna and Pihama catchments are already getting hands-on, with a fish passage assessment day held at Oeo Stream on 26 March. Led by TRC’s Denise Rowlands, the session upskilled farmers on how to assess barriers using the NIWA Fish Passage assessment app. Grants are also available for farmers wanting to remove weirs under Rule 55 of the Regional Freshwater Plan.
Check out the full project report at taranakicc.nz/projects
Save Energy On-Farm
The Save Energy On-Farm workshop held on 5 March in Stratford brought together farmers, energy experts and financial advisors for a practical and engaging session focused on improving on-farm energy efficiency.
Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey delivered an inspiring talk on the potential of renewable energy, while local farmer Philip Luscombe shared his firsthand experience with solar, covering installation, costs and the consent process. Representatives from EECA, Powerco, and financial organisations also provided tailored advice and tools to help farmers build realistic energy-saving plans.
A big thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussions.
Keen to power up your farm’s energy efficiency? Check out taranakicc.nz/taranaki-rural-energy for ideas and support.
HADES Effluent Project: on-farm workshop 25 February
High-altitude dairy farmers in the HADES catchment group continue to take action on freshwater quality. With TRC regulations phasing out effluent discharge to water consents, a recent on-farm workshop explored practical options, including a ‘weeping wall’ example of effluent control. A new report has been published, outlining effluent management solutions tailored to farms at elevation.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us on the day.
Waingongoro Catchment Healthy Rivers Field Day – 7 May
Join the Waingongoro Catchment team at Dean and Kim’s to see the incredible work they’ve done planting their waterways!
Over the past two years, we’ve collected baseline data from mountain to sea — now we’re sharing what we’ve learned and an update on water sampling in the Waingongoro River and its tributaries.
All are welcome – we look forward to seeing you there! 145 Cardiff Rd, Cardiff, Stratford. Lunch is provided and please RSVP to Tessa@taranakicc.nz, so we know catering numbers.
This is a great opportunity to stay informed and connect with your fellow farmers in the Waingongoro catchment.
Massey University Catchment Solutions Waingongoro Bioreactor Open Day – 13 May
A woodchip bioreactor has been installed on Ross Dunlop’s farm in Ohawe, thanks to Massey University’s Catchment Solutions team. This edge-of-field solution is designed to remove nitrogen from tile drain runoff before it reaches waterways.
An on-farm Open Day will be held on 13 May to showcase the bioreactor in action and explain how it supports ongoing edge-of-field mitigation efforts.
Bioreactors are easy to build, low maintenance, and can last 10–15 years. They work by creating the right conditions for soil microorganisms to break down nitrate, offering a practical and effective tool to improve water quality on farms.
Get the FACCTs: Science-Based Workshops for Smarter Farming
Our FACCT (Farming and Compliance Confidence Taranaki) workshops, part of the Good Farm project, are continuing to help Taranaki farmers build a deeper understanding of farm science to support productivity, profitability and compliance.
The hugely successful 10-session series, led by local farmer Campbell McCowan from PLANit Farming, covers topics like catchment geology, soils, erosion, nutrients, freshwater, and greenhouse gases. Farmers are finding real value in the practical, unbiased info and collaborative atmosphere, with many saying it's helping them future-proof their farms.
Workshops are already underway in the Patea, Tarata/Kaimata, and Urenui/Uruti/Mimi catchments. What to expect:
10 x 2-hour sessions over several months
Independent, science-based info
Farmer-led discussions and shared experiences
Tools to support integrated farm planning
Learn more at www.taranakicc.nz/facct
“In my mind this learning will be essential for farming a successful business in the future. We are incredibly lucky to have someone of Campbell’s capability. I congratulate those who have attended these sessions so far who have the vision to see its importance not just for their own farm but for their whole catchment.” – Local farmer
