Projects | Tukipo Catchment Care Group

BEL Group riparian planting, Ashley Clinton

Projects at a Glance

Projects across the catchment reflect a wide range of practical on-farm projects, from riparian planting and fencing to wetland creation, dam development, agroforestry and trapping. Each one contributes to improving land and water outcomes in ways that make sense for individual properties.

The White Wetland

Funded by Fonterra and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in partnership with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Tukipo Catchment Care Group (TCCG), the White Wetland aims to improve water quality and biodiversity in the catchment while also providing scientists with valuable data on how effective constructed wetlands are in removing nitrogen and other contaminants from farm runoff.

For more information including water monitoring results, head to www.tukitukilandcare.org/tukipo-wetland-monitoring

Tyler Property

Dam construction
Riparian planting
Fencing

Connecting Land, Water and Wildlife - June 2025

Environmental improvements are becoming part of good farm management in Central Hawke’s Bay, with many farmers seeing the value of projects that protect waterways, build biodiversity, and improve the function and resilience of their land. These efforts are delivering practical gains on-farm while also contributing to wider environmental outcomes.
Colin Tyler is seeing the results first-hand on his 80-hectare cattle property in the Tukipo sub-catchment. “Most of the environmental projects we do on-farm aren’t solving just one issue, they’re doing a bit of everything,” he says. “Whether it’s improving grazing management, reducing nutrient loss, or building biodiversity, they’re delivering real, multi-benefit outcomes.”
As Principal Consultant – Environmental at Ravensdown, chair of the Tukipo Catchment Care Group, and a member of the executive committee of Central Hawke’s Bay’s farmer-led catchment collective Tukituki Land Care, Colin is well placed to lead by example. On his own farm, he’s steadily working through projects that improve water quality, reduce sediment loss, and create valuable habitat for native plants and wildlife.
One of his main efforts over the past three years has been restoring an intermittent stream that runs through the property. This is part of a four-year wetland project, and so far about 400 metres of stream have been fenced and planted to create a thriving riparian corridor. The work links into similar projects on neighbouring farms, helping build a connected landscape for native birds, insects, and aquatic life.
“We can see the area from the house, which is pretty satisfying,” says Colin. “It’s taken out some unproductive country where the cattle used to get stuck and cause a mess — and now it’s a beautiful area with native birds popping up and ducks nesting.”
The project is part-funded by the Ministry for the Environment through the Tukipo Catchment Care Group, with farmers matching the funding 50:50. “That co-investment makes you really think about what you’re doing, but having the catchment group involved gives you momentum to get the job done.”
Around 3,000 natives have gone in so far, planted by family and a local crew. Carex and flax line the stream edges, with karamū, mānuka, and cabbage trees further back. Plant guards have made a noticeable difference. “They’ve been a game-changer. Protection from hares, wind and weeds really helps.”
His second major project focused on fencing and planting around a farm dam, which doubles as a duck shooting spot and water source for stock. Support came via the catchment group, with advice from the NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust. Mini ponds were added for better duck habitat. A digger raised the dam wall to increase capacity, and natives, willows and poplars now stabilise the area.
Well-planned environmental projects can boost farm productivity while enhancing local ecosystems. With strong support from catchment groups like Tukituki Land Care, these efforts are building a healthier, more resilient landscape for the future.

XX native plants

Tennent Property

Riparian planting
Fencing

Locals Backing Locals: Where Farming, Environment and Community Connect - May 2026

Over the past eight years, Tom and Anna Tennent have reshaped parts of their Ashley Clinton farm, planting around 20,000 native trees and plants and fencing 9 kilometres of waterways. What began as a single wetland project has evolved into a practical, long-term approach that strengthens both the farm and its surrounding environment.
“We started out fencing and planting a wetland we created with some help from the Game Bird Habitat Trust,” says Tom. “It looked great, we could see the benefits, so we decided to keep going.”
From there, planting expanded along waterways, building momentum year by year. That momentum stepped up again when the Tukipo Catchment Care Group secured $2.2 million through the Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund.
Through the wider catchment programme, the Tennents accessed matched funding, extending their work by a further 5 kilometres of fencing and establishing around 13,000 native plants. “It made a big difference to what we could get done,” says Tom. “The worry now is what happens next, because there are plenty of farmers keen to do more, but it’s hard to keep that momentum going without a bit of support.”
With 16 hectares of waterways and wetlands now protected with 7-wire fencing and 13 hectares established in natives, Tom says the work has changed how parts of the farm function day to day. “We have fenced off areas that used to be a real headache with boggy ground where stock would get stuck. Those same places are now some of the best parts of the farm. They provide shelter and habitat, and they just work better for everything we’re trying to do.”
As the project scaled up, so did the need for extra hands. Tom approached Takapau-based family business Kintail Honey to see if they could help get plants in the ground. Damien Ward of Kintail says the timing worked well during a quieter period. “It was our downtime, and we were more than happy to help. We had eight to ten workers helping for a couple of weeks over two winters.” The team planted thousands of natives, laid weed mats, installed plant guards and matched species carefully to site conditions. “Bees like trees, and we were happy to get plants in the ground for the bees,” Damien says.
The connection took an unexpected turn when Tom paid Kintail Honey’s $14,000 invoice for the work and the company chose to donate the full amount to the Takapau Health Centre. “The health centre had a big fundraising push underway, so it felt like a good way to contribute,” Damien says.
It is a clear example of locals backing locals. A farm-based environmental project supported by a local business, with that effort then redirected into a community facility. What started as a wetland has become something wider, a reminder that when farmers, businesses and communities pull in the same direction, the impact reaches well beyond the farm gate.

