Streamcare Groups 

Streamcare groups are partnerships where people, including farmers, work together to take action on local environmental issues. People find that being part of a streamcare group helps them to get support from a range of organisations and sponsors. It also helps with motivation, as a group effort has a much greater impact than working alone and it is more fun.

Common Issues Addressed by Streamcare Groups 

Common issues addressed by streamcare groups include water quality, erosion, pest management and native vegetation decline. Council can help groups with technical advice and information, and can offer fencing materials and trees for erosion control. Council has encouraged and promoted the formation of StreamCare Groups with an interest in environmental quality and worked with them to achieve their environmental goals.

Streamcare groups carry out a range of projects, including:

  • Stream fencing and planting
  • Plant propagation
  • Water quality monitoring
  • Bush protection
  • Possum control
  • Walkway construction

While rural and land-based businesses need to be profitable, it is also important that they are sustainable. Streamcare groups provide a structure for communities to take control of environmental issues themselves, allowing them to find local solutions.

Council works with New Zealand Landcare Trust to provide support to streamcare groups by helping them to get established and linking them to advice and support networks. NZ Landcare Trust supports Council’s sustainable land management initiatives through community involvement. The Trust is governed by representatives from the agricultural sector, as well as outdoor recreation and environmental interest groups. Together the two organisations assist communities working towards more sustainable agricultural practices.

Review the New Zealand Landcare Trust website for further details

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Stream Care Groups in Tasman 

Some of the most successful Stream Care groups in Tasman include:

  • Pearl Creek stream habitat restoration project
  • Reservoir Creek stream habitat restoration project
  • Sherry Catchment Group river water quality improvement project
  • Aorere Catchment Group disease-causing organism and stream habitat improvement project
    Aorere Catchment Landcare Group
  • Te Kakau Stream stream habitat improvement project
  • Motupipi River water quality and stream habitat improvement project
  • Tasman Valley Stream water quality and stream habitat improvement project
  • Motueka River water quality and stream habitat improvement project (part of Motueka Intergrated Catchment Management programme)
  • Murchison Creek water quality and stream habitat improvement project

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How You Can Get Involved 

Think about starting your own group if there are no streamcare groups in your area already. The first step is to define the environmental issues in your area that need addressing, for example:

  • Do local streams need to be protected from stock?
  • Are waterways degrading in quality?
  • Is the local bush in your area slowly dying from introduced browsing pests?
Find out if anyone else in your area feels the same way. Start talking to neighbours, friends and family. What would they like to see done to help the local environment? What do they think could be improved?

Think about who else needs to be involved in a local streamcare group. Contact groups such as hunters, anglers, horse riding groups, farmers and your local marae.

How much support have you got out there? By gauging the level of interest you can determine whether it is worthwhile calling everyone together for a meeting. If you decide it is worthwhile, get in touch with the New Zealand Landcare Trust or Council.
Contact Top of the South Co-ordinator of the New Zealand Landcare Trust
Contact Tasman District Council

Landcare Trust

The NZLT supports Council’s sustainable land management initiatives through community involvement. The Trust is governed by representatives from the agricultural sector, as well as outdoor recreation and environmental interest groups. They assist communities working towards more sustainable agricultural practices.

The New Zealand Landcare Trust
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