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TLC PROJECTS

Keep scrolling down to read project summaries

CATCHMENT LEARNING IN SCHOOLS

CATCHMENT STOCKTAKE & PLANTING

RIVER MANAGEMENT

WETLAND MONITORING - TUKIPO

CATCHMENT STOCKTAKE

COW CRESS TRIAL

MILLING POPLARS

THE BIG PICTURE

CATCHMENT SOLUTIONS PROJECT

FARMER FIRST AID COURSES

RIPARIAN PLANTING

OLD MAN'S BEARD CONTROL

COMMUNITY RIPARIAN RESTORATION

Land for Life - Erosion Control

TLC has been selected to partner with Land for Life - a collaboration between HBRC, MPI and The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa. As part of this project, TLC will develop a High-Risk Erosion Action Plan for the Mangamahaki, Mangarara, Makara and Hāwea sub-catchments. In June 2026, TLC will move from planning to demonstration, establishing showcase sites to highlight practical erosion-control methods.

Trap Library

In October 2025, TLC launched Central Hawke’s Bay’s first predator Trap Library for farmers in the 17 Tukituki sub-catchments. With 400 free-to-borrow traps, we’re stamping down on stoats, rats, hedgehogs, possums and feral cats to boost native biodiversity, help our wetlands and bush regenerate and lower the spread of disease affecting our livestock.

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The Big Picture

In September 2024, TLC embarked on an initiative to develop independent, science-based catchment plans for the 17 sub-catchments of the Tukituki River. The six-month project, TLC The Big Picture, consolidated comprehensive, evidence-based data to identify critical environmental challenges specific to each sub-catchment whilst also identifying practical, cost-effective solutions.

Wetland Monitoring - Tukipo

TLC is currently funding 12 months of independent water monitoring of a cutting-edge 1.6ha constructed wetland in Ashley Clinton. For comparison, we are also monitoring a nearby smaller wetland, with side-by-side results offering valuable insights into the performance of wetlands at different scales.

Milling Poplars - Hāwea

In 2024, the Hāwea sub-catchment used a TLC Demonstration Grant to investigate the practical economics of milling poplar timber. The findings show how farm-grown poplars, typically valued for erosion control and shade, can also provide a useful secondary resource. A practical worksheet summarising the results is now available to support farmers considering similar options.

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Catchment Stocktake - Makara

In 2023, TLC awarded a Demonstration Grant to the Makara Catchment Group to undertake a whole-of-catchment assessment aimed at recognising progress to date and identifying priorities for future action. 25 landowners took part in the study, representing a combined area of 14,806 hectares across the sub-catchment.

One of the key outcomes was the establishment of a water quality monitoring programme at four sites across the sub-catchment.

Catchment Learning in Schools - Papanui

The Papanui Sub-catchment Group used a TLC Demonstration Grant to place education at the centre of catchment stewardship, strengthening connections between farmers, schools and the wider community. By combining in-catchment learning with school-based growing initiatives, the project supported long-term understanding of water quality, land use, and restoration.

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Cow Cress Trial - Kahahakuri

With support from TLC, farmers in the Kahahakuri sub-catchment have come together to tackle the spread of cow cress affecting waterways across the catchment. What began as a shared concern has evolved into coordinated, on-the-ground action, with a practical trial now underway to suppress cow cress while strengthening riparian resilience and long-term waterway health.

Willow Control - Mangarara

Left unchecked, crack willow clogs waterways leading to accelerated bank erosion and increased flood risk. In the Mangarara sub-catchment, mature willows dominate the stream banks, their sprawling roots and collapsing trunks undermining stability and blocking channels. TLC is supporting the Mangarara Catchment Group on their mission to become a willow-free catchment within ten years.

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Riparian Planting Best Practice - Mangamahaki

The Mangamahaki Catchment Group, supported by a Demonstration Grant from TLC with additional funding from the Cyclone Gabrielle Appeal Trust, are showcasing best practice for establishing and maintaining riparian planting following the removal of willows from the Mangamahaki Stream by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Old Man's Beard Control - Tukipo

Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) is one of New Zealand’s most damaging invasive alien plants. It is an aggressively spreading woody vine which can grow up to 100 feet long and can completely blanket native trees and plants. In 2023, the Tukipo Catchment Care Group used a TLC Demonstration Grant to commence Old Man’s Beard Control at the Monckton Scenic Reserve.

Catchment Stocktake & Riparian Planting - Makāretu

In 2023, the Makāretu Sub-catchment Group set out to better understand its catchment, supported by a TLC Demonstration Grant. A detailed catchment study provided a clear baseline and practical recommendations. Acting on those findings, around 1,700 native plants were established along a low-cover tributary, improving water quality, stream shading and habitat.

Community Riparian Restoration - Maharakeke & Pōrangahau

In 2024, the Watch Our Water Maharakeke and Pōrangahau (WOWMAP) Catchment Group delivered a riparian restoration project in Takapau, using a TLC Demonstration Grant to restore 600 metres of stream bank following willow mulching by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. More than 3,000 native plants were established in a single morning, with the help of a large volunteer team.

River Management - Upper Tukituki

The Upper Tukituki Catchment Group is using a TLC grant to tackle the build-up of invasive willows and lupins, along with expanding shingle islands, across nine hectares of the Upper Tukituki River where vegetation and sediment accumulation are redirecting flows, driving erosion and increasing sediment loads. The showcase project aims to restore and maintain the river’s natural braided character, with a strong focus on protecting the river’s mauri - it's lifeforce.

Farmer First Aid Courses

In 2024, an exciting collaboration saw TLC team up with the NZ Red Cross to provide Central Hawke’s Bay farmers with essential life saving skills. This initiative saw seen nearly 100 farmers complete a free Farmer First Aid training course, which was specifically tailored to address the unique challenges faced daily on the farm. The three-hour course, delivered by an experienced Red Cross trainer, covered crucial topics such as CPR, defibrillator use, and how to deal with crushing injuries, broken bones, bleeding, and poisoning.

Catchment Solutions Project with Massey University

The Watch Our Water Maharakeke and Pōrangahau (WOWMAP) Catchment Group was one of three catchment groups engaged by Massey University as part of a Catchment Solutions Project. Over the course of the project, TLC supported Massey and local farmers through five rounds of farm water testing, and supported them as they developed and trialed two innovative edge-of-field mitigation structures in the Maharakeke and Pōrangahau catchments.

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