About Otago Catchment Community (OCC)

Why Catchment Groups

A diverse range of water bodies and land uses leads to varied environmental challenges facing landholders and communities throughout Otago.

By forming Catchment Groups, landholders and communities can work together to overcome challenges and achieve positive environmental outcomes.

Where OCC fits in

The Otago Catchment Community (OCC) serves as the collective voice for Otago’s catchment groups, ensuring they have the resources needed to address environmental challenges effectively.

OCC has been meeting informally since June 2018, when we started out with workshops convened by NZ Landcare Trust to facilitate and promote on farm good practice and sustainable land management.

Led by the needs of our catchment groups, we work to support, connect, and empower local communities to drive positive environmental change.

Our Vision

To create and support an Otago wide network of catchment groups that are addressing environmental issues now and for generations to come.

 Our Objectives

  1. Assisting with the formation and direction setting of Catchment Groups, enabling them to run independently. 

  2. Enabling sustainable funding to support changing needs of groups.

  3. Catchment Groups effectively communicate their stories. 

  4. Facilitate collaboration between Catchment Groups, Government, Iwi, Regional Authorities and stakeholders.  

  5. Facilitating access to experts, information, technology and education. 

The OCC vision is backed by our Values:

  1. Recognise the Uniqueness of every Catchment Group.

  2. Support all Catchment Groups no matter their Size or Stage.

  3. Share Knowledge & Resources across the Region.

  4. Collaborate with the Otago Community and all Stakeholders.