Kia ora,
Welcome to the summer edition of our newsletter. As we wrap up an incredible year, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the remarkable growth and success of Taranaki Catchment Communities. From workshops and campaigns to innovative projects, we’ve made strides in enhancing sustainable practices and supporting our local farmers. It’s been a year of community connection, learning and progress, and I’m excited about what we can achieve together in the coming year. Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas break filled with rest and inspiration for the year ahead. Happy reading!
Paul Turner, TCC Project Manager
This year, TCC has focused on a strategic approach to ensure our projects and initiatives align with our vision for a thriving Taranaki. Collaboration has been at the heart of our work, from helping farmers navigate changes to fostering innovation in land management. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved as a community, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation in 2025. Have a safe and happy Christmas, and thank you for being part of TCC’s journey.
Donna Cram, TCC Chair
Recent Highlights
Good Farm Planning Hub: Empowering Farmers for a Sustainable Future
The Good Farm Planning Hub has made a significant impact this year by helping Taranaki farmers develop tailored plans to improve our environmental outcomes. The programme has empowered farmers to address their individual environmental challenges while improving farm profitability. Our partnerships with local experts and stakeholders have provided invaluable support, ensuring the plans are both practical and effective. Farmers have also benefited from a range of workshops and one-on-one consultations, which have deepened their understanding of sustainable farming practices and given them the tools to implement meaningful changes.
The success of the Good Farm Planning Hub is not only in the numbers but also in the strong relationships we’ve built between farmers, advisors and communities. As we move into the next year, we are excited to expand this initiative and continue helping our community develop and implement plans that foster both environmental stewardship and economic resilience.
A few months ago we released the Taranaki-specific Farm Planning resource to provide farmers with a concise summary of freshwater farm plan requirements and timeframes. This includes the Good Farm Guide to Navigating Regulations that simplifies key legislation, breaking it down into easy-to-understand language. Both hardcopy and digital versions are available.
Visit www.goodfarm.nz or follow our updates through your catchment social media pages and coordinators.
Agri4Kids: Inspiring the Next Generation of Farmers
This year, Agri4Kids has continued to inspire young minds across Taranaki by fostering a deeper connection to farming, sustainability and the environment. Through fun and interactive activities, Agri4Kids has helped children engage with the concepts of farming, conservation and healthy living, ensuring the next generation understands the value of sustainable practices.
Well done to Rahotu School and to Ratapiko School for getting involved earlier this year. What great learnings for the tamariki.
Agri4Kids continues to grow under the leadership of Nicola Bryant.
Xmas Farm Art Competition: Get Creative and Win Prizes!
The countdown to Christmas is on, and the 2024 Rural Taranaki Christmas Farm Art Competition is already underway! This year, we’re inviting all farmers, rural communities, and creative minds to show off their festive flair and capture the holiday spirit in their farm displays. Whether it’s a whimsical Christmas scene or a beautifully lit up festive farmyard, we want to see how you’re celebrating the season.
How to Enter
It’s simple! Create your own outdoor Christmas display, get creative, and snap a high-resolution photo of your farm art. Then, send it through to nicola@taranakicc.nz by 22 December. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to check out all the entries, vote for your favourites, and stay updated on the winners.
Prizes Up for Grabs
Best Farm Art Display – Show us your creative take on the holiday season!
Most Sustainable Message – Bonus points for incorporating sustainability into your display. We love seeing creative ways to spread an eco-friendly message.
Spot Prizes – There are plenty of exciting prizes from fantastic Taranaki businesses, just for participating!
Key Dates
Entries Close: 22 December 2024
Winners Announced: 23 December 2024
Spread the Word
Let your imagination run wild and be part of this fun competition that celebrates the best of rural Taranaki. Remember, by entering, your photos may also be used for promotional purposes, so make sure you capture your display at its best.
