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Kia ora and welcome to our April issue!
Inside: a possum-free peninsula, look out for kākā in your backyard, and how to tell your damsel from your dragon. All this and public transport for the win …
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Otago's Integrated Catchment Management programme accelerated
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All of Otago will soon have plans in place protecting and enhancing catchment areas.
The Integrated Catchment Management programme to co-develop catchment action plans with community and mana whenua across the region has been accelerated, and by December 2027, all of Otago will have catchment action plans in place almost two years ahead of the original schedule.
What is a Catchment Action Plan (CAP)?
A CAP is a non-regulatory plan for the management and conservation of an entire catchment or catchments, building on the work that iwi, communities, catchment groups and local government are already doing to protect and manage their place. These plans cover freshwater as well as terrestrial and saltwater environments, along with land, soils and key human values.
Like to be part of the group that will co-develop the Dunedin Coastal Catchments CAP? Find more information and submit an expression of interest here. Expressions of interest close 27 April.
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The traps have fallen silent; the possums are gone
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One of our main roles is supporting the environmentally beneficial projects of regional community groups.
So naturally we are stoked to be celebrating the Otago Peninsula being declared possum free! Our friends at the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG) and Predator Free Dunedin (PFD) are claiming this landmark win after more than 15 years of determined effort.
Hoani Langsbury, chair of the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group, says, “This has been a team effort over almost two decades. Working together, the community has achieved what many said was impossible!”
This makes it one of the first inhabited landscape-scale areas in Aotearoa New Zealand to eliminate possums. Until quite recently, locals say there were virtually no kererū past Portobello. Now, native forests, coastal habitats and backyards are already responding, with korimako / bellbirds, tūī and others returning in greater numbers.
Alongside the community’s stalwart volunteers, we’re proud to have played a part with funding support through ORC’s ECO Fund.
“This is a defining moment for conservation in Aotearoa”, says Sally Peart, chairperson of Predator Free Dunedin.
“It proves we can remove possums from a large, lived-in landscape when communities and landowners, mana whenua, councils and national partners pull in the same direction – and the benefits for our birds, forests and people will be felt for generations.”
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The bad old days: the fella on the quad bike is Bob Morris, who has a farm on Sandymount. This photo is from the early days of the programme and shows how thick the possum populations were out that way!
PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY OPBG
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An image from one of the PFD trail cams in The Cove when the team was hunting the final possums. This was a particular win, as the team suspected there was a possum in the area and then caught it on camera — which allowed them to pinpoint its location and remove it.
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Possums are voracious eaters, killing native trees and consuming native bird eggs and chicks. They also spread diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, to cattle. Read more about why they are pests.
See a possum on the peninsula? Report it: www.reportapossum.nz
Could yours be Otago’s next environmental good news story? ECO Fund applications close on 19 April, so rattle ya dags and get one in.
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Ōamaru–Dunedin public bus service proposed
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Ōamaru. Inset: an Orbus public bus.
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Otago Regional Council is considering running a public transport service between Ōamaru and Dunedin.
Orbus would operate this proposed service on full-size buses. It would be separate from the Ōamaru community shuttle that is currently being trialled. The proposed service would operate once a day from Ōamaru to Dunedin and return.
We’d like to know your thoughts about this proposed service.
We’re running a survey that will be used to gauge potential demand and preferences, such as departure times. The survey closes at 5pm on Wednesday, 6 May.
What happens next?
The survey data will be presented to Council in June. If the proposed service is approved, it will start before the end of 2026.
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Ōamaru community transport trial extended
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Husband and wife Ken and Sheryl, who share the driving for the Ōamaru community shuttle
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ORC’s first foray into community transport is to be extended beyond the original six-month trial, with a further funding contribution of up to $25,000. The trial will now end on 30 September 2026.
A not-for-profit transport service funded and operated by local organisations to improve access and fill public transport gaps, the trial has included direct services to Dunedin, as well as connecting to the Orbus network in Palmerston three days a week.
Well supported by Ōamaruvians – with 210 people making 136 trips in its first four months – the trial would not have been possible without the support of the Ōamaru Community Shuttle Steering Group. Its members have played a significant and critical role, including organising volunteer drivers who take people to their desired location. So far, volunteers have contributed more than 1300 hours to the trial. Van-tastic!
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Is that a kākā in your backyard?
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As sustained predator control creates a safer habitat, really lovely things start to happen with the return of native biodiversity. One of these is the reappearance of South Island kākā in urban Dunedin gardens, with Predator Free Dunedin (PFD) receiving reports of kākā being spotted in city backyards.
There have been no wild kākā in Dunedin for 150 years, so this is HUGE. For these taoka manu / treasured birds, their return reflects the combined efforts of Orokonui Ecosanctuary / Te Korowai o Mihiwaka (with the populations there now spilling over the fences) and the Dunedin Botanic Garden breed-for-release programme, alongside the wider PFD collective.
