Problem paddocks to thriving wetlands in Piako

When Johan’s family purchased the farm in 2010, they were clear about priorities: the business needed to work first. For the first decade, they focused heavily on getting the farming operation humming; investing in shed upgrades, a feed pad to reduce pugging on wet ground, race improvements, effluent system upgrades, and GPS-guided fertiliser application. This wasn't just about compliance; it was about efficiency. By investing in precision effluent management, Johan estimates he reduced fertiliser use by around 20% year-on-year — savings that would later help fund biodiversity work.

The low-lying 4.5-hectare area at the back of the farm had always been wet. Full of weeds, it offered little productive value and created regular practical headaches, including times when the fertiliser truck had to be pulled out and cows became stuck in the soft ground. Any attempt to drain it would have been futile given the catchment's hydrology. What Johan initially saw as a problem area gradually became something else: an opportunity.

Getting started

Johan describes his motivation as layered and evolving. The initial driver was practical: a conversation with his neighbour about Environmental Protection Agreements (EPAs) through the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) pointed him toward fencing and planting the wet areas as a way to manage nutrient mitigation. But as the project grew, so did his understanding of what it meant.

Attending a Dairy environment leaders forum event, Johan heard a speaker challenging farmers to engage more deeply with Mana Whenua. That challenge stuck. Over time, through community networks, he began building connections with local hapū and Ngāti Hauā Mahi trust — relationships that added a cultural dimension to what had started as an environmental project.

Winning the Waikato Supreme Award in the 2021 Farm Environment Awards opened the farm up to field days and community visitors, which in turn brought new ideas and new conversations. What Johan came to understand and what now sits at the heart of his motivation, is that the small stretch of stream or wetland on any farm is not isolated. It connects to an entire catchment network, to communities downstream, and to native species that have lived on that land far longer than any farmer.

The journey

The restoration journey began in 2020, a decade after purchasing the farm. Johan's first call was to the Waikato Regional Council. An advisor came out and initially suggested starting with a small section. Johan's father, characteristically direct, disagreed: if a 4.5-hectare wetland was worth doing, it was worth doing all at once. They applied for an EPA through WRC and accessed the One Billion Trees Fund, securing partial funding that made the full project viable.

Early plant selection advice came from a local nursery, but Johan quickly learned that getting a broad range of regional plant knowledge was essential. The most valuable guidance came from a nursery specialist with over 50 years of forestry restoration experience, someone who, as Johan puts it, understands 'how a forest thinks.' Community members who attended farm field days also brought expertise that Johan hadn't anticipated.

Before planting began, Johan took a baseline eDNA water sample from the farm's tributary to find out what living species the stream was supporting. It’s a move he describes as one of the best decisions he made; it gave him a picture of what was there and a benchmark to measure against. If you are interested in your stream's health, watch this video showing you how to take an eDNA sample and interpret the results.

On farm actions

• Main wetland: 4.5 ha fenced, cleared of weeds, and planted with native species suited to the Waikato region.
• Smaller tributaries: Multiple drain and wetland seep areas planted with native sedges and riparian plants, converting open, exposed waterways into shaded, managed habitats.
• Pest control: Active trapping programme in place, with pest population management intensifying as native habitat has matured.
• eDNA baseline: Water sample taken before planting began, providing a before/after framework; a follow-up fish survey by WRC (using fyke nets and minnow traps) confirmed native fish species recovery.
• Infrastructure: Feed pad and effluent system upgrades (completed over the preceding decade) underpin the farm system and free up funds for biodiversity investment.
• GPS and precision fertiliser: GPS-guided effluent application across two-thirds of the farm; and contractors with GPS track-mapping for fertiliser, reducing usage by approximately 20% and cutting costs reinvested into restoration.
• Mana Whenua connection: Community introductions have helped begin early, relationship-led conversations with local hapū about the cultural value of the restoration areas.

Changes along the way

Johan's early uncertainty was not about whether to proceed, but how. He didn't know which plants to use, what weeds to expect, or what ongoing maintenance would look like. His response was practical; find people who do know. A local nursery specialist, WRC advisors, and community members who had done similar projects provided the guidance he needed. He also quickly learned that Roundup is not compatible with established native plantings; selective spraying and a skilled spray contractor became essential.

The biggest shift was conceptual. Johan started the project thinking primarily about nutrient mitigation. He came to understand that nutrient benefits are just one small part of what these areas contribute, to biodiversity, to water quality, to cultural connection, and to the community conversations that happen when a farm opens its gates.

What’s going well

• Bird recovery has been faster than expected: fantail (pīwakawaka), tūī, and species Johan had never previously seen, including what he believes is a māpunga (black shag) — are now regular visitors to the wetland.
• Fish have returned to restored tributaries: a WRC fish survey confirmed the return of torrent fish; a native species that requires cleaner, faster-flowing riffled water, in waterways where only short-finned eels (indicative of poor water quality) were previously present.
• The eDNA baseline has proven its value: comparing pre- and post-planting data makes it easy to demonstrate measurable environmental change to visitors, the community, and Johan himself. He was really surprised by the return of Torrent fish.
• Cost savings from precision farming have directly funded biodiversity investment, a virtuous cycle where better farm management enables more restoration.
• Farm Environment Award recognition opened the farm to field days and community visits, which in turn brought new expertise and relationships Johan would not otherwise have found.
• Community conversations across the rural-urban connection have shifted: Johan can now host visitors who engage equally around birds and fish and around how and why he farms the way he does.

Challenges along the way

• Not knowing where to start: the breadth of advice available — Regional Council, nurseries, catchment groups, online resources — was initially overwhelming rather than clarifying.
• Weed management is ongoing: native plantings require careful, selective spraying as they establish; roundup cannot be used once trees are in the ground, requiring a skilled contractor and the right products.
• Building Mana Whenua relationships takes time and cannot be rushed — initial connections have been made, but this is a long-term relationship-building journey.
• Funding comes with conditions and effort: while EPA funding (WRC, 35% contribution) and the One Billion Trees Fund helped, the majority of the investment has been the family's own — and Johan argues this is appropriate, as 'skin in the game' drives long-term commitment.
• Balancing regulatory language around nutrients with the full picture: Johan is frustrated that nutrient limit conversations rarely account for the biodiversity benefits of on-farm restoration — the story is more complex than a single number.

Key partners to success

• Waikato Regional Council (WRC): initial EPA advice, site guidance, fish survey (fyke nets and minnow traps).
• Local native plant nursery specialist: 50+ years of forestry restoration experience; planting plan and species selection.
• Local catchment group: community connections and knowledge-sharing.
• Mana Whenua / local hapū: Ngāti Hauā Mahi Trust - emerging cultural relationship.
• Rabobank: broader rural–urban connection advocacy.

Funding received

• Environmental Protection Agreement (EPA) through Waikato Regional Council: 35% contribution to fencing and initial planting.
• One Billion Trees Fund: additional planting funding (application successful).
• Total project investment to date (2026): approximately $130,000, of which approximately 60% has been met by the family; recent smaller projects attracting approximately 20% external funding.