Built with feedback from communities participating in our Wai Connection and Community-based Freshwater Monitoring mahi, Mountains to Sea is delighted to present Wai Collective: a programme that supports catchment groups, community groups, iwi/hapū, and government organisations with tools and training to monitor and interpret freshwater health, and take action to improve their local awa.
Background
In 2019, Mountains to Sea and NIWA created the Community-based Freshwater Monitoring guidelines. These guidelines were implemented through the Wai Connection project. Thanks to ongoing need in communities across Aotearoa, this are now being delivered alongside a digital monitoring platform under the title 'Wai Collective'.
Key Activities
The Wai Collective programme is delivered in seven steps:
Step 1: Making Connections - Coordinators introduce Wai Collective, and find out what the group's needs are.
Step 2: Strengthening Connections - relationships are built and a monitoring plan is created.
Step 3: Diving In - Coordinators help the group build skills and knowledge with Wai Collective resources, including training on how to use the Wai Collective digital monitoring platform.
Step 4: Diving Deeper - the group gets set up in the field. Monitoring begins with in-person Coordinator support.
Step 5: Independent Monitoring - the group starts doing monitoring on their own, with limited external support from Wai Collective Coordinators.
Step 6: Interpreting the Data - data is interpreted and findings presented with support from Coordinators.
Step 7: Restoration Planning and Action - with Coordinator support, the group plans and takes action based on the data collected and interpreted during the Wai Collective process.
Get Involved
If you'd like to enquire about getting involved with Wai Collective, please fill in our expression of interest form so we can ensure your enquiry is directed to the right team member.
