Southland has over 28 Catchment Groups, forming a network covering over 85% of the Southland region, and this network is expanding rapidly.
Hedgehope Makarewa Catchment Group
Hedgehope Makarewa Catchment Group covers 60,000ha of their 111,940 ha wider catchment, from just south of Mataura in the north down to Rakahouka on State Highway 98 in the south.
Its southern boundary (between Rakahouka and Edendale), runs north of State Highway 98 almost across to State Highway 1, where the eastern boundary cuts up between Edendale and Mataura.
To the west, the area extends across to Ryal Bush and down to Wallacetown where the Oreti River forms the western boundary.
The main surface waters found in this area are the Oreti River, the Makarewa River, and the Dunsdale, Hedgehope and Waikiwi Streams.
Number of members in the CG
The group has 16 core members that form a Steering Group, and a wider group of 30 to 40 active members that attend events and are kept up to date with what the group is doing.
All have a passion for strong thriving communities.
Date the Catchment Group started
- 2014 – The Hedgehope Dunsdale Catchment Group was started in 2014 when a couple of farmers had a "farmer meeting" as they passed each other on a gravel road in vehicles.
- They were the fourth Catchment Group to start in Southland.
- March 2020 – The Hedgehope Dunsdale Catchment Group expanded into the Ryal Bush and Makarewa areas and became the Hedgehope Makarewa Catchment Group.
Types of people in the group
The group is made up of dairy, sheep & beef, deer and crop farmers, Rural Professionals, Contractors, local school representatives and community members.
t is all about working together to connect, inspire and support our community to be well informed, and make great decisions that look after and benefit our land, water and people.
All are welcome to come and join us.
Projects completed
We run events to bring people together to share knowledge and skills, access expert advice and information, and work on projects that are useful to our catchment and community.
All our events and projects involve community and/or individual wellbeing aspect too.
We meet regularly throughout the year when we need to, avoiding having meetings in the busy farm seasons
We have a Facebook page to advertise our events and share information on our projects and their results.
Projects planned
- Sharing knowledge and learnings from the Winter Crop Cultivation Pilot Study and Understanding Our Catchment Project
- Spreading Good Management Practice through local field days
- Going to other Catchment Groups events to learn from them
- Looking at how we can help our community to develop and use their Farm and Property Environmental Management Plans, to meet the latest standards and legal requirements
- Always including farmer and community wellbeing in out events and projects