Whakaora Te Taranaki – Wai Restoration to Health
The Whakaora Te Taranaki – Wai Restoration to Health project has seen impressive progress this year, with ongoing efforts to restore and protect our region's freshwater ecosystems. This collaborative initiative has brought together farmers, local communities, and environmental organisations to ensure the long-term health of Taranaki’s rivers, streams and wetlands.
Through targeted interventions like willow removal, riparian planting, and fencing, the project has directly contributed to reducing sediment and nutrient runoff into our waterways. In addition to improving water quality, these actions support biodiversity and enhance the natural beauty of our region. With the continued support of stakeholders and the involvement of the farming community, Whakaora Te Taranaki is on track to meet its restoration goals, creating healthier ecosystems for both people and wildlife.
Power Up Your Farm Campaign
The Power Up Your Farm social media campaign has now come to an end, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. The campaign messaging has provided farmers with practical tips on reducing energy consumption and cutting costs through energy-efficient technologies. From lighting upgrades and smarter heating systems to optimising water use, farmers are discovering heaps of ways to make their operations more sustainable and economically viable.
Through a series of workshops and case studies, farmers have learned how energy savings can be reinvested into their businesses, improving both their bottom line and their environmental footprint. By working closely with farmers to implement these changes, we’ve seen tangible benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions and lower operational costs. The success of the campaign has set the stage for future initiatives focused on energy efficiency and sustainability, ensuring that Taranaki’s farming community remains at the forefront of innovation.
We couldn’t undertake this project without the support from Taranaki Regional Council, Federated Farmers, Venture Taranaki, EECA, Powerco and Todd Energy. For more resources and tips, check out our EnergySaving Guides at www.taranakicc.nz/taranaki-rural-energy.
Get the FACCTs
The FACCT workshops (Farming and Compliance Confidence Taranaki) are well underway, helping Taranaki farmers deepen their understanding of farm science to boost production, profitability, and regulatory compliance. These workshops aim to equip farmers with practical knowledge on topics such as catchment geology, soils, erosion, nutrients, freshwater, and greenhouse gas science.
Led by local farmer Campbell McCowan from PLANit Farming, the FACCT series provides valuable insights and resources tailored to the needs of Taranaki farmers.
The workshops have been providing a platform for farmers to share their experiences and learn from one another, fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting that the knowledge gained is helping them future-proof their farms.
To find out more about FACCT, please visit: www.taranakicc.nz/facct.
Fish Barrier Project
Want to know more about Īnanga and why they need protection? Check out our brand-new report titled 'Fish Barrier Project' to learn more about fish passage guidelines, examples of fish passage structures, and key design considerations.
Wai Connection has been working with TCC and local farmers to boost freshwater biodiversity in rural waterways, and this 12-month project focuses on breaking down barriers to fish passage, starting with a full catchment survey and culminating in practical solutions tailored for farmers. Īnanga, a key freshwater species, is the star of this project — indicating waterway health and thriving ecosystems. Visit www.taranakicc.nz/projects to read the report.
Rural Resilience Project
The Rural Resilience Project focuses on preparing farmers for climate-related challenges like floods, droughts and storms, which are increasing due to climate change. The project emphasises integrating resilience into farm planning to protect productivity and rural livelihoods.
The module was created by TCC and aims to equip farmers with the necessary tools and strategies to withstand and adapt to this type of challenges.
Key elements of the project include:
Risk Assessment and Management: Identifying and mitigating climate-related risks.
Sustainable Practices: Encouraging soil health, water management, and biodiversity.
Emergency Preparedness: Establishing response protocols for extreme weather events.
Community Support: Strengthening networks within rural communities.
Developed with input from organisations like DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and the Rural Support Trust, the project aligns with the Ministry for Primary Industries' goals for sustainable agriculture. Feedback from groups impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle also informs its approach. The module supports long-term sustainability by reducing costs and enhancing resilience across the agricultural sector.
Want to stay connected?
Sign up to our newsletter here!
