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On this page:
- About the Hill Country Erosion Programme
- Case studies of funded work
- Hill Country Erosion Programmes in your region
About the Hill Country Erosion (HCE) Programme
The HCE Programme is a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), councils and landowners. It provides funding support to regional erosion-control projects that are beyond the capacity of councils to address on their own.
The HCE Programme supports councils to:
- work with landowners in mapping and identifying erosion-prone land
- deliver catchment initiatives and sustainable land management projects
- build their technical capacity to deliver erosion-control work.
It also supports councils to plan for and treat erosion-prone land, usually with trees as the main treatment, through:
- space planting of trees (far enough apart that pasture can grow between them for grazing stock)
- land retirement and reversion to native vegetative cover
- forestry.
Loss of productive land through erosion has a significant impact on the environment, and the economy. Erosion and its effects in hill country areas alone are estimated to cost New Zealand's economy $100 million to $150 million a year. Reducing erosion in the upper areas of a catchment costs less than the cost of flooding and of flood-control structures in the lower areas.
Case studies of funded work
Rural coumminities are the kaitiaki (guardians) of much of our nation's precious land and water. Our HCE Programme supports famers to make good land decisions, helping:
- retain productive soils
- reduce sediment loss to waterways.
Right across our regions, the HCE Programme is working to give landowners the support, advice and incentives they need. Read some examples of how the HCE Programme is helping landowners tackle erosion and manage sediment loss across New Zealand.
Solving a catastrophic slip with manuka planting - Rangitikei [PDF, 3.7 MB]
Gathering momentum in the battle against hill country erosion - Waikato [PDF, 1.8 MB]
Joining forces to safeguard a precious catchment - Hawke's Bay [PDF, 3.1 MB]
The role of good partnerships in tackling erosion - Wellington [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Tackling erosion challenges out on the lifestyle block - Nelson [PDF, 3.4 MB]
Hill Country Erosion Programmes in your region
The HCE Programme provides funding to regional councils and unitary (territorial) authorities. It runs funding rounds every 4 years and is currently supporting 12 active programmes around the country.
Landowners should make contact with their council's land management officers to find out about current programmes in their area.
Search for Hill Country Erosion programmes operating in your area, check out details of a particular programme, or read our summary of current programmes.