The closest living relative of kākā is the kea. The kea and kākā became separate species 1.72 million years ago due to ecological divergence, driving the kākā to specialise in more forested environments and the kea to specialise in alpine habitats (and your tent, if you don’t keep an eye out).
What to do if you see a kākā
Kākā are highly curious, cheeky, and clever. They have massive personalities and frequently interact with new and novel things found in urban backyards, sometimes causing mischief! While having these special forest parrots is an exciting addition to our backyards, we’d like to remind people of the following:
Do not feed the birds or provide them with sugar water. Feeding these birds can disrupt their development and lead to a painful and disabling deformity known as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Feeding can also spread disease and encourage bad behaviours, especially for younger birds.
Please be a responsible pet companion. Keeping your cat indoors at night and ensuring dogs are contained or on leash around the birds will go a long way towards ensuring their nesting success across our city.
Please don’t encourage or attempt to ‘play’ with the birds. If we entice them, we may be putting them in harm’s way. The safest kākā is a wild kākā.
Create native habitat in your backyard. While kākā will opportunistically forage on garden fruits, nectar, berries and seeds from native trees form part of their natural diet. Planting native trees, such as kōwhai, rātā, harakeke/flax and beech, is recommended – avoid leaving sweet junk food lying about, as they are very ‘sweet-beaked’.
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Which pest worries you the most?
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Some species currently on our Pest Hub. From left: lagarosiphon, bomarea, freshwater clam and Bennett’s wallaby.
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We are reviewing our regional pest plan and want you to get involved.
An online survey is running until 29 May, asking which pests worry you the most, why and where they are. This will give us a picture of people’s concerns around pest issues in Otago and frame decisions during the review of the current plan. There will be plenty of opportunities for communities to have their say about which pests should be in the new plan before it is notified in 2027.
What’s a pest plan?
Glad you asked! A regional pest management plan (RPMP) identifies pests in the region and sets goals to either keep certain pests out of Otago, get rid of them, or reduce them. The plan also makes rules for people to follow.
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There are many pest species that can impact Otago’s environment, communities and economy – 51 species are currently managed under ORC’s Regional Pest Management Plan.
How can I get involved?
Information on the pest plan review’s stages, the 51 pests in the current plan and a link to the online survey can be found at orc.govt.nz/pestplanreview
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Adopt a Drain launches in Central Otago
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The Cromwell NZ Scout Group and their adopted drain in Ortive St, Cromwell.
Back row, from left: Jade Powe (Cubs leader), Quinton Penniall (CODC), Jonwin Hellewell (Cubs Leader), Molly Mexted (Venturer), Mandy Smith (Cubs leader), James Livingstone (Venturer), Jaylene Harper (ORC).
Middle row: Georgia Howden, Paige Smith, Ivy Stanger, Axel Stables, Thomas Lush, Aaliyah-Rose Allison.
Bottom row: Alfie Faulkner, Oli Jones, Willow Templer.
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A community initiative helping protect Central Otago’s waterways has launched in Cromwell, with the Cromwell NZ Scout Group teaming up with ORC to take action against stormwater pollution.
People don’t always realise that whatever goes into a stormwater drain flows directly into our rivers, lakes and streams without being treated. The Adopt a Drain programme, which is underway across Otago, helps make that connection clear and gives communities practical ways to look after the places they care about.
Combining a school-based and community initiative encouraging neighbourhoods to ‘adopt’ a nearby stormwater drain, the programme includes a 30-minute workshop to learn what stormwater is, how to safely care for local drains, and simple actions people can take to prevent stormwater pollution. At the end of the workshop, a metal fish is installed on the adopted drain as a visible reminder that they are only meant to drain rain. Then, the household or group take on the role of looking after it – helping to keep it clear and applying what they’ve learned in the workshop to their everyday actions.
ORC has an interactive map of stormwater drains across Otago, showing adopted drains marked with a fish icon so you can keep track of them.
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Cromwell Scout Group members watch stormwater drain into Lake Dunstan
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Don’t go in blindfolded, make sure you have the right gear — readiness key on the field and in an emergency
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Highlanders Nasi Manu (left) and Ben Smith find out first-hand how hard it is to go blindfolded
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As a coach, you wouldn’t put your team on the field blindfolded, and the recent household emergency plan campaign featuring members of the Highlanders promoted great tips from Emergency Management Otago about the importance of being prepared.
In an emergency, everyone has a role to play:
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Who checks on the kids or neighbours?
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Who grabs the emergency kit?
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Where do you meet if you can’t get home?
Knowing your role ahead of time helps reduce stress and confusion when it matters most.
Make your plan today!
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Be prepared – having the right gear is key, on the field and in an emergency.
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Why is spartina a pest?
