UPPER TUKITUKI CATCHMENT
Area 13,084ha
Land Use: 60 percent of the catchment is in pasture, 27 percent in indigenous forest and five percent in indigenous scrub. Notably, less than three percent of landcover is in in exotic forest.
CATCHMENT
GROUP
Catchment Committee: Hamish Bibby, Duncan Holden, Melissa Bradley, Fiona Paterson, Clint Deckard, Greg Frater, Laurie Gordon, Mickey Trotter
Catchment Co-ordinator Pixie Seligman
Email tukicoordinator@gmail.com
Phone 0277212423
ABOUT OUR CATCHMENT
The Tukituki River itself is heavily affected by invasive willows and shingle islands, which have altered its natural flow, leading to bank erosion and a higher sediment load in the water. This excess sediment impacts river health, smothering macroinvertebrates—an essential part of the ecosystem—and contributing to ongoing water quality issues. The region has long dealt with flood risks, and farmers actively monitor rainfall and river flows to manage these challenges. However, a lack of coordinated management and difficulties engaging with council authorities have made it difficult to get the necessary work done.
THE BIG PICTURE
The Big Picture
As part of The Big Picture project, TLC has developed independent, science-backed catchment plans for each of the 17 sub-catchments of the Tukituki River. These farmer-led plans address key environmental challenges specific to each area while identifying practical, affordable solutions. These plans do not impose rules or regulations but they give farmers and catchment groups a roadmap for future planning to improve water quality, boost farm productivity, and open the door to future funding opportunities.
TLC partnered with environmental planning consultancy Environment, Innovation and Strategy Ltd (EIS), who collected data specific to each sub-catchment, including erosion maps, flow path models, land use capability, soil types, and water monitoring information. Alongside the scientific data, in December 2024, TLC hosted workshops for farmers and growers in each sub-catchment to make sure the solutions aligned with the realities of farming and growing in each sub-catchment.
Upper Tukituki Draft Sub-Catchment Plan: Summary
Upper Tukituki Draft Sub-Catchment Plan: Full Report
Upper Tukituki Catchment Maps
TLC FARMER TOOLBOX
Tools for the Upper Tukituki Catchment
As part of The Big Picture, TLC has developed the TLC Farmer Toolbox, designed to support landowners in making informed decisions and enable them to implement changes with confidence, ensuring that time and money are invested wisely.
The TLC Toolbox includes the following:
-
TLC’s On-Farm Action Planning Tool - prioritise on-farm environmental actions based on their cost-effectiveness and impact.
-
TLC’s Plant Selection Tool - choose the right plants for on-farm environmental projects by matching your planting zone and purpose with suitable species.
-
TLC’s Surface Erosion Tool - determine the most erosion-prone areas on your farm to identify priority sites for effective soil conservation measures.
-
TLC’s Water Runoff Mapping Tool - identify sites for on-farm edge-of-field mitigations such as sediment traps, constructed wetlands and detention bunds.
-
TLC’s Riparian Mapping Tool - better understand riparian condition and vegetation class along waterways to prioritise where riparian management should occur.
-
TLC’s ETS Guide- download TLC’s ETS Guide for key information on the Emissions Trading Scheme, including its purpose, benefits, eligibility, enrolment process, and potential costs and returns.
-
TLC’s Willow Management Guide - download TLC’s Invasive Willow Management Guide for insights on willows in the Tukituki, control strategies and riparian restoration.
-
TLC’s List Of Advisors - connect with local advisors for tailored advice and potential funding opportunities.
