Catlins river at Houipapa
Our vision: Deeply connected and involved local communities thrive alongside sustainable resource use within the enhanced natural ecosystems that set The Catlins apart.
The Catlins Catchment Action Plan serves as a focus for environmental and natural resource management in The Catlins area of Otago. It is a long-term plan that builds on the work that mana whenua, communities and local government are already doing to protect and manage their place and serves as a focus for new actions and projects.
The Otago Regional Council endorsed the plan in November 2024 and provided $100,000 to assist the implementation of the plan's environmental strategies. Check out our latest progress updates to see how this funding has helped achieve some key foundational actions.
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The Catlins Community Weed Management Plan aims to protect and enhance the environment of the Catlins region in New Zealand through a community-led approach. The plan focuses on the eradication and control of significant weeds that threaten local ecosystems and biodiversity, providing direction for priority control actions over the next decade.
This community-led Invasive Mammal Management Plan brings together information from landowners, mana whenua, community groups, government agencies, and ecological data to identify where pest control should begin, which species should be targeted, and how work can be coordinated across the landscape.
A collaborative project led by Governance Group member, Gavin White with key involvement from Forest and Bird, the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and community volunteers, successfully eradicated rabbits from the headland and installed a rabbit-proof fence. This project will help protect the biodiversity values of Long Point-Irahuka and supports ongoing restoration of this critically important habitat for Tītī, hioho and other seabids.
Collaboration and collective effort sit at the heart of the Catchment Action Plan (CAP) and continue to drive delivery on the ground. The Catlins CAP Governance Group has been established and is now meeting regularly to guide this work. The group is led by Co-Chairs Vincent Leith and Grant Bradford.
Over the last few months, our team has been working hard to create the first part of the Catchment Action Plan. If you're curious and want to check it out, you can download the full plan right at the top of this page, or explore our lovely StoryMap.
Status: Complete Nov 2024
July 2026
Vincent Leith and Alana Bensemann
PDF | 1 MB
The Otago Catlins Invasive Mammal Management Plan sets out a clear pathway for reducing the impact of pest mammals across the Otago side of the Catlins over the next ten years. The plan brings together information from landowners, mana whenua, community groups, government agencies, and ecological data to identify where pest control should begin, which species should be targeted, and how work can be coordinated across the landscape.
July 2026
Lynne Huggins
PDF | 1 MB
The plan focuses on the eradication and control of significant weeds that threaten local ecosystems and biodiversity, providing direction for priority control actions over the next decade.
November 2024
PDF | 6 MB
The full, comprehensive document that details what we want to enhance and protect, and outlines the first steps in doing that.
November 2024
PDF | 3 MB
A 4-page brochure that outlines the ecosystems that the plan aims to protect and enhance, and the work we need to undertake together.
PDF | 319 KB
A document outlining the scope of work for The Catlins Integrated Catchment Group (CICG) and how the group will work together. The Catlin's Integrated Catchment Group Terms of Reference: outlines the purpose of the CICG, describes how ORC defines a Catchment Action Plan, outlines the responsibilities of CICG members, describes the process of membership to the CICG, and describes the general working processes of the CICG.
If you have any pātai (questions) or whakaaro (thoughts, comments), please get in touch with our team at: icm@orc.govt.nz
