Looking after the rivers first

In South Canterbury, where farms meet rivers that have been here long before any of us, Morven Glenavy Irrigation Limited has always known one thing: if the waterways aren't healthy, nothing else works.

The Waihao Downs Irrigation Scheme was built to support local farming families, but from day one, protecting the rivers and land came first. The scheme was designed to modern environmental standards and delivered ahead of time, because getting it right for the environment wasn't negotiable.

But building good infrastructure was just the beginning. Every year, MGI works with its shareholders, the council, and locals to make sure water use keeps getting better for the environment. Everything gets monitored, measured, and refined, because healthy rivers, wetlands, and soil are what actually matter in the long run.

The Waihao River and Wainono Lagoon are at the centre of it all. These aren't just nice spots, they're living ecosystems that connect everything from the hills to the sea. MGI actively supports projects that improve water quality, boost biodiversity, and restore ecological health. The goal is simple: make sure farming works with the environment, not against it.

For MGI, environmental care isn't a side project, it's the whole point. Healthy catchments are what make resilient farms possible. Clean water builds trust with communities. Looking after the land now means it'll still be productive for the next generation.

Water use is constantly being refined to reduce impact. Planting, wetland restoration, and waterway protection are ongoing. Because in a region defined by its rivers and lagoons, MGI knows its responsibility is to leave them better than they found them.

It's straightforward work: listen to what the land and water need, adjust practices, back the science, and plan for the future. Taking care of the environment today isn't just good practice it's the only way forward.

Since the start of MGI and WDI Environmental Fund in 2017/2018, around $135,000 has been awarded to scheme shareholders and community groups in support of worthy projects that benefit and enhance our environment.