WAI Wānaka

What WAI Wānaka does

WAI Wānaka (legally the Upper Clutha Lakes Trust, New Zealand charitable registration CC53728) is a community-based freshwater protection organisation operating in the Upper Clutha catchment in the South Island of New Zealand. Its mission centres on improving lake and river water quality through a combination of community engagement, on-farm environmental extension, scientific research, and education. It serves a defined regional audience: rural landowners and farmers (engaging 84% of primary income farms in the catchment), small landholders, urban residents via catchment groups, students, and central government agencies that contract it as an on-the-ground delivery partner.

Its core products and platforms include the Catchment Health Dashboard, an interactive public tool that exposes water quality and ecosystem indicators; the Tech Te Taiao environmental monitoring network, which combines field sensors with AI-enabled AT220 self-resetting pest traps for species identification; and an On-Farm Environmental Support Programme delivered through catchment groups. Scientific capability is augmented by partnerships with research institutes, notably NIWA for deep-water lake research, and the organisation runs a Studentship Programme together with targeted education initiatives such as the 'A Teeny Tiny Truth' microplastics research project.

The business model is that of a non-profit charitable trust rather than a commercial enterprise. There are no paying end customers: services are delivered free to participants. Funding is sourced from central government grants (Ministry for Primary Industries' Catchment Extension Services 2024-2026, the prior Jobs for Nature envelope 2020-2023, and Ministry for the Environment support), corporate sponsorship, philanthropic foundations, and community donations. The trust has 11-50 employees and operates with a regional, field-intensive cost base across a geographically bounded catchment.

Name

WAI Wānaka

Legal name

Upper Clutha Lakes Trust

Website

https://waiwanaka.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WAI Wānaka (Upper Clutha Lakes Trust) is a New Zealand charitable trust delivering freshwater protection programmes in the Upper Clutha catchment, engaging farmers, landholders, students and government stakeholders through catchment groups, on-farm extension, monitoring networks and research partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Freshwater conservation
• Catchment restoration
• Environmental monitoring
• Riparian planting
• Community education

Headquarters

HQ city

Wānaka

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: WAI Wānaka operates as a charitable trust and accepts donations from individuals, community members, and partners. They run fundraising campaigns including Million Metres streams and direct donation programmes to support their environmental work.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Primary funding comes from government programmes including the Ministry for Primary Industries' Jobs for Nature/Mahi mō Te Taiao fund, Catchment Extension Services Programme, Ministry for the Environment's Freshwater Improvement Fund, and Our Land and Water National Science Challenge funding.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Support from corporate sponsors and foundations including Lottery Grants Board, Lion Foundation, A&P Foundation, Sargood Bequest, and various other charitable trusts that provide funding for specific projects and programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WAI Wānaka (Upper Clutha Lakes Trust) is a charitable trust that coordinates community-led freshwater protection in the Upper Clutha region of New Zealand. It operates catchment groups across urban and rural areas, runs on-farm environmental support for farmers, conducts biodiversity and freshwater monitoring via the Tech Te Taiao network, delivers riparian planting and pest control, runs citizen science and education programmes, and maintains the interactive Catchment Health Dashboard.

