Six community groups will receive grants
Westpac NZ and NZ Landcare Trust have teamed up to help community groups improve waterways around the country.
Under the Westpac Watercare Project, six $10,000 grants will be handed out each year to conservation projects. Westpac will provide the funding and will work with NZ Landcare Trust to distribute it.
Nick Edgar, NZ Landcare Trust CEO, said the partnership will help local groups address key issues affecting New Zealand waterways, including declining biodiversity, excess sediment buildup, and poor water quality.
“We have roughly 106 catchment groups, 11 catchment collectives, and 377 community Landcare groups, all of whom need varying degrees of support and funding to keep up their great work,” Edgar said. “With Westpac on board, they’ll be better equipped to make practical and positive changes to their local environment. That could involve planting native trees, weed control, trapping more pests, or investing in water-monitoring equipment, among other important initiatives.”
Tim Henshaw, Westpac NZ head of agribusiness, said the bank is committed to helping protect and enhance the country’s waterways for the benefit of all communities.
“We all want to do our bit to look after our backyard,” Henshaw said. “By supporting the trust’s important work at the grassroots level, we’re helping everyday New Zealanders make a real difference in their area and contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment. With more than 5,000 staff around the country, we already have a strong footprint in the regions, and this partnership will give our people opportunities to volunteer on projects, working hand in hand with local communities.”
First to receive the $10,000 grant was the Eastern Whio Link, which aims to restore whio (blue duck) populations to East Coast rivers through extensive stoat trapping.
Richie McCaw, Westpac ambassador, worked with the team near Gisborne last week and was impressed by their passion and dedication.
“It was great getting my hands dirty with some really committed locals and seeing their amazing work up close,” McCaw said. “For your average New Zealander, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to conservation and cleaning up our environment, so it’s really cool to see Westpac working with local environmental groups to give everyone a chance to make a real difference.”
Five more recipients of the $10,000 grants will be announced in the coming weeks. Registrations for the 2023 Westpac Watercare Project will open next April. To register interest for the grant, visit https://www.landcare.org.nz/who-we-work-with.
