
Community Wellbeing
Our vision for a thriving community is that residents, visitors, community groups, landowners, business owners and agencies are actively working together to safeguard and improve the quality of freshwater in our district.
The Community Wellbeing goals identified in the Community Catchment Plan (CCP) describe what the Upper Clutha community wants its rivers, streams and lakes to be like. The goals integrate the concept of ‘te mana o te wai’ across the four aspects of community well-being:
- Cultural Values (respect for all values, relationship with waterways)
- Social Wellbeing (community & government engagement, drinking water)
- Environmental Wellbeing (safe recreation & interaction with the local ecosystems)
- Economic Wellbeing (sustainable agriculture, tourism and urbanisation)

Te mana o te wai
Te mana o te wai refers to the vital importance of water. When managing freshwater, it ensures the health and well-being of the water is protected and human health needs are provided for before enabling other uses of water. It expresses the special connection all New Zealanders have with freshwater. By protecting the health and well-being of our freshwater we protect the health and well-being of our people and environments.
Subjects of interest
CCP OBJECTIVES & CATEGORIES

How the CCP helps
Land Management
Urban Development
Ecosystem Action
Collaboration
Mātauranga Māori
News & Updates
- Adopt a DrainWelcome to the ‘Adopt a Drain’ community! We are thrilled to share the first edition of our seasonal ‘Adopt a Drain’ newsletter with you. This… Read more
- Take action this AutumnWe have had a busy summer preparing lots of opportunities for you to make a difference in your backyard. Check out the list of important mahi… Read more
- Growing togetherLet’s celebrate our community planting over 45,000 native trees across the Upper Clutha Catchment over the last five years. The Wānaka Water Project and WAI’s… Read more
- WAI in the communityIt’s been a difficult time for many recently – with droughts affecting our region whilst floods have devastated communities in the north. A question that has… Read more