Bream Bay Rivers Catchment Group

2025 Northland Catchment Group Showcase: Bream Bay Rivers Catchment Group

The Bream Bay Rivers catchment group is involving the whole community as it starts an intergenerational project aimed at improving water quality and restoring biodiversity. 
 
The group’s overarching goal is to develop a sustainable model for catchment restoration in Northland, working in partnership with Patuharakeke iwi/hapū. Formed in 2023 under the umbrella of the Piroa Conservation Trust, it has already chalked up numerous achievements. 
 
Bream Bay Rivers was launched with a focus on dairy farmers and lifestyle block owners, guided by a vision to create a catchment with thriving biodiversity and improved water quality.  
 
Specifically, they want to boost their kiwi population through active pest control programmes and restore key freshwater ecosystems – creating interconnected corridors for biodiversity. They are also aiming to construct three demonstration wetlands to assess their effectiveness in improving water quality. 

To achieve these goals, the group works with landowners to implement practical, on-farm solutions that benefit both the environment and farming operations. 

Their key achievements include a successful partnership with Patuharakeke that has resulted in significant riparian fencing, wetland restoration, and pest control.  

Bream Bay Rivers has developed six demonstration sites across the catchment that showcase riparian management, wetland restoration, and predator control. In partnership with Waipu Water, they’ve also created a thriving community nursery that produces more than 5,000 native plants annually – provided to local landowners in starter packs. 

In partnership with Northland Regional Council, Bream Bay Rivers is monitoring water quality at ten sites throughout the catchment, providing valuable data on the effectiveness of restoration efforts. 

There’s been a strong focus on community engagement, with the group engaging with almost 130 landowners – including most of the larger landowners and a significant number of lifestyle block owners. 

The Bream Bay Rivers catchment group serves as a model for community-led conservation, demonstrating the power of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to environmental sustainability.