Behind the Gates.
Opening our gates to the community.
A behind-the-scenes look at how water moves from river to farm — and the infrastructure and stewardship behind it.
On March 15, Central Plains Water Limited (CPWL) opened the scheme, inviting the community inside the scheme for the first time.
The response was immediate. The tour sold out, with a waiting list, indicating strong interest in how the scheme operates and wat it enables across the region.
Delivered in partnership with the Hororata Community Trust and Central Plains Water Trust, the day brought people onto the scheme to see it for themselves, the environmental infrastructure and the stewardship behind how water moves through the scheme.
“We really enjoyed working alongside Central Plains Water to bring this event to life. It was a great opportunity to showcase the scheme and what it enables for farmers in our community.”
— Cindy Driscoll, Hororata Community Trust
From the canal system to the Rakaia intake, guests moved through the scheme, stopping at key points including the diversion point, Labyrinth Weir and fish screen — seeing first-hand how water is taken, controlled and moved.
On-farm, Tim and Lucy Cookson closed the loop — connecting the scheme to how water is supplied and applied on the land, and ultimately to the food produced. From river to table, the system came into focus.
The tour also included a stop on farm with Tim and Lucy Cookson, providing a direct connection between the scheme and how water is supplied and applied on the land, and the critical role water plays in food production from river to table. This grounded the day in real outcomes, from production to food produced.
“The day far exceeded my expectations. It gave me a greater understanding of the irrigation system we have and the thinking behind it.”
— Guest
Opening the scheme in this way is deliberate. Transparency supports trust — and builds a clearer understanding of how water is managed at scale.
Guests left with a stronger understanding of the scheme and the role it plays across the region — equipped to speak to it with confidence. This has always been a key objective.
Opening the scheme in this way is deliberate. Transparency supports trust — and builds a clearer understanding of how water is managed at scale.
More importantly, it builds advocates.
Guests left with a stronger understanding of the scheme and the role it plays across the region — equipped to speak to it with confidence. This has always been a key objective.
