The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust has joined with the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust as a sponsor of the Catchment Showcase, an initiative that highlights the work of catchment groups across New Zealand.
The Catchment Showcase is run in conjunction with the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) programme and celebrates community-led action focused on improving the health of local waterways and the surrounding environment, providing a platform for groups to share their stories with the wider community. The initiative is designed to celebrate the work of local catchment groups and help inspire other rural communities with examples of good practice. It recognises the innovative, collaborative approaches communities are taking to restore waterways, enhance biodiversity, and build resilience within their catchment areas.
Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust Co-Director Kim Jones says empowering communities to care for their local waterways is at the heart of their mission, and sponsoring the Catchment Showcase is a natural extension of that kaupapa.
“At Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, we believe that real change happens when communities come together with a shared vision for healthier waterways. The Catchment Showcase perfectly aligns with our mission of connecting communities with freshwater environments through hands-on action and education.
“We’re proud to sponsor this initiative because it celebrates the grassroots collaboration and innovative sustainable practices that are making a tangible difference to our waterways from the mountains to the sea. These catchment groups embody the community-led approach we champion – where local knowledge, passion, and collective action create lasting environmental outcomes. By showcasing their work, we hope to inspire other communities to take up the challenge of protecting and restoring our precious freshwater resources for future generations.”
New Zealand Farm Environment Trust General Manager Sarah Harris says the partnership reinforces the value of rural communities working together to improve water quality in local rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands and the surrounding environment.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust as a sponsor of the Catchment Showcase. Their dedication to connecting people with nature through education and hands-on conservation perfectly complements the goals of the Catchment Showcase and the Trust. Together, we’re highlighting the power of local action and the importance of working together to protect our freshwater resources and champion sustainable land management practices.”
The Catchment Showcase has been running alongside the BFEA programme for the past three years and was developed as an important way of recognising and amplifying the efforts of catchment groups, ensuring their stories are shared with the wider sector, policymakers, and communities across New Zealand. Mountains to Sea will sponsor the Catchment Showcase in every region except Canterbury, which is sponsored by Tavendale and Partners.
The Catchment Showcase follows a similar format to the BFEA programme, with sector experts meeting with the catchment groups to hear their stories and assess the great work they are doing based on a range of criteria. Their stories are then shared at the regional BFEA events, recognising the increasingly important role these groups play in driving positive environmental change within the primary sector.
About the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust
The New Zealand Farm Environment Trust is a charitable organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable farming and growing practices within New Zealand’s primary sector. Through education, connection and collaboration, the Trust empowers farmers to adopt practices that enhance environmental sustainability, protect natural resources, and support thriving rural communities.
About the Ballance Farm Environment Awards:
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards celebrate and showcase sustainable farming and growing practices and provide a unique, pan-sector forum for knowledge sharing among farmers and growers, agribusiness professionals and the wider community. Run in eleven regions nationwide, the programme looks at the whole farm system, providing valuable feedback to farmers and growers and recognising leadership and innovation in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic sustainability.
About Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
Established in Northland in 2002, Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust is a national charitable organisation working to empower communities to achieve marine and freshwater conservation through science based experiential programmes, resources, projects and community engagement. The Trust supports programmes such as Wai Connection, Experiencing Marine Reserves and Whitebait Connection, which empower communities and schools to take practical action for the health of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Mountains to Sea believes that communities ultimately hold the solutions and resources needed to address the environmental problems we face today.
