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Talk about windy woo! Days of southwesterlies can really make you lose the run of yourself.
Now that we’ve retrieved the trampoline, it’s time to check out new tech, dive into an octopus’s garden with a coastal scientist, and get ready to ask, ‘What’s your Why?’
We hope you’re blown away.
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Kōrero with us!
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A Kōrero Gecko
PHOTO: CAREY KNOX
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The Kōrero Gecko likes a chat, and so do we!
If you have ideas for stories you’d like us to cover, email onstream@orc.govt.nz
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Freshwater Farm Plans for Otago in 2024
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Otago farmers are being urged to start thinking about developing Freshwater Farm Plans, which will begin to be rolled out in Otago early next year.
Freshwater Farm Plans are a key part of the New Zealand Government’s wider Essential Freshwater reforms, aiming to protect and improve freshwater quality and ecosystems.
ORC’s Acting General Manager Regulatory, Joanna Gilroy, says the cornerstone of the Freshwater Farm Plans is to support and focus on-farm actions to address any impacts on freshwater, wetlands and eco-systems.
“The plans will be property-specific and give farmers the flexibility to find the right solutions for their farm and catchment area,” she says.
The plans must include maps identifying waterways and wetlands, any contaminant discharges, and any risks to freshwater and freshwater ecosystems from activities such as irrigation, nutrient application, effluent, winter grazing, stock-holding areas, stock exclusion, offal pits or farm landfills.
All pastoral or arable land of more than 20 hectares will require a Freshwater Farm Plan, as will all horticultural land of 5 hectares or more.
The rollout of this requirement starts on 1 August in Southland and Waikato, while Otago, the West Coast and Manawatu are listed in the second phase of the rollout, which is expected to begin early next year. The plan development will be phased in region-wide over the following 18 months.
For Otago, the phasing is likely to follow the boundaries of the ORC’s existing five Freshwater Management Units (FMU)/rohe areas, beginning with North Otago.
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What plant, where?
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The clever clogs in our Environmental Implementation, Science and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) teams have developed a new online tool to help communities find the most suitable native plants for their specific area — and people seem to really dig it!
Our new Otago Native Planting Guide is an interactive map that uses potential ecosystem information to produce a list of native species best suited to plant in your area.
We asked ORC’s Manager Environmental Implementation, Libby Caldwell, about the inspiration behind the guide.
Q: What started this project off?
A: ORC staff had received feedback that having the resources available to identify plants likely to survive in the areas where people are wanting to undertake planting projects would be useful.
We have listened to feedback from community members across the region and created this resource to support the great environmental work happening throughout Otago.
Q: How long did it take to create?
A: The information in this resource has been created from a range of work the ORC Science team has been doing. The planting guide and associated tool have been in development since mid-2022.
Mrs Caldwell says the landscape has been greatly modified since humans arrived in Aotearoa, noting plants are the “building blocks” to restore a healthy ecosystem.
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“In many places, our native birds have also disappeared. By planting the right species, in the right place, we hope to bring our native fauna back, as well as improving water quality and helping toward climate change responses,” she says.
The Otago Native Planting Guide works by users entering their project location, address or clicking on the map, which then creates a downloadable list of what native species should be planted at their site.
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Ask an ORC Scientist
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This month, we talk to coastal scientist Sam.
We never promised you a sponge garden, but there are sponge gardens off the coast of Moeraki and kelp forests galore. Looking after all this underwater botanica is the job of Otago Regional Council coastal scientist Sam. The role involves measuring the health of Otago’s estuaries as well as our coastline.
“For the coastal side, we need to map what’s out there. Ecological area mapping shows what’s under the ocean — things like reefs dotted about, and the indigenous biodiversity of the area — so that if, say, a consent came to set up aquaculture off the Otago coast, we’d be able to advise, ‘move it 20km away from that beautiful sponge garden.’
“The cool part of the job is the tech we use — drones, satellite monitoring to map kelp forests and monitor the effects of marine heatwaves, sonar that pings a 3D image of the sea bottom, a drop camera (on a piece of rope, you drop it over the side of the boat and towards the bottom), a tow camera and remote-controlled mini submarines.
