Written by Lottie Oatts & Jose Cranfield Stormwater within WAI Wānaka’s Urban Strategy It has been a particularly rainy summer here in the Upper Clutha, making it a good time to revisit what stormwater actually is – and why it matters. Stormwater is rainwater that runs off… Read More
Using the Lakes Responsibly This Summer This summer, we’ve been inviting everyone to use the lakes responsibly. Whether you are a local, a visitor or a holiday homeowner, small everyday actions can help protect these precious waterways — while continuing to enjoy all they have to offer. Photo:… Read More
Nestled between the Motatapu River and the lower Fern Burn, Glendhu Station stands as one of the Upper Clutha’s most compelling examples of intergenerational land stewardship and progressive rural leadership. Under the guidance of landowner John McRae, the station has evolved from a traditional family farm into a diversified, future‑focused… Read More
Celebrating the women protecting these waterways. Every year on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re reminded of the power of diverse voices in shaping a healthier planet. At WAI Wānaka, we’re proud to have been guided by many talented women whose curiosity, rigour, and care… Read More
If you can lap it, you can protect it. As part of our summer campaign, we’re speaking with locals whose lives are shaped by the lakes and rivers around them. In 2025, swimmer Livi Schmid took on the greatest challenge of her career, swimming the entire 44-kilometre length… Read More
The Upper Clutha Rural Strategy 2030 marks a major step forward for our rural communities. Developed collaboratively by farmers across the Upper Clutha and supported by WAI Wānaka through MPI funding, the strategy sets a clear direction for strengthening rural businesses, enhancing environmental stewardship, and building resilient catchment groups. … Read More
If you can dive in it, you can protect it. As part of our summer campaign, we’re asking some epic locals how they use the lakes and rivers and what’s important to them. Zoe Hawkins is a free-diver, a Lake Hāwea local, and Creative Director behind… Read More
Positioned between the shimmering waters of Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka, Glen Dene Station is more than just a high country farm—it’s a living legacy of stewardship, innovation, and environmental care. At the helm are Richard and Sarah Burdon, third-generation custodians whose passion for the land has transformed Glen Dene… Read More
In the heart of the Upper Clutha catchment, the On Farm Environmental Support (OFES) programme is proudly carrying forward the momentum of Jobs for Nature—working with catchment groups, empowering landowners to actively protect and restore native ecosystems, while fostering a thriving, resilient landscape for generations to come. Invasive… Read More
Many of us have lived here a long time and watched the Upper Clutha’s lakes and rivers through the seasons and decades–from glassy calm mornings on Lake Wānaka to the spring surges of the mighty Mata au | Clutha River. You will have memories of how things used to… Read More