Current filter:
We are focusing on preserving and growing the long-term viability of food production in the Hawke’s Bay, and the communities that support them.
The Land for Life partnership is a collaboration between Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC), Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand (TNC NZ) to help farmers reduce erosion on their farms and adopt more regenerative, resilient and profitable farming systems.
It provides the tools, expertise and capital needed for farmers to meet environmental and regulatory demands, while preserving productivity and business performance.
In 2023-24, we undertook a successful pilot trial on thirteen farms to better understand set-up costs, partnership and delivery options. Some of the participating farmers have shared their stories below.
In late 2023, the business case to greatly expand the programme was approved between the partners and it is planned for the programme to be rolled out to another 90 farms, and up to a further 300 farms in total, with another 300 having high-level farm plans the coming years.
We are also looking to expand the programme across the country in erosion-prone regions such as Northland, Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wellington/Wairarapa and Tasman.
If you are interested in finding out more, please email landforlife@hbrc.govt.nz.
We are partnering with the global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy on the Land For Life project.
TNC is evaluating a $50-$100 million scale-up opportunity to take Land For Life from a pilot phase to a programme that can be implemented across Hawke’s Bay.
Showing search results for ""
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global, science-based conservation organisation founded in 1951 and dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.
In New Zealand, one of TNC’s goals is to achieve measurable reductions in the intensity of freshwater use and in the contamination of priority catchments.
MPI have been involved in the project since 2018, first by co-funding the Right Tree Right Place programme through One Billion Trees and securing further funding ($98K) from Fit for a better world to contract a draft business plan assessing a more sustainable model for funding restoration. In June 2023, TUR-NZFS reviewed the draft business case for Land for Life Impact investment. MPI continue to act in an advisory capacity for the project.
In order for the Council to achieve its strategic goal of all highly erodible land under tree cover by 2050, we need to plant trees at scale. TNC has significant international experience in structuring investment projects at scale with significant environmental benefits.
TNC brings considerable credibility, expertise and networks from similar environmental projects, and can introduce private and institutional investors to Land For Life who share a common interest in investing in sustainability and ecosystem protection.
Land For Life needs to integrate economics, environmental outcomes, supply chain constraints, landowner personal preferences and iwi and hapu values in the development of the programme — and TNC can help with this.
Yes. Investing in Land For Life is not exclusive to TNC and its investment networks. The aim is to develop an investment framework that delivers investment returns, environmental outcomes and landowners’ vision for their land.
The Council has invested $2.5 million over the last three years to support pilots across the region. In the next 2 years it will commit $1.1 million through staffing.
This programme aims to leverage around $95 million of green finance over 6-7 years.
The region’s largest water quality issue is sediment from erosion of soils. One of our key strategic goals is that by 2050, all highly erodible land is under tree cover.
We support farmers to develop more resilient and sustainable farming operations, and have solid partnerships with the farming community. Our catchment advisors will introduce the Land For Life project to farmers, support them to take part in the project, and help in the development of a Land For Life project, by bringing in regenerative farming specialists and other experts.
TNC sources its funds from a range of commercial companies, funds and philanthropic investors, including investors in New Zealand.
About 252,000 hectares of Hawke’s Bay hill country has been identified as being at high risk of erosion and around 6.8 million tonnes of sediment enters our waterways every year, with a detrimental impact on freshwater and marine quality, and aquatic life.
The soil being lost from our hill country cannot be replaced, is the basis of hill country farming and is having a significant economic and environmental effect on farmers and the land.
No. The aim is to only plant trees on land which is erodible and suitable for trees. It is estimated about 5 - 20% of any farm will be planted in trees.
Land For Life is a way for farmers to get a good return from erosion prone land and potentially support a diversified farm system, keeping the farm in the family across generations. It can provide revenue to develop and improve the balance of the pastoral farm and support environmental stewardship. In turn, it will also help support the communities that support local farming. It is also an economically viable alternative to whole farm afforestation.
Through the initial pilot, we realised that the whole farm system needed to be considered, especially when some less-profitable land was being retired or put into forestry. Regenerative agriculture practices seemed to be the best way to accommodate these changes in land use, whilst improving resilience and profitability. Right Tree Right Place (RTRP) had also taken on a life of its own that did not always reflect the initial intent of the RTRP programme.
Our Land For Life programme is a way for farmers to consider their whole farm system and apply regenerative agriculture practices to reduce erosion, improve freshwater and build greater farm resilience.
We are looking at land in Hawke’s Bay which is economically marginal for pastoral farming and is difficult to farm. This land has the potential to deliver much greater returns to farmers using regenerative farming practices.
We need an innovative, transformational scheme to slow erosion, improve freshwater quality, and prepare the region for climate change.
Around 136,000 truck and trailer loads, or 1090 Olympic-sized swimming pools, of sediment fall into our waterways each year. This has significant impacts on water quality and the aquatic and terrestrial life that depends on it.
Working together through Land For Life will also improve environmental outcomes and support rural communities.
For Farmers |
For Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand |
|
A partnership using the Land For Life model offers farmers the choice to:
|
If taken up at scale in the region, Land For Life will generate significant benefits for the region:
|
Our catchment staff will work closely with farmers to identify the steep, erosion prone parts of their farm that will suit regenerative agriculture.
Catchment staff will then connect farmers with investment partners, and a plan would be agreed based on the farmer’s vision for the land.
Farmers will then have the option to seek green financing from investment partners, and the planting revenue (via carbon and timber) is used to repay the loan.
Drop us a line if you would like any further information about Land For Life - landforlife@hbrc.govt.nz
Evan and Linda Potter have farmed their Elsthorpe property for 25 years retiring highly erodible and marginally-profitable land back to native bush, as well as planting pines, willow and poplars.
Mark Warren talks about his journey from taking on the old run-down family farm in steep hill country in southern Hawke’s Bay to building it up to successful farm operation through planting the right trees in the right places.
Wairoa farmer Dave Read has planted thousands of poplars and willows on his land for erosion control and to provide alternative food for stock in times of drought.
Trees have been grown on Maraetara in Bay View by five generations of Philip Holt’s family. Philip talks about how planting the trees in marginal and erosion-prone land has benefited not just the farm business, but created a place of special significance for the family over the generations.
Read more about farmers who are putting Land For Life in to practice.
Dave Read - Integrated landscape Sustainable future
+64 6 835 9200
159 Dalton Street. Napier 4110
Private Bag 6006, Napier 4142
Disclaimers, Copyright & Privacy
Disclaimers and Copyright
While every endeavour has been taken by the Hawke's Bay Regional Council to ensure that the information on this website is
accurate and up to date, Hawke's Bay Regional Council shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of information on this website. Information contained has been assembled in good faith.
Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
government agencies. Hawke's Bay Regional Council cannot accept any liability for its accuracy or content.
Portions of the information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.
© Hawke's Bay Regional Council - www.hbrc.govt.nz / +64 6 835 9200 / info@hbrc.govt.nz