The estuary kit is the opposite of high tech: spade, trowel and concrete pavers that are buried in the sediment to measure sediment deposition and erosion within the estuary.”
Sam says the hard part of the job is that his ‘patch’ is so vast.
“We cover from the Waitaki River all the way down to Wallace Beach, north of Waikawa in eastern Southland and 12 nautical miles out to sea. Our coastline features canyon heads 1.5 kilometres deep.
“That’s a lot of biodiversity in one area when you’ve got albatrosses, yellow-eyed penguins and abundant fish life, not to mention all the critters who live in our estuaries.”
Sam’s favourite critter is the cockle: “I’m biased — my PhD research was based on cockles.”
Bet he makes a mean chowder: “I do!”
Favourite part of the job?
“Working with community groups to achieve a change in estuary health. Groups wanting to take the bull by the horns. It’s a slow process, we can measure change in K’s of fencing and planting … there’s a big lag in time — it can take 9 years for changes in the catchment to show up in the estuarine health.
“Any reduction in sediment helps both the estuary and the kelp forests in the sea. Another cool thing is being part of the coastal special-interest group, providing advice to MfE on policy and national monitoring protocols — practical applications that make meaningful change.”
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Measuring estuarine health at Blueskin Bay
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A freediver and fisherman in his spare time, Sam’s work/life balance is more the life aquatic, spending most of his time in the coastal environment. When he’s not in a wetsuit, he’s in togs and booties (not waders — too sweaty).
Sam’s passionate about our estuary health and protecting our environment.
“Otago’s estuaries are generally good. Some have their issues, overall they are in good condition. They are really special places as they’re hotspots of biodiversity — home to many different species, such as godwits and flounder.”
Do you have a question for Sam? Email askascientist@orc.govt.nz.
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What’s YOUR Why?
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Looking after Otago’s environment is our ‘Why’ — it’s at the heart of everything we do.
What’s YOUR why? Maybe your ‘why’ is also your wai — the water you care about. Think about the places in Otago you love to spend time with friends and family. Is there a mighty river that forms a part of your childhood memories? A lake where you like to launch the boat? What does caring for Papatūānuku (the land) mean to you?
The benefits of good environmental protection are generational. Which is why a big piece of work being carried out by our Policy team right now is the drafting of a new Land and Water Regional Plan designed to safeguard the future of Otago’s rivers, lakes, and streams and the land that surrounds them.
We’ll soon be coming to you with our draft thinking for your feedback — your opinions, your why. Together, let’s make a plan that will go the distance. Watch this space.
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Meet your ORC councillors
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High above Otago Harbour, Cr Bryan Scott’s home looks down on Quarantine Island, looking back into a past of sailing ships and pioneers pitted against the elements.
Up here, the rock walls early farmers built still remain, and the native trees they cut down are being replaced. Bryan has planted 3500 natives in amongst the broom, which shelters them from the wind while they grow — very slowly.
“They’ll get there,” he says.
Matter-of-fact, the kind of person who does exactly what it says on the tin, Cr Scott is a straightforward guy.
“I try to be a reasonably open book. I don’t have a master plan; I’m just trying to do my bit.”
Wearing a scratchy wool jersey, tent drying out on the living room floor, he has just returned from a 10-day tramp. He likes testing himself in nature.
“That’s how I grew up, on a rough, hill country farm. I used to do mountaineering, and tramping is keeping the candle alight.”
Bryan trekked the South Island section of the Te Araroa Trail in 2020 and wrote a book about his experience, ‘My Trail, Te Wai Pounamu’.
“When you’re up at the headwaters of the rivers, generally, the environment there is very good. You get to experience the way our environment was. While down in the lowlands, we need to aspire to be better than we are. It’s happening at long last —better late than never — we’re realising our environmental responsibilities.”
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What do you think about our website?
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Take our website survey and be in to win one of eight supermarket gift cards loaded with $30 credit!
