Wai Kōkopu Incorporated Society is a community-led catchment group working to restore and protect freshwater health in the Waihī Estuary and its surrounding catchment. The group brings together farmers, landowners, iwi, scientists, and local partners to deliver practical, collaborative solutions that improve water quality, biodiversity, and resilience for future generations.

Objectives

Improve the health and mauri of the Waihī Estuary and its contributing waterways.
Support farmers, landowners, and the wider community to adopt practical, sustainable land and water management practices.
Enable catchment-wide collaboration between community, iwi, scientists, councils, and industry.
Reduce sediment, nutrient, and contaminant losses from land to water.
Restore and protect biodiversity, wetlands, riparian areas, and native habitats.
Build resilient farms, landscapes, and communities through locally led action and shared learning.

How to Help

• Riparian and wetland planting days and restoration projects.
• Fencing and site preparation to protect waterways.
• Monitoring activities such as water testing, biodiversity surveys, or estuary observations.
• Community events, field days, and educational workshops.
• Assisting with pest and weed control in restoration areas.