Waitahora Catchment Area

The Waitahora Landcare Collective started in 2019 and is a sub-catchment of the Manawatū River Catchment Collective. We have a core group of beef and sheep farmers, and a wider group including farmers and life stylers.

We have completed a number of projects including planting of native plants along waterways, control of invasive weeds, water quality and stream life initiatives, farm-planning and community wellbeing and social activities.

These activities have all been working towards our goals of securing the future of the Mangatoro River as a valuable asset to the valley, for all in our community to enjoy, having a good environment for both ongoing farming and for our outdoors interests. We also wish to continue to have a positive, engaged and well connected community.

Waitahora has a distinct valley catchment area with the Mangatoro River running through it for 40km from its source, growing in size and flow until it eventually feeds into the Manawatū River. The Mangatoro is fed by springs and rainfall catchment. Our plans for the future included increasing the rate of planting of trees to help stablise our vulnerable geology.