When comparing the regions water quality data with the national standards it was found that across the 11 different monitored sites

• 38 out of 55 were in the A category rating  
• 15 out of 55 were in the B category rating
• 1 ourtof 55 were in the C category rating
• ​Only one was below the national bottom line for acceptable water quality, with a D rating.  

You can read the full report ​here

However, a new study from has found that rural and farm fencing is only the start when it comes to improving New Zealand waterways. 
Freshwater scientists at the Cawthron Institute found that Holistic and sustainable land management are needed in order to restore waterways.  
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"There is no simple solution to restoring a healthy river ecosystem," said lead author Katharina Doehring. "rural fencing is just one component. Stock can't get into the river and can't deposit faeces in fenced sections of the river" . Farm fencing and rural fencing reduces E coli and sediment inputs in the water.  Short sections or Rivers and streams that have been fenced don't then repair themselves.  The only indicator that improved in this study was shade, brought about by planting along stream edges. As they mature, bushes and trees shade the water and can lower its temperature, a desirable result.  The bigger picture is that streams and rivers are connected ecosystems and restoration needs to happen across whole catchments.

"Our waterways need to be managed at a catchment or large scale because small scale efforts have little effect on stream ecosystem health," Doehring said.  "Ideally the landowners in a catchment work together and develop … a coordinated environmental management plan for that catchment'

Unfortunately there isn't a single answer and it depends on what landowners can afford however Dohering is urging land owners to continue fending and planting as they are important first steps.  

References
Word of mouth is a great way to narrow down your list of potential fencing contractors.  Many contractors run ads in local newspapers and may be perfectly good fencers but just because their ad looks professional, don't assume anything.  Do your research, social media is a fantastic way to find honest customer feedback.  Ask around at your local timber yard or farm fencing merchants and ask for recommendations.  Most will have two or three that they recommend on a regular basis.
Nothing beats a close-up inspection of the contractor's past work. If possible, see if you can inspect a recently completed fencing job that is similar to your project.

Look for a member of the Fencing Contractors Association
This industry group only accepts fencing contractors who can prove their competency to a high level. They must: 

• Hold an NZQA certificate in fencing which covers all aspects of fencing practice, including design, how to work with different soil types and terrains, and practical wire skills. 
• Have a working health and safety policy 
• Have public liability insurance 
• Have been in business for at least three years, to prove their business acumen and tax/financial practices 
• Provide references from satisfied clients to FCANZ 

The FCANZ website has a directory of members nationwide.  
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For more information and advice on your next fencing project contact us we have the know-how, team and plant to get the job done. 
We build durable South Island fencing solutions which are suitable for kiwi conditions. Our mobile unit enables us to deploy and base our crew on-site. This delivers a faster turnaround times and value for our rural customers.
We are a full-service fencing contractor and our services including planning, design, construction, installation and repairs and maintenance.
Our Earthmoving and Excavation services include land clearing, tree removal, irrigation projects and upgrades, dairy conversions, dams and ponds, pipe and cable laying, site works and construction, demolition, landscaping, section development and underground infrastructure.

To mark the 50th anniversary of Conservation Week, our friends at DairyNZ bring you 50 ways dairy farmers are showing their love for their waterways, land and environment.

Our dairy farmers care deeply for the natural world that surrounds them every day of their lives – and they are passionate about protecting and nurturing it for future generations.
For dairy farmers, the focus in the past few years has been on improving waterways, enhancing biodiversity, and controlling predators, both weed plants and animal pests, such as possums, rats and stoats.  

The farmers around the country who are part of the Dairy Environment Leaders programme, set up six years ago to develop responsible dairying, are true kaitiaki. They not only roll up their sleeves on their land, but they are also inspiring other farmers. They are active in their communities, on boards and local committees and catchment groups, leading the way in achieving good outcomes for the environment and farming. 
With the 50th anniversary of Conservation Week underway – and to honour dairy farmers’ protection of their special part of the planet – they have come up with 50 actions that are being embraced across thousands of farms in New Zealand: each farmer does a few to a lot of these 50 ‘loves of the land’.  Here are our top 20 from the list. 