Product overview

WAI Wānaka is a community organisation (charitable trust board, CC53728 Upper Clutha Lakes Trust) focused on freshwater protection and environmental action in the Upper Clutha region of New Zealand. The organisation does not operate a traditional software product but offers a portfolio of environmental programmes and an interactive Catchment Health Dashboard. Key offerings include the Adopt a Drain programme for stormwater pollution reduction; Citizen Science and A Teeny Tiny Truth (microplastics research) for community engagement; Biodiversity & Freshwater Monitoring packages for landowners; Rural and Urban Catchment Groups for collaborative action; the On-Farm Environmental Support Programme with MPI funding; Riparian Planting initiatives; and the completed Jobs for Nature field programme. The Tech Te Taiao initiative develops monitoring technology networks. The interactive Catchment Health Dashboard provides real-time monitoring across environmental and social indicators. These programmes work together toward the organisation's vision of thriving ecosystems and community wellbeing for future generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interactive Catchment Health Dashboard
• Adopt a Drain Programme
• A Teeny Tiny Truth
• Citizen Science Programme
• Catchment Groups (Urban and Rural)
• Biodiversity and Freshwater Monitoring Package
• On-Farm Environmental Support Programme
• Riparian Planting Services
• Upper Clutha Water Cycle Education
• Tech Te Taiao Monitoring Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 16,470 native trees planted by Jobs for Nature field teams
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2022NIWA partnered with WAI Wānaka to conduct the first research on deep-water lake currents in the Upper Clutha. The Roys Bay drifter study helps understand water movement patterns and where contaminated urban stormwater flows when it enters Lake Wānaka.
• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI provides funding through the Catchment Extension Services Programme to support landowners in achieving environmental goals. Funding available until June 2026 can subsidize contractors for environmental work on farms including planting, fencing, pest control, and biodiversity monitoring.
• Otago Regional Council (ORC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerORC collaborates on catchment management, providing GIS mapping, plant ID training, and funding through EcoFund for rabbit fencing and environmental projects. WAI Wānaka works with ORC on biosecurity, water quality monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
• Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQLDC collaborates on urban stormwater management, lakefront development, and community projects. Partners on the Wānaka Water Project and provides co-funding for restoration group initiatives.
• Te Kākano Aotearoa TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community-based native plant nursery that cultivates eco-sourced plants specifically from the Upper Clutha Catchment. Organizes volunteer plantings on public sites and provides plants for riparian restoration projects. Over 24,000 plants supplied through partnership.
• University of OtagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with WAI Wānaka through the Studentship Programme supporting students across undergraduate and postgraduate study to build careers in science while contributing to Aotearoa's freshwater knowledge base. Also provides research support through Masters students.
• Lincoln UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners through the Studentship Programme supporting students building careers in science while contributing to freshwater research in the Upper Clutha catchment.
• Environmental Accounting Services (EAS)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborates with WAI Wānaka to develop the annual State of Catchment Health report across key environmental and social indicators. Provides expertise in environmental accounting and monitoring frameworks.
• Sustainable Business Network - Million MetrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAI Wānaka partners with Million Metres, an initiative of the Sustainable Business Network seeking to restore at least one million metres of waterways across Aotearoa New Zealand. Raised funds through Love Lake Wānaka and Love Our Alpine Lakes campaigns.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC collaborates on conservation initiatives including the Dublin Bay Reserve restoration project, wilding tree control, and protection of native biodiversity. Provides permission and support for restoration work on conservation land.
• Beef + Lamb New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for the Lake Hāwea Catchment Group and assists landowners with farm environment planning and sustainable farming practices.
• Contact EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContact Energy is a member of the Lake Hāwea Stakeholder Group working with WAI Wānaka, ORC, QLDC, LINZ, and Guardians of Lake Hāwea to align efforts for long-term environmental gains.
• Wānaka Backyard TrappingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization that helps install and maintain traplines for pest control. Collaborates with urban catchment groups including the Beacon Point Restoration Group.
• Wānaka Community WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity workshop that builds pest traps (such as AT220 traps) for use in WAI Wānaka-supported trapping programmes. Built 8 of the 11 traps installed by the Beacon Point Restoration Group.
• Upper Clutha Wilding Tree GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on wilding conifer control and native planting projects. Provides funding through the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group for tree removal on private properties.
• CarbonzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Glen Dene Station on carbon credit projects and restoration initiatives including fencing sensitive areas and supporting native regeneration.
• Predator Free WānakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization working on predator control in the Upper Clutha. Collaborates with WAI Wānaka and rural catchment groups on pest management initiatives.
• Otago Catchment Community InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional catchment organization that supports WAI Wānaka's work with local groups and provides funding opportunities for catchment initiatives.
• Love WānakaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization providing support for WAI Wānaka's environmental initiatives and community projects in the Wānaka region.
• Beacon Point Restoration GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban catchment group of 10 neighboring households focused on caring for 8 hectares of lakefront land. WAI Wānaka facilitates and supports their restoration efforts including invasive species control and biodiversity enhancement.
• Dublin Bay Restoration GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group working to restore and enhance native biodiversity within the DOC Dublin Bay Reserve. WAI Wānaka supported gaining permission from DOC and provides funding and coordination for planting events.
• Kāi Tahu (through mātauranga māori initiatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAI Wānaka seeks to forge strong and meaningful relationships with mana whenua hapū and iwi of Kāi Tahu. The organization works to support the development of meaningful attributes, targets, and management actions through mātauranga māori initiatives.
• Cardrona DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurchased carbon credits from Glen Dene Station which will fund a revegetation plan for the area, supporting sustainable land use in the Upper Clutha.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WAIWanaka
• Instagraminstagram.com/waiwanaka
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waiwanaka

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WAI Wānaka