Wai Connection is part of the nationwide project by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (MTSCT) to build capability and capacity in New Zealand’s freshwater management by providing knowledge, tools and expert support to help identify values and solve issues in the local catchment areas. The project aims to support communities to connect more with their waterways from mountains to sea, and promote collaboration between local catchment groups, NGO’s, hapū/iwi, Regional Council, central Government and primary industry working within the catchment – helping deliver the goals of the Government’s Essential Freshwater (EF) work package.