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On this page:
- About the Hill Country Erosion Programme
- Current funding 2023-2027
- 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.
Current funding 2023-2027
The government has allocated $25 million to 14 regional erosion control programmes for 4 years beginning in July 2023. This is part of an ongoing partnership between MPI, local government and landowners, with councils leading their regional programmes. Both councils and landowners also provide funding throughout the 4-year programmes.
The funding helps protect over 21,000 hectares of erosion-prone farmland. It will continue to support several well-established regional erosion control programmes, and start new programmes in other regions.
Details on the individual regional programmes will be available on this page before the programmes start on 1 July 2023.
Case studies of funded work
Rural communities are the kaitiaki (guardians) of much of our nation's precious land and water. The 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
Read below for more information about the erosion programmes funded by the HCE Programme in your region.
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.
