Wednesday, 19 March 2025 08:55

Fonterra gives $250,000 for wetlands repair

Written by  Staff Reporters
The grant will support community groups in restoring wetlands. The grant will support community groups in restoring wetlands.

Through its new partnership with New Zealand Landcare Trust, Fonterra has committed to funding ten $25,000 grants for wetland restoration in communities across the country.

The partnership was officially launched at Donald's farm in Whitford, Auckland last month, with Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay in attendance along with members of the NZ Landcare Trust board and representatives from Fonterra.

The $250,000 in grants over the next three years will support community groups to restore and improve wetlands.

Fonterra's group director of global external affairs, Simon Tucker, says working in partnership is key to delivering meaningful impact for communities.

"Collaborating with our partners at NZ Landcare Trust ensures this investment supports communities at a grassroots level. We're grateful to the many farmers, communities and volunteers who are passionate about caring for wetlands, preserving them for generations to come."

For almost 30 years, NZ Landcare Trust has supported farmers and catchment groups with expert guidance and free educational support, promoting sustainable practices for managing land and water resources. Through the new partnership, they will support the delivery of the grants to catchments nationwide.

NZ Landcare Trust chief executive Dr Nick Edgar says wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems, playing a vital role in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and flood mitigation.

"We are proud to partner with Fonterra and local catchment groups to restore these essential environmental assets through collaborative, community-led stewardship. This initiative allows us to regenerate and protect wetlands with greater efficiency and meaningful impact."

Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining water quality, earning them the nickname the 'Earth's kidneys'. The natural ecosystems filter and purify surrounding soil, improving both water and land quality. Additionally, wetlands function as sponges, absorbing excess water and significantly reduce the risk of flooding.

Regional partners and community groups can submit their expressions of interest through the NZ Landcare Trust website here.

The new partnership is made possible through the co-operative's Doing Good Together programme, which focuses on three pillars: putting good quality nutrition in the hands of those who need it most; providing care and support to keep rural communities strong; and empowering communities to protect and restore nature for future generations.

NZ Landcare Trust/Ngā Matapopore Whenua is a grassroots organisation supporting communities in beneficial land and water management practices. They partner with rural communities, catchment and landcare groups and other organisations to make a tangible difference in the future of New Zealand's waterways.

NZ Landcare Trust's work programme is funded by the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry for Primary Industries. They also secure and complete a series of additional projects each year.

More like this

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

"Our" business?

OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it both ways when it comes to the success of NZ's dairy industry.

NZ seeks certainty on US tariff, says McClay

Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.

Farmers' call

OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

Machinery & Products

Leader balers arrive in NZ

Officially launched at the National Fieldays event in June, the Leader in-line conventional PRO 1900 balers are imported and distributed…

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter