Whangapē Catchment Society are leading the way in local, sustainable catchment management. Farmer-led, the community group’s goal is to strengthen rural communities in the Lake Whangapē area north of Huntly, while restoring the surrounding environment.
The group were among recipients of the 2026 Rural Ward Fund, awarded an $1800.00 grant toward their initiative. The Rural Ward Fund supports projects and community initiatives outside of Community Board and Community Committee catchments.
We caught up with Chairperson, Tim Orlando-Reep, to hear more about the group’s purpose and what they do. “Whangapē Catchment Society brings our community together to learn about, understand, and care for the land and the waterways that shape the Lake Whangapē environment. We are committed to working alongside landowners, mana whenua, and local groups to build freshwater knowledge and support practical action. We aim to empower the community to see what’s happening in our streams, understand why it matters, and take steps that support healthier water, thriving ecosystems, and a stronger future for the catchment.”
The group conduct monthly freshwater testing of streams surrounding Lake Whangapē using Stream Health Monitoring and Assessment (SHMAK) water-testing kits. The kits contain equipment enabling the group to test for imbalances that could be harmful to the environment such as E. coli bacteria, dissolved nitrate, and phosphate. “SHMAK water-quality testing helps us identify whether land-use practices are affecting stream health,” Tim said. “When carried out consistently over time, it shows us whether water quality is improving, declining, or remaining stable.”
Results get shared with the Whangapē community annually via social media, newsletters, fieldtrips, and workshops. The group has partnered with environmental experts to collaborate on what the results could mean for the catchment now and in future.
Their Rural Ward Fund grant will be used towards the cost of SHMAK water testing kits and regular monthly testing of streams surrounding Lake Whangapē.
A focus on Lake Whangapē’s long term health is linked to its significance in the community and how it affects local farming land, “Lake Whangapē is one of the Waikato’s most vulnerable lakes, and its health is close linked to the condition of the streams that flow into it,” said Tim. “In the long-term, restoring Lake Whangapē will return many of the ecological services, including recreation, cultural connection, food gathering, hydrological regulation, habitat for biodiversity, and natural water purification and nutrient processing.”
Community involvement is encouraged and vital support for the group. Volunteers help by offering their time to use the SHMAK kits themselves to monitor and then report their results. Tim welcomes engagement from other groups, such as local schools, who can use the test result information to support learning activities and environmental engagement.
“Building local capacity to monitor and understand these waterways is essential for improving water quality, guiding restoration work, and empowering the community to take informed, collective action,” Tim said.
More information on the catchment group’s latest activity and updates can be found on their Facebook page Whangape Catchment (WCS) | Facebook
If you have a great rural initiative, you may be eligible for funding. Visit the Rural Ward Funding pages our website to find out more and apply.