On the farm

1. Creating farm environment plans (FEPs) to recognise on-farm environmental risks and set out a programme to manage them.  FEPs are unique to each farm and reflect the local climate and soils, the type of farming operation, and the goals and aspirations of the farmer.
2. Fencing waterways to keep cows out – 24,249 kms of waterways are now fenced, comprising 98.3 percent of significant dairy waterways (more than one metre wide and 30cm deep).
3. Bridging stock crossings, again to exclude animals from waterways.
4. Installing constructed wetlands, again to remove key contaminants before they enter streams.
5. Protecting natural wetlands.
6. Trialling new electronic virtual fencing technology that enables greater control of where cows need to be at certain times to reduce contaminant losses from critical source areas. 
7. Providing important ‘native corridors’ through New Zealand’s pastoral landscape with riparian planting and protecting remnant bush areas on farms.
8. Spending, literally, millions of dollars on installing and maintaining effluent management systems.
9. Using ‘green gold’, the natural fertiliser, cleverly and efficiently: effluent spreading on paddocks.  There’s even an app many farmers have on their smartphones to instantly tell them how much and when to spread.
10. Using recycled water to wash down cow sheds and feed pads.
11. Installing solar panels on cowsheds.
12. Some wind turbines too.
13. Recycling and upcycling.
14. Reducing plastic waste.
15. Stabilizing hillsides to reduce erosion and sediment entering waterways.
16. Retiring marginal land and protecting it with stock-proof fencing.
17. Fencing off and protecting significant trees.
18. Protecting native birds by fencing out dogs.
19. Keeping beehives and harvesting honey from their riparian manuka plantings.
20. Adopting technology that helps to lower the footprint, including various smartphone apps, and sophisticated devices for water and fertiliser measurements and for irrigation.

Farmers’ environmental effort has carried over into their homes and into the community too.  

You can read the full article from DairyNZ here.  ​

New Zealand's largest company Fonterra has just published its second annual sustainability report covering its economic, social and environmental impacts for the 2017/18 dairy season.  Fonterra says it has some work to do to reduce its environmental impact.  
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​The 98-page report covers a wide range of topics including animal welfare, biosecurity, water, climate change and community development.  

​​Fonterra's director of sustainability, Carolyn Mortland, said its environmental ambitions and targets required the most effort.
"This report shows we've got some work to do to reduce our environmental impact, and a great role to play in providing people with natural and nutritious food. "We really need to reduce our environmental impact... our focus is on climate change, water and waste,"

The report also noted that ​99.6 percent of farmers now had fencing in place excluding their dairy cattle from permanent waterways on their farms.

​"We think this actually reflects where we stand now and where most farmers are asking us [to be,] which is to be tough on those who haven't quite completed the requirements that most other farmers are at,"

​According to DairyNZ Under the sustainable Dairying Water Accord:
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• All stock must be excluded from any permanently flowing rivers, streams, drains and springs, more than a metre wide and 30cm deep
• All lakes must have all stock permanently excluded
• Any significant wetlands, as identified in your regional plan or policy statement must also have stock permanently excluded.

These regulations came into effect as of May 2017 so the fencing of waterways should be a priority for farms and commercial rural properties.
​

 Credit to rnz.co.nz and DairyNZ

Under the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord:

• All stock must be excluded from any permanently flowing rivers, streams, drains and springs, more than a metre wide and 30cm deep by May 2017
• All lakes must have all stock permanently excluded by May 2017
• Any significant wetlands, as identified in your regional plan or policy statement must also have stock permanently excluded by May 2017. Check with your dairy company to see if you have one on your property.

This means that the fencing of waterways should be a priority on your farm.

Planning
Consider the overall layout of your farm when planning for waterway fences. Along with protecting waterways, new fencing could improve grazing management and stock control1. The setback for your fence will depend on how you are going to manage the area between the fence and the stream. Do you want to maintain it as a grassy strip to filter nutrients and sediment from runoff or do you want to plant it with trees?

What is your waterway like?
Surrounded by rolling land/ flat land
Fence set back needs to allow for a grass margin and changes in stream shape and size. If you are planting natives you will need a margin of five metres, this will allow for a one metre strip of grass and two to three rows of native plants.

Surrounded by steep land
Steep areas generate fast runoff and the margin required to capture it will be wider than that used for rolling or flat land. Allow for a grass strip on the fence side of the riparian zone. If you are planting natives you will need a margin of five metres, this will allow for a one metre strip of grass and two to three rows of native plants. The larger the riparian zone, the more likely that runoff will be captured before it reaches the stream. 