Groups of spartina form thick grassy clumps that spread through underground rhizomes (continuously growing underground stems) or by overground side shoots. Spartina can establish in estuary environments (where there is a mix of fresh water and salt water), causing a build-up of sediment.
This can alter the natural flushing cycles of the estuary habitat, increase the risk of flooding and change the habitat for wading bird species and other estuary flora and fauna.
What does it look like?
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Size: Commonly grows up to one metre tall.
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Leaves: Alternating leaves (5–45 mm long by 4–15 mm wide) are deeply wide ribbed on the upper surface. Leaves are smooth to the touch in both directions, unlike other grasses, which feel rough in one direction.
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Seeds: Several long finger-like seed heads at the top of the stems and thick in appearance. Seeds fall into the water and float away.
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Root system: Rhizomes and fibrous roots with erect stems that are 4–9 mm in diameter.
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Similar species: The small native seagrass Zostera, which can be differentiated by its thin, ribbon-like leaves that lie flat at low tide.
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Habitat: Shallow saltwater and freshwater environments, particularly estuaries.
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What should I do?
If you think you have spotted spartina, please let us know by reporting it:
Learn more about how to spot spartina on our Pest Hub.
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Luke and Nicole Kane with daughter Poppy
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Luke and Nicole Kane, of Westholm Dairies in Tapanui, have been named the Otago Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards — recognised for their farming system that balances performance with environmental stewardship and respect for family legacy.
They also won the Otago Regional Council Water Enhancement award, presented by Councillor Chanel Gardner at an event held at the Wingatui Functions Centre in Dunedin last night.
Councillor Gardner presented them with the award, saying, “At ORC, our role is to care for Otago's environment from the mountains to the sea, but it's the hard work and investment of community leaders like tonight's recipients that truly help bring this vision to life. Their dedication to protecting water quality not only enhances their own land but benefits the wider community for generations to come. We're proud to celebrate their efforts.”
The Kane family has farmed their 668-hectare property for nearly a century. Today, Luke and Nicole have successfully transitioned part of the wider family business into a high-performing 700-cow dairy operation, while maintaining strong links to the broader Kane Farms enterprise.
Other awards for Luke and Nicole:
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Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
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DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
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Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
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Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
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Otago Regional Council Water Enhancement Award
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. . . Otago has seven species of dragonflies and damselflies?
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to an order of insects called Odonata, meaning ‘toothed’ and originating from the powerful serrated jaws (or 'mandibles') that these species typically have. Odonata is an ancient order, with the oldest fossil record of a dragonfly dating back more than 250 million years.
Can’t tell your damsel from your dragon? They may look similar, but there are some significant differences. Damselflies tend to be smaller and look more delicate; they have wide set eyes and hold their wings close to their body when at rest.
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Dragonflies tend to be larger and appear more heavy set, their eyes are larger and close together, and they keep their wings outstretched when at rest.
Find out more on our new web page ‘Dragonflies and damselflies’.
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Workshop participants use water-gauging equipment in the Hokitika Gorge
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The 14th NZ Hydrological Society’s 2026 Technical Workshop was recently held, with 170 attendees — including some from our team.
With only 400–500 specialists nationwide, the NZ hydrology community is small but passionate — this makes global collaboration and sharing of knowledge more important.
The gauging regatta wasn’t just about putting the latest water-flow equipment to the ultimate test; it was about checking our consistency against international standards alongside partners from Australia, Austria and beyond.
High-quality flow and level data are the backbone of flood protection, policymaking and environmental health.
When we share specialised knowledge and collaborate, the whole country benefits from stronger water management.
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Young kaitiaki in action — Enviroschools primary school hui at Kakanui
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Rock decorating was a popular activity
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Despite a wild day of wind and rain, the energy inside was inspiring as students from across the Waitaki District came together to explore the theme ‘Water of Life.’
While the weather meant they couldn’t head down to the Kakanui River mouth as planned, the activity leaders quickly adapted their outdoor learning into engaging indoor experiences — proving that great learning can happen anywhere!
Throughout the day, students discovered how water connects everything — our rivers, oceans, wildlife, food systems and communities. Through hands-on activities and conversations, they explored how we can all act as kaitiaki (guardians) of our waterways and natural environment.
One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing students from different schools connect, share ideas and learn together, strengthening their confidence to take environmental action back in their own schools and communities.
A huge thank you to all of our activity leaders for your flexibility, passion and dedication. Your willingness to pivot at short notice created a day filled with curiosity, laughter, learning and inspiration.
The future of our environment is in good hands with these young people leading the way.
Kā mihi nui to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
For more information about Enviroschools, contact the team at enviroschools@orc.govt.nz
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With the help of ORC catchment advisor Jack, students learned how to measure water turbidity (visual clarity) with a clarity tube
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Find out about upcoming community events and Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing onstream@orc.govt.nz
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