Focus catchments

Together with landowners, Regional Council has already delivered action on the ground through more than 2000 property-level environmental plans to reduce land run-off and protect local rivers and streams in the Bay of Plenty.

We continue to offer funding assistance and practical support for landowners throughout the region, but from 2019, Regional Council’s Land Management staff began taking a new approach to making sure that the region’s most vulnerable river and estuary systems get the attention they need, as quickly as possible.

Staff are now putting extra effort into improving swimmability and preparing landowners for regulatory change in focus catchments that are the region's most at risk of degradation.

Focus catchment name	Water quality improvement focus
Rotorua Lakes Catchment Area	Various, including specific TLI targets for each lake and other targets where required.
Uretara, Katikati	Reduce E. coli bacteria load for swimmability.
Te Mania, Katikati	Reduce sediment and E. coli.
Kopurererua, Tauranga	Reduce sediment and E. coli.
Waitao, Tauranga	Reduce E. coli and sediment for swimmability.
Kopuaroa, Te Puke	Reduce nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), sediment and E. coli.
Waitepuia/Ford Rd , Maketū	Reduce N, P, sediment and E. coli.
Waihī Estuary, Pongakawa	Reduce N, P, sediment and E. coli.
Upper Rangitāiki, Taupō	Halt increasing nitrate trend.
Ōhiwa Harbour, Ōhope / Ōhiwa	Reduce sediment (and nutrients in Nukuhou).
Waiōtahe, Waiōtahe	Reduce E. coli for shellfish gathering.

Water quality and other science information has been used to identify the focus catchments. Our aim is to work with tangata whenua, landowners and community groups to achieve improvement across as many properties in each focus catchment as possible, to really concentrate the benefits that can be achieved, in the places they’re needed most.

Work is already well underway in some catchments such as Rotorua Lakes, Waitao, Ohiwa Harbour and Waoitahe. We’re connecting with local people in other focus catchments throughout 2019/20, to discuss options for making meaningful change and start developing detailed action plans.

To find out more, contact your local Land Management Officer by calling 0800 884 880 or email info@boprc.govt.nz. See who the Land Management Officer for your local catchment is here.

More information

Recreational Waters Surveillance Reports

Kaituna River rediversion and Maketu Estuary enhancement

We’re making Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketu Estuary healthier for people to swim and fish in.

Kopuaroa Catchment

We’re working together with locals to improve water quality in the Kopuaroa Stream and the Kaituna River and Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi / Maketu Estuary that it drains into.

Kopurererua Catchment

We’re working with to protect the health of the Kopurererua Stream and the Waikareao Estuary that it flows into.

Te Mania Catchment

The 1,300 hectare Te Mania catchment is located approximately 3km south of the township of Katikati in the Bay of Plenty.

Upper Rangitaiki Catchment

We’re working to protect and improve water quality in the Rangitāiki River and the Pouarua, Otamatea and Mangatiti catchments that drain into it.

Uretara Catchment

The Uretara Stream is the main waterway which is fed by three distinct tributary watersheds: the Uretara, Wharawhara, and the McKinney all flowing to the Uretara Estuary.