Thursday, 04 September 2025 10:55

Southland landowners offered catchment funding boost

Written by  Staff Reporters
Funding is available to all landowners within the Southland region looking to do projects that enhance water quality. Funding is available to all landowners within the Southland region looking to do projects that enhance water quality.

Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.

Funding is available to all landowners within the Southland region looking to do projects that enhance water quality, with up to 50% of the costs covered by the council. The total funding available is $140,000.

Environment Southland's general manager community and engagement Sam Rossiter-Stead says the funding is designed to support landowners who want to take action on environmental improvements.

"If you've identified ways to improve the environment on your property but haven't had the means to follow through, this funding could be the key to making it happen."

The Environment Southland funding is divided into two categories, one for land management and the other for native planting.

The Land Sustainability Mitigations Fund is designed to support landowners in implementing practical measures that contribute to improved freshwater outcomes. 

Projects eligible for funding include fencing for critical source areas, constructing and fencing wetlands, building detainment bunds, fencing gullies, planting erosion-control poles, installing bark chip bioreactors, and undertaking wetland restoration.


Read More:


Through this fund, Environment Southland will cover 50% of project costs, up to a maximum of $5,000.

The Southland Native Planting Fund also covers 50% of project costs, up to $3,000. It supports native planting adjacent to waterways, in wetlands, for forest restoration, in critical source areas, and on retired farmland.

To be eligible for funding, projects must be discussed with an Environment Southland land sustainability officer before submitting an application.

All projects must be completed within the financial year, with invoices submitted by 15 June, 2026.

For more information, contact Environment Southland to discuss your projects with a land sustainability officer on 0800 76 88 45.

More like this

Working with farmers to ensure best outcomes

OPINION: Recent media commentary from Southland Federated Farmers has raised concerns among our rural communities, particularly around Environment Southland’s approach to winter grazing inspections and nitrogen reporting. But let’s be clear, much of what’s been said simply doesn’t reflect reality.

Court decision a win for Southland farmers

Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.

Featured

Elite sheep dogs to go head-to-head at Ashburton A&P Show

A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.

Safer Rides initiative boosts farm quad bike safety

According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.

Editorial: Farewell Jim

OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Microplastics problem

OPINION: Microplastics are turning up just about everywhere in the global food supply, including in fish, cups of tea, and…

Job cuts

OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter