The Waikato farm that carved out a corner for nature

When James and Melissa Barbour took ownership of their South Waikato farm in June 2022 after 15 years of sharemilking, they had a clear idea of the direction they wanted to take it.

For them, this meant prioritising environmental investment early, even while juggling the pressures of debt and on-farm improvements.

“Being [farm] owners meant we could make that call because it was something we were passionate about and wanted to do,” Melissa says.

One of their first decisions was to restore an under-utilised corner of their 196-hectare Waotu property into a wetland. The area had patches of rimu, tōtara, mānuka, kānuka and mataī already growing, so the Barbours saw potential to build on what was naturally there.

“We identified it pretty early on,” James explains. “Cows made a mess of it during winter, and it already had some established natives. We thought, why not start now? We want to be profitable but also care for the environment while we do it.”

Wetland and riparian projects take decades to fully mature, so the couple saw value in getting underway early. They also recognised the long-term benefits, including improved water quality, biodiversity gains, and possibly a small return through carbon credits.

Finding support

While passion drives a project like this, the Barbours say funding support and expertise made it achievable.

Fish & Game and Waikato RiverCare helped them navigate funding opportunities and support for the project grew, with organisations including Fonterra, the Waikato River Authority, Waikato Regional Council, Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust (WCEET), Restore Native, Ngāti Huri Hapū and the local marae coming on board.

The family also invested heavily themselves, which James says was important.

“We were blown away by how supportive and eager everyone was to jump on board. I don’t think we realised the level of funding that was available,” he says.

Work began with fencing, followed by the removal of willows, pines, blackberry and other weeds. Earthworks were carried out to create a one-hectare open water area. Before planting, Angus cattle were brought through to graze down the vegetation.

By July 2024, the site was ready for planting, and the effort quickly grew into something far bigger than the Barbours expected.

There was a big community turnout for planting day.

“Restore Native drilled the holes, Te Waotu School students helped out, Fonterra, Waikato Regional Council, Rabobank, Waikato RiverCare, Fish & Game, locals... it was an awesome day,” James says.

In total, 18,000 native plants went into the ground, forming the foundation of a wetland that will take shape over decades. Three rounds of releasing followed, along with some infill planting. Apart from a slower-than-expected fill during a dry summer, the project has run smoothly.

Left to right: David (Fish & Game), Beau (Fish & Game), James (Restore Native), Kevin (Waikato RiverCare), Andy (Fonterra), Danielle (Fish & Game), James (Farmer).

Reaping the benefits

Even in its early stages, the wetland is making an impact. Around 20 hectares of the farm now drain through it, which is close to 10% of the property. Water that once flooded downstream paddocks is now captured, slowed and filtered.

The biodiversity gains have exceeded the Barbours’ expectations. Ducks arrived early, and native bird sightings have increased, including New Zealand Grebes (weweia) with chicks – a species thought to number only about 1,200 nationwide. Being close to the Maungatautari ecosanctuary means the occasional kākā visit too. “We already had good birdlife here with our native bush, tūī, kererū, fantails, but now we’re seeing even more,” James says.

The couple’s five boys are hands-on in the project as well, doing predator control and enjoying the wetland in summer.

“They swim in it, they help trap rats and stoats,” Melissa says. “That’s what it’s about for us – it’s a nice place to be.”

Retiring five hectares of land can feel like a big decision, but James says it hasn’t affected overall production. “We haven’t seen any detriment in milk production, which is pretty awesome,” he says. “If anything it’s the opposite.”

For other farmers thinking about restoring a wetland, the Barbours’ advice is straightforward: start early and don’t assume you have to do it on your own.

“The benefits take years, so the sooner you get into it, the better,” James says. “There’s a lot of knowledge out there and people who genuinely want to help. We learnt as we went.”

The Barbours see the wetland as just the beginning. They’ve already re-fenced part of the Mangaorua Stream, with Restore Native returning soon to create a planting plan for another 3,000-4,000 natives this winter.

“It’s a continuous thing for us,” James says. “It'll probably take 15-20 years to get to where we want to be, but we are excited to see the changes as we go.”

Above all, the couple say they’re grateful for the support they’ve received.

“It’s awesome to see it’s a project that Fonterra wants to back, both financially and in-person,” James says. “We’re proud to be Fonterra farmers and to have that support.”

Fonterra’s wetland grant programme

Fonterra launched a national wetland restoration grant programme in partnership with the NZ Landcare Trust in 2025, committing to fund 10 grants of $25,000 each year for three years to support community-led wetland restoration across New Zealand.

This represents a total investment of $750,000 over three years, dedicated to improving biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem resilience.

The partnership leverages Landcare Trust’s nearly 30 years of experience supporting catchment groups, rural communities, and farmers with sustainable land and water management.

Often referred to as the “earth’s kidneys”, wetlands play a crucial role in filtering water, reducing flood risk, and supporting biodiversity.

The grants are designed to accelerate community efforts to restore these high-value ecosystems through fencing, planting, weed and pest control, hydrological restoration, and other on-the-ground projects.

Applicants submit expressions of interest via the NZ Landcare Trust.

The initiative is part of Fonterra’s Doing Good Together programme, which focuses on strengthening rural communities and supporting nature restoration across the country.