This quarter, it’s our pleasure to feature the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust: a not-for-profit community organisation, that restores the ecological health of our Canterbury waterways and the surrounding land, focusing on the ecologically sustainable development and use of our land and natural resources.
Many waterways throughout Canterbury are no longer safe for swimming due to the staggering levels of pollution. Wildlife in those areas is struggling to survive, making the work of the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust incredibly important.
“We’re all about achieving healthy waterways,” said Mike Patchett, Chairman of the Trust. “We focus on creating natural habitats in the connected land surrounding waterways for our aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and open space recreation for our community.”
At any one time, the team works on several waterway restoration projects throughout the region so that our natural resources can be enjoyed for generations to come. The Trust recently finished a four-year waterways restoration project with dairy farmers along Silver and Snake Creeks in the Selwyn Waikirikiri River Catchment. The project was a success; results showed improvements in ecological health indicated by increasing aquatic insect larvae and fish counts. Work continues with partners on proposals for a large-scale constructed wetland to treat water pollution.
Now the team is focusing on the Otukaikino Catchment of the Waimakariri River, which has one of the best combination of springheads, wetlands, lakes and waterways in Canterbury with good water quality and ecological health. Being close to Christchurch City, it is also home to several public areas and walkways. “We want to protect and improve what is there for our community to enjoy,” Mike said. The Trust is currently in the first stage of a waterway and wetlands restoration project to remove willow infestations and other woody weeds from the riverside and give native vegetation a chance to thrive. “The Community Work crews, managed by the Department of Corrections to control weeds and plant natives in the project area are doing a good job. Contractors are employed for the most hazardous pest control work,” Mike explained.
In order to achieve such great results, the Trust operates through collaborative partnerships with local, regional and national partners. These include land and natural resource managers and sponsors, such as Environment Canterbury, the Christchurch City Council, the Department of Corrections, the University of Canterbury, private landowners and, of course, LP Assist.
Mike brought in LP Assist to manage the Trust’s monthly bookkeeping, invoicing, GST returns, and monthly reporting. As a registered Charitable Trust, the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust produces a public annual report for the Charities Commission on the ecological and social impact made with the financial support they received. LP Assist helps to put this report together, and uses Xero to streamline their bookkeeping and accounts.
“LP Assist not only helps us with our accounting but gives us credibility with government agencies, sponsors and the public, and they enable us to be certain in our financial decision making,” Mike explained. “We can show clearly how our project funds are being used to good effect.”
Mike enjoys working with the team at LP Assist. “The team is friendly, useful and interested,” he said. “They want to help and contribute to our conservation efforts. They provide good advice and handle the financial accounts, which allows me and my team to focus on what we do best.”
The LP Assist team is excited to join the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust with the Christchurch City Council for a riverside planting day in the near future!
If you’d like to support the important work the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust does, you can take part in corporate planting days of native trees along the waterways and/or sponsor the Otukaikino Healthy Waterways and Catchment Project. Reach out to Mike at the Water and Wildlife Habitat Trust to discuss these projects and give back to your community. Or if you’re looking for some help with monthly management reports or bookkeeping, give us a call.
