Kirsty McCarthyProject Lead
Our story
The Wairarapa Catchment Collective was established in 2023 to support the growth of catchment communities.
Our vision is for thriving resilient catchment communities leading the way in sustainable environmental outcomes.
We work with catchment communities to help them understanding their environments, develop and implement catchment action plans, access expertise and funding, network, and share knowledge.
The Collective's work builds on previous catchment community programmes led by communities, Greater Wellington, Beef and Lamb, Wairarapa Pūkaha to Kawakawa supported by Ministry for Primary Industries.
Our committee
Richard Johns, Chair
George Tatham, Vice Chair
Barbie Barton, Secretary
Charlie Arnesen, Treasurer
Vern Brasell, Tim White, Hannah French, Scott Andrew, Barrie Cook, Stu McKenzie
George Tatham
Vice Chair
Barbie Barton
Secretary
Barbie farms at Woodside, Greytown with her husband Roger. They own a 500ha property with approx. 250ha of retired QEII covenant bush.
Barbie chairs the local Farmer Reference group that liaises with Greater Wellington Council to represent the farmer view around land management.
Barbie is also involved with the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards where she really enjoys the opportunity to tell positive sustainable farming stories highlighting the clever things that our local landowners excel at.
Hannah French
Hannah is an agribusiness consultant with BakerAg and farms in an Equity Partnership with her husband Richard and his family in Whareama. In her day-to-day life as a consultant Hannah sees some of the incredible work farmers do on-farm and in the industry. Hannah is looking forward to seeing many of these projects, including their own 5ha of wetlands, develop over time creating new habitats and biodiversity. She sees Catchment groups as a great way to bring communities together, share the amazing work landowners have done and achieve their community’s goals.
Barrie Cook
Barrie ran his own research and communications consultancy in Wellington for 28 years. He now lives on a lifestyle block in South Wairarapa, most of which is made up of swamp forest. He has been interested in environmental matters for many years, having run traplines and being involved in restoration projects. He is a member of the NZ Alpine Club, the NZ Antarctic Society, Forest and Bird and the QEII National Trust.
Barrie became involved in local river issues after floods affected the area in which he lives in 2022 and 2023. This led to him helping establish the Pirinoa Group and through that joining the Collective’s committee. While his primary interest at this stage is in river management, he is also interested in enhancing river and catchment ecology.
Vern Brasell
Vern is a shareholder in Kaiwaiwai dairies, a 900+ Cow dairy farm in South Wairarapa. Vern’s involvement in Dairy NZ environment leaders and climate change ambassadors has enabled him to meet a wide range of farmers doing great work throughout New Zealand. As convener of Sustainable Wairarapa Vern has worked with non-farming groups on sustainability as well, and in particular the transition to cleaner energy.
Charlie Arnesen
Treasurer
Scott Andrew
Scott is a Masterton local and Forest Resource Manager at JNL. Scott has over twenty years experience working in and around the forest industry and is a former Land Management Officer with Greater Wellington working with farmers and catchment communities with erosion control initiatives. Scott is enjoying the opportunity to be on the committee to provide a link between the forest industry and the catchment communities.
Our partners
The Collective works with partners to streamline access to essential services, advice, research, and funding to support catchment communities.
Mountains to Sea Wellington
Mountains to Sea Wellington connects people to nature, building understanding through science and exploration, and inspiring communities to care for the environment. We lead people on an exploration of their environment, building understanding of how land, water and people are connected and igniting passion for kaitiakitanga.
Wai Connection is a national programme delivered by Mountains to Sea Wellington aimed at connecting local communities to their waterways to improve them. Mountains to Sea work with the Collective to support communities and mana whenua with the knowledge, tools and expertise to monitor and care for their local freshwater places.
Greater Wellington
Greater Wellington has an experienced team who support the Collective with:
catchment planning - strategy, actions, outcomes
restoration, pest control and farm plan advice
funding for landowner and catchment group projects
communications guidance, tools and templates
connection to other staff in Council.
Learn more about sustainable land use advice.
MPI On Farm Support
On Farm Support is a free service that was established to provide on-the- ground support for farmers and growers by helping with access to support, information and advice.
On Farm Support works alongside the Collective to provide information or access expert advice on topics that have been identified as important within catchment groups and wider communities.