Biodiversity - It's what we do | Waikato Regional Council

Protect and restore biodiversity. It's what we do.

We have over $2 million in contestable funding for local environment groups to give out in the 2025/26 financial year.

Regional councils have responsibilities to maintain indigenous biodiversity. The focus of our work is to support biodiversity restoration on private land and in coastal areas and freshwater environments, however, we also invest in community-led projects across all land tenures. We are:
- investing in our region’s biodiversity through our Natural Heritage Partnership Programme, which includes three contestable funds to support numerous worthwhile community-led conservation projects and providing strategic and technical advice to community groups where needed.
- supporting landowners across the region to look after high priority biodiversity sites, shallow lakes, fragile coastal areas and wetlands
- working with numerous farmers and landowners in the Waitomo, Ōtorohanga, Waipā, Waikato, Matamata-Piako, South Waikato and Hauraki districts, to assist them to protect, restore and expand on the network of important lowland kahikatea remnants
- working collaboratively with other agencies to share knowledge to maximise biodiversity outcomes for our region, for example, with Bat Alliance based in Central Waikato
- raising awareness of the actions everyone can take to improve their own local environments, including through Enviroschools and the mātauranga Māori environmental education programme Kura Waitī Ki Kura Waitā
- tracking changes in the indigenous coverage of protected areas over time, which supports knowledge about the extent of the region's biodiversity and helps with policy making and resource consent decisions.
Did you know?

The Waikato region is still home to many native plants and animals, including:
- > 900 plants species
- 124 bird species
- 19 reptile species (including geckos, skinks and tuatara)
- two bat species
- two frog species.
Our streams and rivers are also home to many types of fish and invertebrates. At least 300 of these species are threatened with extinction, including all our bat and frog species, 40 per cent of our native bird species and about one in every five of our native plant species.
Waikato Regional Council’s Integrated Catchment Management Committee, which is made up of 10 councillors and meets quarterly, has responsibilities that include overseeing and monitoring the performance and effectiveness of biodiversity undertaken against agreed strategies and plans. The committee has powers to consider and distribute funds from the Environmental Initiatives Fund and Natural Heritage Fund up to a certain level. It also recommends the council’s operational action and partnerships in respect of biodiversity actions.

Waikato Regional Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee, which is made up of 14 councillors and meets bi-monthy or as required, is responsible for council policy, including requirement under the RMA to maintain indigenous biodiversity. It is currently overseeing the development of the Waikato Regional Biodiversity Strategy.

The Environmental Performance Committee, which is made up of six councillors and meets every three months, is responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of, and compliance with, the council’s regulatory responsibilities, including requirement under the RMA to maintain indigenous biodiversity.
We collaborate with iwi Māori to protect and restore biodiversity, ensuring their values, knowledge, and aspirations are embedded in conservation efforts.
- Co-governance arrangements ensure Māori perspectives shape biodiversity management and restoration.
- Mātauranga Māori plays a vital role in ecosystem restoration, pest control, and species protection, strengthening conservation efforts.
- We support iwi-led projects, including native reforestation, wetland restoration, and habitat protection.
- We work with mana whenua in formal partnerships, such as in the shallow lakes and Coastcare programmes.
- Iwi contribute to the development of the regional biodiversity strategy and policies, shaping conservation priorities and long-term environmental outcomes.
Through these partnerships, Waikato Regional Council upholds its Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitments while working toward a healthier, more resilient natural environment for future generations.

Stories about biodiversity

Biodiversity Coastcare Funding and scholarships

More information on biodiversity

More information on biodiversity

Biodiversity Coastcare Funding and scholarships

What else do we do?

Improving water quality, enhancing the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems, protecting and restoring our unique native plants and animals and the ecosystems they live in, keeping people safe on our roads and waterways as well as from floods and other hazards, and providing passenger transport services.

We do all this, and more.

Learn more about our mahi

Every decision made by councillors significantly impacts the lives of Waikato residents, today and for the future. Elected members have the responsibility to represent the interests of all residents and ratepayers in the region, going beyond their immediate constituencies.

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Waikato Regional Council has co-governance and co-management arrangements with several iwi partners.

Learn about our iwi relationships

Local elections are in October

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Protect and restore biodiversity. It's what we do.

Did you know?

Stories about biodiversity

More information on biodiversity

What else do we do?

Local elections are in October

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