Supporting our Catchment Groups
We’re excited to announce the successful recipients of our first funding round, held in August 2025. The response was outstanding, with a number of strong, community-led proposals submitted from across the Mackenzie Basin. While we weren’t able to fund every application this round, we’ve committed $78,500 to support a selection of impactful projects that will be delivered over the next 12 months.
This funding has been made possible thanks to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Catchment Extension Services (CES) programme, which enables MBCC to empower local catchment groups and accelerate meaningful environmental action.
We welcome funding applications year-round, with our next formal review scheduled for February 2026. If you’re developing a project that aligns with MBCC’s goals, we encourage you to get in touch.
Partnership for invasive tree removal and stream revitalisation
Continued restoration Wairepo Creek: native planting, flood resilience, pest control, and iwi partnership
Investigating ultrasonic technology for water quality management in Kellands Pond and Wairepo Arm
Lyford Lane Catchment Group
LLCG Partnership for invasive tree removal and stream revitalisation
The Lyford Lane Catchment Group (LLCG), in partnership with MBCC and Meridian Energy, is launching a multi-year restoration initiative focused on invasive tree removal and stream revitalisation within the Twizel River catchment. MBCC has committed $50,000 towards Phase 1 of this project, with additional funding from Meridian Energy and potential future support subject to annual review.
This collaborative effort targets the degraded stream environments below the Pūkaki Canal, northwest of State Highway 8 and east of Glen Lyon Road. The project aims to:
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Improve stream health and water quality,
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Enhance flood resilience and flow capacity,
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Restore native riparian ecosystems,
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Safeguard local infrastructure,
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Demonstrate successful environmental stewardship and,
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Foster long-term community engagement and regional restoration.
Phase 1 (2025–2026): Invasive Tree Removal and Demonstration Site Establishment Initial work will focus on the Dry and Fraser Streams, where dense stands of Crack Willow, Grey Willow, and Alder have compromised flood flow, accelerated bank erosion, and displaced native vegetation. Activities include:
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Systematic removal of invasive trees using low-regrowth methods,
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Strategic planting of native riparian species endemic to the Twizel area,
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Establishment of high-visibility demonstration sites to showcase restoration outcomes and,
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Community engagement and education around riparian management and flood mitigation.
Phase 2 (2026–2030): Strategic Expansion and Maintenance Building on Phase 1 success, future work may expand to the Twizel River and Bendrose Stream. This phase includes:
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Ongoing monitoring and re-treatment of invasive regrowth,
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Maintenance of planted areas and replacement of failed plantings,
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Broader community involvement and education and,
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Annual work planning and reporting through the Catchment Group.
With additional funding committed by Meridian Energy over five years and MBCC’s administrative and strategic support, this project offers a scalable model for catchment-based restoration. It aligns with MBCC’s goals for biodiversity, flood resilience, and community-led environmental action.
Wairepo Catchment Group
Continued Restoration Wairepo Creek: Native Planting, Flood Resilience, Pest Control, and iwi partnership
The Wairepo Catchment Group is proud to launch Phase 2 of its restoration work along Wairepo Creek, supported by a $15,000 funding contribution from the Mackenzie Basin Conservation Collective (MBCC). This builds on the successful Phase 1, completed in May 2025 with funding from the Upper Waitaki Zone Committee, which focused on improving water quality and habitat conditions through native planting.
Wairepo Creek, a key waterway in the Mackenzie Basin, has recently undergone significant remediation to improve its ecological health. However, the surrounding riparian margins remain vulnerable to erosion, invasive species, and habitat degradation. Phase 2 addresses these challenges by restoring native vegetation, enhancing flood resilience, and integrating cultural and ecological knowledge into long-term management.
This phase includes:
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Planting over 1,000 low-growing, flood-tolerant native species — including purei (Carex secta), wiwi (Juncus edgariae), harakeke (Phormium tenax), and karamu (Coprosma robusta) — to stabilize creek banks, filter runoff, and provide habitat for native wildlife,
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Installing and maintaining pest control infrastructure to reduce populations of possums, rats, stoats, and hedgehogs, which threaten native flora and fauna,
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Collaborating with local iwi to co-design planting plans, incorporate mātauranga Māori, and include cultural indicators such as tuna (eels) and water quality in monitoring,
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Partnering with the Department of Conservation and Fish & Game to support ecological monitoring and outcomes assessment,
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Engaging local schools and volunteers in planting, maintenance, and environmental education to foster community stewardship and,
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Implementing quarterly site visits, survival rate assessments, and adaptive management to ensure long-term success.
This project not only enhances biodiversity and water quality but also strengthens relationships between community, iwi, and conservation agencies. With MBCC’s support, the Wairepo Catchment Group is building a model for collaborative, culturally grounded, and ecologically resilient restoration in the Mackenzie Basin.
Wairepo Catchment Group
Investigating Ultrasonic Technology for Water Quality Management in Kellands Pond and Wairepo Arm
The Wairepo Catchment Group is trialling ultrasonic technology to improve water quality in Kellands Pond and Wairepo Arm — two man-made waterbodies that have developed important ecological values over time. With up to $13,500 in funding committed by the Mackenzie Basin Conservation Collective (MBCC), the project will assess the suitability and effectiveness of this non-invasive approach for reducing harmful algal blooms and improving trophic level index (TLI) scores.
Phase 1: Assessment and Feasibility This phase focuses on baseline water quality sampling, ecological surveys, and a site-specific feasibility study. Drawing on successful trials at Lake Tewa, where ultrasonic units reduced cyanobacteria from 25 million cells/mL to undetectable levels within six days, the team will evaluate whether similar outcomes are achievable locally. Activities include:
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Sampling for nutrients, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, and cyanobacteria,
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Ecological surveys of aquatic flora and fauna,
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Technical assessment of ultrasonic suitability based on depth, nutrient load, and hydrology and,
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Engagement with Environment Canterbury, local iwi, and community stakeholders.
Peer-reviewed studies have shown no adverse effects on fish or amphibians, supporting the environmental safety of the technology.
Phase 2: Deployment and Monitoring If deemed suitable, ultrasonic units will be leased and deployed. A collaborative monitoring programme will be established with ECan and iwi to track water quality improvements and ecological responses. This phase will generate real-time data, validate the technology’s effectiveness under local conditions, and strengthen co-governance and community stewardship.
This project aligns with regional goals for freshwater health, biodiversity, and inclusive environmental management. MBCC’s support enables the Wairepo Catchment Group to pilot a promising, low-impact solution with potential applications across the Mackenzie Basin.