In this third episode, of RaboTalk Growing our Future’s Catchment Catch-Ups series Blake Holgate speaks with Craig Simpson, Regional Manager at the Otago Catchment Community (OCC). Craig shares insights from his extensive background in water quality research and collaborative governance, reflecting on how the regional catchment movement has grown over the last twelve years.
The conversation highlights how OCC supports 28 independent, farmer-led groups across Otago to navigate evolving regional water plans and shifting environmental priorities. Craig discusses the practical realities of managing long-term landscape changes, explaining why structural governance, community independence, and targeted coordinator support are essential for sustaining momentum and preventing volunteer burnout.
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Show notes:
Collaborative Governance in Action
Craig's entry into the sector began with masters research focused on managing water quality through collaborative governance, which led to his work with the New Zealand Landcare Trust. This background shapes OCC's mandate to act as an enabler for collective action, helping local communities identify shared environmental problems and design their own solutions.
The Evolution of the Otago Movement
The OCC movement grew out of annual networking forums designed to bring catchment leaders together to share ideas. By 2021, as groups sought more structured resources and direction, OCC formalised into a support organisation. Today, the collective assists 28 independent groups, offering technical training, strategic planning, and administrative funding.
Shifting Water Plan Drivers
Many of Otago's oldest catchment groups, including the Pomahaka initiative, originally formed twelve years ago to address strict discharge thresholds in the regional water plan. While those regulatory drivers have changed, the cumulative learning has led to massive shifts in land use practices, establishing thriving wetlands and planting projects that will benefit the landscape for decades.
Managing the Ebb and Flow of Engagement
Sustaining high enthusiasm indefinitely is unrealistic and often leads to volunteer burnout. Craig notes that it is completely healthy for catchment groups to experience cycles of high activity followed by quiet consolidation. The critical factor is keeping the core group structure and work plan alive so they are raring to go when new environmental or community drivers emerge.
Overcoming Succession and Fatigue Challenges
Catchment committees are frequently run by the same individuals who volunteer for local school boards or sports clubs. To manage this fatigue and ensure long-term succession, OCC focuses on ensuring groups maintain clear visions and action plans. Introducing independent coordinators to absorb administrative burdens has proven to be a game changer for maintaining continuity.
Valuing Catchment Individuality
Craig firmly believes that catchment groups cannot be treated as carbon copies of one another. Each community has unique geographic challenges, economic drivers, and social dynamics. Long-term success relies entirely on external organisations respecting and protecting the independence of these local groups rather than forcing a standardised template upon them.
Final Advice: Plant the First Plant
Craig uses a planting project analogy to encourage communities facing long-term environmental goals. While the upfront work of putting a plant in the ground is simple, the unglamorous, slow-brew maintenance is what ensures survival. Producers should not let the scale of a challenge prevent them from starting. If you never plant that first plant, you will never be able to look back in five years and see a thriving landscape.
