Freshwater, food, farms and forest
We’re committed to creating a rural environment that is both sustainable and productive.
At Whirika, we believe environmental stewardship is an opportunity to support resilient primary industries and local communities while also protecting and restoring our precious native ecosystems.
Our team of experts collaborate closely with mana whenua, land owners and managers, communities, councils, and groups. Together we develop enduring solutions that integrate environmental protection and enhancement seamlessly into operational frameworks. Whether it’s advising on sustainable management practices, developing catchment scale freshwater management plans, or finding innovative strategies for agroforestry – we’re dedicated to facilitating outcomes that are both practical and environmentally effective.
We work with our clients toward a rural New Zealand where resilient communities and primary production systems fit within a vibrant and healthy natural environment. Both for our generation and for generations to come.
Together, we can achieve a future where sustainability isn’t just a goal – it’s a way of life.
Solis Norton
Sally Dicey
Rhys Millar
Niki Bould
Case studies
Exploring food economies in Otago
We explored local food economies in Otago, working with Otago Polytechnic, and created a toolkit for communities. Local Food Economies (LFE) is the economic and social system for growing, processing, distributing and consuming food within an area. This builds social...
Maori agribusiness opportunities
Whirika has been working with more than twenty Māori landholder groups across Te Waipounamu South Island to identify and assess the potential for diversifying land use for whānau with a particular interest mahinga kai. The focus has been on the feasibility of...
Integrated catchment management planning
In Te Hakapupu catchment, East Otago, historic farming practices and more recent forestry operations in the catchment have led to an increase in sediment in waterways and wetlands, degrading cultural and biodiversity values. Whirika is working with mana whenua,...