The survey should take 2-5 minutes to complete, depending on the length of your answers. Your feedback will be retained within ORC.
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ORC ABC
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M is for … Macroinvertebrate
A macroinvertebrate is any animal lacking a backbone, large enough to see without the aid of a microscope. Basically, a spineless bug in a stream that you can see. A diverse community of macroinvertebrates indicates a healthy system.
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Dobsonfly (toe biter) (Archichauliodes)
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Excellence in effluent management
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ORC’s Consents and Compliance team gives an effluent (and excellent) presentation at the Tokomairiro rugby club
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The ORC ran two workshops recently, advising around rules and consenting for effluent storage ponds and its discharge to land.
Consents, Compliance and an industry expert presented on the topic in Milton and Weston. Catchment Advisors were also there to provide advice and information. This was a great opportunity for farmers to connect with ORC staff as well as industry professionals.
We had over 30 attendees at both events and received positive feedback about the information and speakers.
More events are being looked into for the coming months. Anyone with questions about effluent storage or discharge is encouraged to contact catchments@orc.govt.nz.
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Be on the lookout …
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Freshwater gold clam is a hitchhiker Otago doesn’t want!
New to Aotearoa New Zealand and recently discovered along a stretch of the Waikato River, this pest spreads fast, blocks irrigation and hydro systems and competes with our native species.
It’s only been found up north so far, but our worry is that people transporting recreational equipment such as boats and trailers, fishing gear, paddleboards, kayaks, or jet skis between the North and South Islands may inadvertently bring this new pest to Otago. So, we’re getting the word out in the hope we can prevent a new aquatic pest from invading our beautiful lakes and rivers.
Check, clean and dry your gear to prevent the spread of this and other nasty pests like lagarosiphon and didymo.
Think you’ve found freshwater gold clams? Take a photo and report the location to ORC or Biosecurity New Zealand.
Ban the Clam!
Freephone the Otago Regional Council on 0800 474 082, or freephone Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 80 99 66, or email biosecurity@orc.govt.nz
You can also report sightings on Biosecurity New Zealand’s reporting page.
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Designing for zero waste
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Plastic Free July is a good time to celebrate the hard work that Enviroschools are doing to reduce their waste.
Earlier this year, Shotover Primary school students went on camp to Glenorchy. The theme of the camp was sustainability, and the students wanted to focus on reducing waste.
Before they went on camp, Nicky, their Enviroschools facilitator, helped the students explore the concepts of waste as a modern human product and how current waste management creates problems. Nicky then got them thinking about designing for zero waste. The students decided to make beeswax wraps for their sandwiches on camp.
The students collected all the waste they created at camp. Food scraps were weighed and given to a local pig, and they took everything else back to school to sort and weigh. Then the students came up with ideas of reducing the waste to landfill. This included bulk buying or buying different brands that are packaged in glass or cardboard.
The students have created a ‘Tips to Reduce Camp Waste’ sheet, which they are sharing with other schools.
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Pests of the Month: moth plant
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What do they look like? Moth plant (Araujiahortorum) is a broad-leaved, herbaceous (herb) climber and can grow to over 5m tall. It has almost oblong-shaped leaves and produces clusters of flowers.
The fruits are large pear-shaped pods and can contain about 400 seeds.
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Why is moth plant a pest? Moth plant is bad for both biodiversity and human health. The vines smother garden plants as well as small native trees and shrubs. The fruits and stem produce a caustic milky sap, which can cause skin irritation in some people and is poisonous to humans.
Think you’ve seen a moth plant in Otago? Let us know by calling us on 0800 800 033 or emailing biosecurity@orc.govt.nz.
Visit our Pest Hub for more information.
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Who do we love?
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Cheers to our hardworking FENZ partners who dealt with fire in Dunedin recently which produced toxic smoke. The ORC pollution team were also there to investigate.
If you see an incidence of pollution in Otago, call our pollution hotline. It’s operated 24/7 — 0800 800 033.
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Find out about monthly Otago Regional 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 lisa.scott@orc.govt.nz.
If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here.
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