WAI Connection | Tatai ki te Wai
“Nau mai haere mai ki Tasman Bay Guardians.”
A community catchment group engagement project
Aim
To build capability and capacity in New Zealand’s freshwater management. ‘Wai Connection – Tatai Ki Te Wai’ is a catchment community engagement project offering on-the-ground support to assist with catchment issues through tailored change at source. It exists to support and build community involvement, equity, and a shared vision of ecological sustainability as the basis of a healthy community.
Funders & Partners
EFF | EOS Ecology | Regional provider organisations
The Essential Freshwater Fund (EFF) is providing funding to build capability and capacity in New Zealand’s freshwater management through to June 2025. Part of EOS Ecology’s role within ‘Wai Connection’ is to provide technical GIS, science support, and resource development for the project at a national level. Many of our existing provider organisations have Wai Connection Roles – check out your region to get involved.
The Project
To empower communities through providing knowledge, tools and expert support to help identify values and solve issues in their local catchment. Supporting communities to connect more with their waterways from mountains to sea, and promote collaboration between local catchment groups, NGO’s, hapū/iwi, Regional Council, central Government and primary industry working within the catchment – helping to deliver the goals of the Government’s Essential Freshwater (EF) work package. This is done through CBFM (community)training and support
Get Involved with Wai Connection
Register your catchment group https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/13df0f6495cd40409c90c147b7acd9f7
You can help by providing location details about your local community catchment groups/collectives, so we can identify where existing catchment groups are operating and where catchments currently do not have any catchment groups.
Tasman Bay Guardians and Wai Connection
Wai Connection is delivered nationally throughout Aotearoa via a well-defined multi-step project. As the regional provider, Tasman Bay Guardians is funded to implement this initiative in Te Tau Ihu. Our collaboration with schools, hapori (communities), and treaty partners ensures that the goals of the Wai Connection Project are effectively achieved, creating a sustainable and thriving natural environment for future generations.
Under the Wai Connection, we support catchment and community groups by offering tailored training, support, and resources.
Get Involved Locally
Join Tasman Bay Guardians in making a difference!
Whether you’re passionate about marine and freshwater ecosystems or simply want to give back, there are many ways to get involved. Volunteer with us, donate to support our initiatives, become a member to stay informed or sponsor a program to make a lasting impact. Share the positive news of our efforts with your friends and whānau or participate as a citizen-scientist and help us inspire more people to join our cause. Together, we can create thriving, healthy environments for future generations. Your support matters!
