Catchment Communities Aotearoa (CCA) has received a significant funding boost courtesy of the Government and agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.
Established in 2024, CCA is a member organisation which acts as the collective voice of the more than 200 catchment groups across New Zealand. The umbrella group’s mission is to champion sustainable land and water management through collaboration, innovation and local leadership.
As part of a new funding agreement, the Government and Rabobank will both provide CCA with $100,000 to support the work it is doing to strengthen New Zealand’s network of catchment communities. The funding is for 12 months.
CCA chair Ben Ensor said the organisation was rapt to have secured funding support from both the Government, through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and industry.
“This commitment from MPI and Rabobank sends a strong signal to our members that the work catchment groups are doing is valued and that these organisations would like to see it continue in the long term,” he said.
Mr Ensor said the newly acquired funding would be allocated to projects in line with it’s four key strategic priorities.
“The four strategic priorities that we’ve identified are communicating the impact of catchment work, supporting long-term sustainable funding for catchment communities, supporting knowledge and capability between and within catchment communities and partnering for success - across government, industry and not-for-profits,” he said.
“A workplan has been developed with projects across these four pillars – and the new funding will go a long way to helping us to deliver these.”
Agricultural Minister Todd McClay said the Government’s investment would enable CCA to boost its support for catchment groups, including sharing knowledge and building capability.
“This Government is backing farmers to lift productivity, improve land management, and get ahead – without layers of red tape,” he said.
“Our support is part of a wider Government package to support farmer-led catchment groups that are focused on practical, local solutions that work on the ground.”
Rabobank NZ CEO Todd Charteris said the bank’s decision to provide funding support for CCA had been initiated by its client council network.
“Our client council network identified the important role that catchment groups play in strengthening rural communities and asked us to look at what more we can do to support these groups,” he said.
“As the recently formed national umbrella group for catchment communities, CCA was the ideal organisation for us to get in behind, and we’re really proud to support the important work it is doing.”
Mr Charteris said the funding to support CCA would be drawn from the Rabo Community Fund, a fund set up by Rabobank in 2021 to contribute to the vibrancy and resilience of rural New Zealand.
“On top of our financial contribution, we’re also keen to explore how our employees across New Zealand can assist CCA in their local areas and we’ll soon be meeting with CCA to discuss how our people can get involved.”