Tylee / Bishop Property

QE11 Protection
Fencing
Planting

Collaboration sees beech podocarp forest protected - November 2023

When Rosie Bishop and John Tylee purchased their farm nineteen years ago, they were drawn to the indigenous forest on it. They knew they wanted to protect what bush they could and now, with help from a number of groups, they have done just that.
A collaboration between QEII National Trust, HBRC, Tukipo Catchment Care Group (TCCG), and the Ministry for the Environment has enabled Rosie and John to fully protect and preserve a very special 14.5 hectare beech-podocarp remnant forest on their farm near Norsewood, between the Makaretu and Mangatewai rivers.
“We don’t really think of this place as ours, rather we are just looking after it for a short time, while we are here” says Rosie.
“The farm is only about 50 per cent effective, but it was the ineffective that was the drawcard for us”, adds John. “We farm the front to make a living, but we really enjoy the bush and scrub out the back.”
Soon after buying the farm, Rosie and John knew they wanted to protect a significant bush area and they began looking at various possibilities. With the farm nestled into the foothills of the Ruahine Range and home to large numbers of wild deer, Forest Ecologist Adam Forbes advised that the forest fence had to exclude deer. Anything less would just make the bush a magnet to deer. “That is when we realised that we could not protect this bush without a lot of help”, says Rosie.
“We are so appreciative of the assistance we received. Collectively we are all wanting the same things- to reduce erosion, enhance water quality and protect and enhance biodiversity”.
Funding support for the project came from QEII National Trust, HBRC, Tukipo Catchment Care Group (TCCG), Ministry for the Environment and John and Rosie themselves. As well as financial support, QEII National Trust were able to offer protection for the site in the form of a covenant which protects the land in perpetuity.
“The way the different agencies worked together is a fantastic example of how it can happen and make a big job achievable”, says Troy Duncan, HB representative at QEII National Trust. “Having the area deer fenced to a high standard and the legal protection of a QEII National Trust covenant will allow the native vegetation to regenerate uninterrupted and long term will be a good example of what can happen. John and Rosie’s commitment and determination to their vision and the ongoing work they intend to put into the area is inspiring.”
The forest is home to a number of native trees including red beech, rimu, totara and kahikatea. Native birds including the threatened (nationally vulnerable) New Zealand falcon are present too. Seed source is abundant both inside the block and on the adjacent land and with the 1.7 km of deer fence now up, seedlings will naturally come through. This will be supplemented by some planting inside the block. In September, Rosie and John were delighted to accept 3000 mānuka seedlings gifted from Comvita, and they were planted inside the block using a grant from TCCG.
“Without permanent forest cover, land and waterways within the covenant area would be vulnerable to severe erosion”, says Warwick Hesketh, principal advisor catchment management at HBRC. “It’s great to be able to partner with landowners like John and Rosie and the QEII Trust to get these sustainable land management and biodiversity outcomes”.
To celebrate the completion of this project, locals and representatives from the groups involved recently walked together to the forest entrance where they had the privilege of a special karakia and blessing from Jo Heperi and Tipene Heperi of Ngai Tahu ki Takapau.
This is a really great example of the power of community and collaboration”, says Colin Tyler, chair of TCCG. “When you can get a whole lot of people and groups with similar goals to all work in the same direction, it is amazing what you can achieve”.
This newly protected podocarp forest sits within the Tukipo subcatchment which is part of the wider Tukituki catchment. Tukituki Land Care is a farmer-led catchment collective which supports sub-catchment groups of the Tukituki River, enabling funding and action to benefit the region.
This newly protected podocarp forest sits within the Tukipo subcatchment which is part of the wider Tukituki catchment. Tukituki Land Care is a farmer-led catchment collective which supports sub-catchment groups of the Tukituki River, enabling funding and action to benefit the region.

White Wetland

This ambitious project aims to improve water quality and biodiversity in the catchment while also providing scientists with valuable data on how effective constructed wetlands are in removing nitrogen and other contaminants from farm runoff.