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About the Hill Country Erosion (HCE) Programme

The HCE Programme is a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), councils and landowners. It provides funding support in 4-year blocks to regional erosion-control projects that are beyond the capacity of councils to address on their own. Both councils and landowners also provide funding throughout the 4-year programmes.

The government has allocated $25 million to 14 regional erosion control programmes for 4 years beginning in July 2023. The funding helps protect over 21,000 hectares of erosion-prone farmland. It will continue to support several well-established regional erosion control programmes, and start new programmes in other regions.

The HCE Programme supports councils to:

  • work with landowners in mapping and identifying erosion-prone land
  • deliver catchment initiatives and sustainable land management projects
  • build their technical capacity to deliver erosion-control work.

It also supports councils to plan for and treat erosion-prone land, usually with trees as the main treatment, through:

  • space planting of trees (far enough apart that pasture can grow between them for grazing stock)
  • land retirement and reversion to native vegetative cover
  • forestry.

Loss of productive land through erosion has a significant impact on the environment, and the economy. Erosion and its effects in hill country areas alone are estimated to cost New Zealand's economy $100 million to $150 million a year. Reducing erosion in the upper areas of a catchment costs less than the cost of flooding and of flood-control structures in the lower areas.

Case studies of funded work

Rural communities are the kaitiaki (guardians) of much of our nation's precious land and water. The HCE Programme supports farmers to make good land decisions, helping:

  • retain productive soils
  • reduce sediment loss to waterways. 

Right across our regions, the HCE Programme is working to give landowners the support, advice and incentives they need. Read some examples of how the HCE Programme is helping landowners tackle erosion and manage sediment loss across New Zealand.

Solving a catastrophic slip with manuka planting – Rangitikei [PDF, 3.7 MB]

Gathering momentum in the battle against hill country erosion – Waikato [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Joining forces to safeguard a precious catchment – Hawke's Bay [PDF, 3.1 MB]

The role of good partnerships in tackling erosion – Wellington [PDF, 1.6 MB]

Tackling erosion challenges out on the lifestyle block – Nelson [PDF, 3.4 MB]

Hill Country Erosion Programmes in your region

Read below for more information about erosion programmes funded by the HCE Programme in your region. 

Landowners should contact their council's land management officers to find out about current programmes in their area.

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MPI's funding activity database contains detailed information about each Hill Country Erosion programme funded since 2007. Select 'Hill Country Erosion Fund' from the fund drop-down list for the list of projects, ‘in progress’ under Status for more information about the most recent programme, or ‘completed’ for the older projects.

Search the funding activity database

Who to contact

If you have questions about the Hill Country Erosion Programme:

Find out more

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