Erosion prone banks 
Fences will need to be set back further on erosion prone banks. Allow for some erosion and changes in stream meander, particularly on the outside of bends. Erosion is a natural process and in some areas will be hard to stop or slow without appropriate planting or structures. Your regional council will be able to give you ideas and advice on how to fix it.

Consider how far the stream moves during large storm or erosion events and how many events occur yearly. Vegetation will not protect the stream straight away so fence back far enough to allow for three years of erosion. For more information on erosion management see Waterway Technote: Erosion. 

Surrounded by poorly drained soils
Poorly drained soils require a wide setback. Water does not easily infiltrate the soil resulting in overland flow directly into waterways. Wetlands can be used to remove nutrients and sediment, so try to fence these off also. Dense riparian plantings will slow flow and also act as a filter before runoff enters the waterway. Your setback should allow for several rows of trees and a grassy margin.

Surrounded by free draining soils
Free draining soils will require a riparian area large enough to accommodate deep rooted plants. In well-drained soils water will easily move through the soil into groundwater and then potentially into surface water. Roots of riparian plants help to filter this, removing nutrients and other contaminants. Plants with strong roots will also help to stabilise banks and prevent erosion.

Weed management
Weed growth can be a problem in fenced grass margins if not managed early on. For information on identifying and controlling specific types of weeds see Waterway Technote: Pests. 

Type of fence
Investment in a robust, stock proof, good quality fence provides the best waterway protection and minimises maintenance issues long term. Ensure your fence is suitable for all classes of stock that will be near waterways.

Requirements
Different milk suppliers have different minimum requirements around fencing so it is best to check with your milk supplier before finalising your choice of fence. Waterways that are required to be fenced due to a resource consent condition may have specific fencing requirements and fence setbacks. Ensure you comply with any regional council requirements.

Funding
Funding may be available from regional councils or QEII Trust. Usually it is for fencing above the minimum standard, for example fencing an environmentally significant waterway or wetland. In these circumstances, specific fencing standards may apply. For further information on fencing design and what materials to use see openspace.org.nz.

Fencing in flood prone areas
These areas may need a wider set back than other areas, to ensure that the fence is not subjected to high velocity flows. Where possible erect fences above any flood prone areas or leave a good setback from the waterway. This is particularly important on the outside of bends of rivers and streams where there is greatest potential for banks to break and erosion to occur. Think about what the stream does in regular high flow events before fencing. 

Download the full guide from DairyNZ.  

Grass filter strip between fence and waterway

Additional benefits

• Low cost
• Small loss of grazing land

Limitations

• Weed control required
• No shading of stream
• Minimal habitat for bird and aquatic life
• Minimal bank stabilisation without deeper rooted vegetation.

Low planting between fence and waterway

Additional benefits

• Stream bank stability
• Small loss of grazing land
• Can make use of sprays targeted to broadleaf species
• Helps control weed growth
• Shade and cover for fish and insect life.

Limitations

• Weed control require
• Minimal habitat for birdlife

Full planting between fence and waterway

Additional benefits

• Reduced drain maintenance
• Attractive asset for your farm
• Provides shade and keeps water cool
• Increased habitat for birds.

Limitations

• Higher cost
• Larger loss of grazing land
• Needs weed control for at least two to three years
• May require animal pest control.

Extend fenced area to include seeps, wetlands, swamps and springs

Additional benefits

• Reduces stock losses
• Provide habitat for bird life.

Limitations

• May result in loss of grazing land
• Needs stringent weed control
• Higher cost if planting required

Fencing in flood prone areas

• Use fewer upright posts and less wire; this way less debris will catch on the fence. Do not use netting as it will trap debris.
• Put wires on the downstream back side of posts so that flood waters will cause the staples to pop and the wire drop rather than pull out the posts and strainers.
• Use unbarbed staples so wires can pop off more easily.
• Erect fences parallel with the way the stream floods so the fence does not collect debris.
• Have fences further back where active erosion is occurring
• Construct separate ‘blow-out’ sections across flood channels.

Access to drains

• Build an electric fence that can be dropped or removed to allow access, e.g. use pinlock insulators so the wires can easily be lowered for machinery to cross.
• Position the fence so a long-reach digger can reach over the top.
• For wide waterways, place a fence far enough back to allow a digger to work between the fence and the bank. This approach still allows for a wide grassy margin and you can plant low growing plants on the waterway margin if you wish.
•  Do not cut off gateways that give diggers access to neighbouring paddocks.

Article courtesy of DairyNZ.