Conservation

Mō ngā awa te aroha, he waiaroha — For the love of rivers

Looking after the awa

Healthy rivers are the point of everything we do. Whitewater NZ works to protect New Zealand’s rivers and lakes, the life they support, and the natural character that makes them worth paddling.

We do this by:

• Monitoring threats to rivers, including dams, diversions, water takes and the Fast-track Approvals Act
• Providing information on river conservation
• Working with government agencies, iwi and hapū, and other river users
• Supporting the national whitewater river guidebook on RiverGuide
• Initiating or supporting legal action when a river is at risk

Rivers are under real pressure right now, from hydro schemes to the fast-tracking of major developments. We work alongside groups like Federated Mountain Clubs and Forest & Bird where our interests align, to endeavour to keep rivers flowing and free where possible, and secure protections for whitewater users where it’s deemed not.

Current conservation issues and campaigns are covered on our News page and social channels.

If you have a river conservation initiative or concern in the whitewater world, please get in touch at communications@whitewater.nz.