Reawakening Te Karamū

About us

  • The Karamū River Catchment Collective is a local led network working across 96,920 hectares and 12 unique sub-catchments throughout Te Karamū and the Heretaunga Plains.

  • Our purpose is to help nature thrive within working and living landscapes.

    We focus on practical, locally led action that shows how biodiversity and productive land use can exist side by side strengthening each other over time.

    We work across the catchment to show what becomes possible when nature is integrated into everyday land use.

  • We deliver and support projects and learning across the Karamū catchment, including:

    • Wetland restoration

    • Riparian planting and drainage network enhancement

    • Predator trapping and biodiversity recovery programmes

    • Urban and peri-urban biodiversity initiatives

    • On farm demonstration projects across sheep and beef, horticulture and viticulture systems

    Each project is designed to demonstrate nature in practice showing what works, where it works, and how it benefits different land uses across the catchment.

  • Karamū River Catchment Collective is a learning network.

    Members gain access to:

    • resources

    • locally relevant funding opportunities

    • workshops and field based learning

    By connecting across subcatchments, members share experience, test ideas and build practical solutions together.

    • Muddy Creek

    • Mangateretere / Havelock Streams

    • Raupare

    • Louisa

    • Karamū Clive Corridor

    • Irongate

    • Paritua

    • Awanui

    • Poukawa

    • Maraekakaho

    • Mangatahi

    • Poporangi

About us

About us

Overview

The Karamū River Catchment Collective is a local led network working across Te Karamū to demonstrate how nature positive action can strengthen productive landscapes, restore biodiversity, and support long-term resilience.

We bring together farmers, growers, landowners, iwi, urban communities and industry partners who share a commitment to caring for the land in ways that also support its future productivity and wellbeing.

Nature, economy and resilience

The health of nature and the strength of our economy are connected.

Te Karamū sits at the heart of Hawke’s Bay’s productive landscape, supporting orchards, vineyards, farms and rural communities that sustain the region’s economic performance and export base. The same landscapes also shape local identity, wellbeing and the mauri of the Karamū River and its tributaries. Healthy soils, functioning waterways, and resilient ecosystems reduce risk, improve system stability, and support the long-term viability of primary production across our catchment. Supporting on the land innovation, improving environmental outcomes, and strengthening the reputation of the region’s primary industries, KRCC helps ensure that ecological restoration and economic resilience are developed together as part of the same system.

To enable local action, Karamū River Catchment Collective operates across 14 sub-catchments, ensuring priorities and investment are shaped by those closest to the land.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We support projects, education, research, events, and collaboration across the catchment. This includes wetland restoration, biodiversity projects, water quality initiatives, pest control programmes, environmental monitoring, farmer events, and community engagement activities.

  • Anyone with an interest in the future of the Karamū catchment can get involved. This includes farmers, growers, rural professionals, iwi, schools, businesses, community groups, residents and sponsors.

  • No. Many of our projects and events are open to the wider community. Improving the health of the catchment is a collective effort that extends beyond farm boundaries.

  • The Karamū catchment is made up of multiple smaller sub-catchments, each with its own waterways, geography, land uses, challenges, and opportunities. Local catchment groups help identify priorities and lead projects that are relevant to their area.

  • Projects are developed in collaboration with local communities, landowners, technical experts, and partners. We focus on practical initiatives that can deliver positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes for the catchment.

  • Our work is supported through a combination of MPI funding, grants, sponsorship, project co-funding, partnerships, and community contributions. We are grateful to the organisations, funders, and individuals who help make this work possible.

  • Nature-based restoration uses natural processes to improve environmental outcomes. Examples include wetland restoration, riparian planting, biodiversity enhancement, and erosion control projects that support healthier ecosystems while benefiting communities and productive land.

  • You can support KRCC by attending events, volunteering, sharing knowledge, participating in projects, partnering with us, sponsoring initiatives, or helping spread awareness of the work happening across the catchment.

  • Follow us on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, and regularly visit our website to keep up with projects, events, opportunities, and catchment news.

  • We'd love to hear from you. Whether you have an idea, a question, a project proposal, or simply want to learn more, please contact us through our website or email info@karamucollective.nz

Contact us