We're the Catchments and Land Use Team, working alongside farmers, growers, and landowners across Tasman to support healthy land, clean water, and resilient rural businesses. Our job is to make things simpler by turning rules and science into practical steps that work on your property.
Whether you’re planning ahead, dealing with an issue, or looking to improve your land, our Catchment Advisors, Brigid Graney, Kat Bunting, and Helen Forsey, together with our Catchment Enhancement Officer, Heath Melville, are here to support you on the ground.
We help you understand environmental requirements and what they mean for your land in Tasman.
We come to you - free support
What this means for you:
Less confusion, more confidence, and clear next steps.
Poplar Pole Planting - Erosion control & mitigation
We support practical work that makes a real difference to your land and waterways.
What this means for you:
Practical solutions that fit your property and protect it for the long term.
We help bring people together to tackle shared challenges.
What this means for you:
Supporting catchment group initiatives
You’re not on your own — your work contributes to something bigger.
We focus on what works in the real world and is relevant to Tasman:
If you’d like to talk through an idea, understand your options, or get started on a project, we’re here to help.
➡️ Contact the Catchments & Land Use team: 📧 [email protected].
Brigid Graney - Team Lead and Catchment Advisor - Waimea & BullerBrigid has called Tasman home for the past six years, drawn by its mix of productive land use and the chance to be close to the mountains, rivers and coast.
She was raised on her family’s sheep and beef farm in the King Country and then in Northland, where she was actively involved in the farm until leaving school (quite a few years ago now!). She remains closely connected, now serving as a Trustee on the family farm trust and working through the realities of succession, changing land use, and the pressures facing farming businesses.
In her role, Brigid focuses on supporting landowners in a range of ways, from interpreting and navigating national and regional policy to providing land management advice. She sees her role as working alongside farmers and growers—understanding their challenges, helping find workable solutions, and advocating for the districts primary industries both within council and the wider community.
Kat Bunting - Catchment Advisor – Mohua Golden BayA local of Mohua/Golden Bay, Kat has over 20 years of experience working with Tasman’s dairy farmers, guiding them through changing regulations and on-farm management practices, including the many iterations of the Clean Stream Accord. She has practical expertise in Farm Dairy Effluent systems and nutrient and riparian management, backed by Massey University qualifications in Effluent System Design and Management, Edge-of-field Water Quality Mitigation Technologies, Advanced Sustainable Nutrient Management, and Freshwater Farm Planning. Outside of work, Kat is an avid trail runner and tramper and has recently completed Te Araroa. She enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring the region’s tracks and landscapes.
Helen Forsey - Catchment Advisor – Motueka/Moutere Born and raised in Motueka. Before joining TDC in early 2023, Helen managed an environmental education charity (Tasman Bay Guardians), co-managed a business developed from scratch and worked for DOC as the community ranger. Helen was well connected to the many environmental and community groups before joining TDC in early 2023 and continues to be actively involved. With an Environmental Science Major and a Post-graduate paper in Nutrient Management, she has a strong passion for water quality, nutrient management, biodiversity, and community engagement. Helen is currently restoring a 2.5-hectare ex-forestry block of her own so she can commiserate with those also battling weeds and dry weather.
Heath Melville – Catchment Enhancement Officer Originally from Kaikōura, Heath joined the Tasman District in May 2024 and is eager to connect with the local community. With five years of experience as a biodiversity advisor at Environment Canterbury, he worked on protecting wetlands, spring-fed streams, and braided rivers. His background includes roles in biosecurity, forestry, and landscape architecture. Heath was part of the team focused on land management improvements in post-earthquake Kaikōura, particularly helping farmers adapt to wetter conditions after the 2016 earthquake.
He is developing expertise in freshwater ecosystems, fish passage, weed management, botany, predator control, and coastal/river bird conservation. Heath works closely with landowners to enhance wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitats, and using these and other measures to reduce contaminant loss to freshwater.
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