Dairy Environment Stu Muir

There was a time when dairy farmer and conservationist Stu Muir was more comfortable milking cows and ripping out willow and other pest plants along his stretch of the Waikato River. These days, however, he is just as at ease around a boardroom table, including at the Waikato River Authority’s headquarters in Kirikiriroa Hamilton – and at parliament buildings, where he was recently presented with the inaugural Kaitiaki Award at the 2026 Dairy Environment Leaders Forum for his dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of the natural environment.

Stu Muir is a dairy farmer on land that has been in his family for six generations and is bounded by the Waikato River, just before the awa empties into the Tasman Sea. This is where 500 cows are milked, and Stu and his wife Kim Jobson have spent the best part of the last 25 years restoring the river delta where the waters once moved sluggishly with banks clogged up by willows and all manner of other non-native pest plants.

Stu’s eco efforts over the years have extended beyond their own farm into the surrounding community and beyond, earning him the attention and collaboration of other farmers and landowners wanting to restore and protect their waterways, as well as legions of school kids – and he believes children are critical to the long-term success of environmental initiatives.

Stu is (in 2026)  currently a board member and Crown-appointed deputy chair of the Waikato River Authority where, conversant in Te Reo Māori, he is valued for the solid mātauranga Māori perspective and hands on experience he brings to the restoration strategy.

The Waikato River Authority was established through the Waikato River Treaty settlement, with a clear mandate to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the river. Chief Executive Antoine Coffin describes this as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most ambitious environmental restoration efforts. “We don’t just fund projects, we enable change. We invest in landowners, iwi and communities who are doing the mahi on the ground, supporting practical actions like fencing waterways, restoring wetlands and planting natives. That’s how we achieve real, long-term impact for the river.”

Each year, the authority runs a funding round, allocating up to $6 million to restoration projects across the Waikato River catchment. Over the past 14 years, more than $80 million has been invested into nearly 500 projects, delivering tangible improvements to water quality, habitats and community connection to the awa. “Landowners like Stu Muir are critical to this journey,” Antoine adds. “They’re on the front line, making everyday decisions that directly affect the health of our waterways. Lasting change happens paddock by paddock, stream by stream — and their commitment is essential to restoring the river’s mauri.”

Over the years Stu has been involved – and in some cases still involved – in a range of other key national and regional stakeholders including; Iwi, the Department of Conservation, Fish & Game, Forest & Bird, DairyNZ and Predator Free NZ, as well as various landcare groups.

Recalling tales told by his pakeha grandparents (of Scottish and Irish descent), parents and neighbouring iwi about once plentiful fishing and white baiting, he initially got into action to clean up the section of the Waikato River in his own backyard. He called in a mate with a digger and together they hauled out and chain-sawed invasive trees and plants that were not only slowing the river flow but also preventing native species from establishing.  

These days the current of his section of the Waikato River is so swift it is a workout to paddle against it, while thousands of planted native species are thriving helping to restore the river banks and protecting the waterway as well as its inhabitants. Then there are the whitebait spawning ponds Stu has restored which help to ensure some plentiful catches each season while the wooden walkway he built with help from like-minded friends allows visitors to the farm to get up close to the waterway and the plantings without getting their feet wet.

Amongst the visitors are landcare groups, school children and guests staying at the off-grid Te Papa Eco Lodge that Stu and Kim constructed out of recycled building materials. It is sited on top of a hill overlooking farmland to the Waikato River mouth. Kim is also committed to the environmental restoration work on the property, while also running her own business as a jewellery designer and maker. Kim’s work is often inspired by the environment she and Stu are surrounded by and immersed in.

Antoine says one of the most powerful things about Stu’s approach is how he brings people with him. “He’s not just restoring streams, he’s restoring knowledge, sharing his journey and mātauranga with rangatahi and showing that local action can make a real difference.
That’s how we build momentum across the catchment.”

He adds Stu brings a grounded, practical perspective to the board table. “He understands the challenges and opportunities because he’s doing the mahi himself. That lived experience strengthens our decision-making and keeps us focused on outcomes that work on the ground. Restoring the river isn’t someone else’s job — it’s all of ours. Mā rau ringa e ora ai te awa — through the efforts of many, the river will thrive again.”

Stu says also crucial is the ongoing control of animal pests – rats and mice, possums, stoats and ferrets – with some 2,000 bait stations located on the river delta islands and surrounding farmland, including on neighbouring farms. He adds that pest control has contributed in a major way to the survival of native plantings, as well as the natural regeneration of these species.

“Without pest control, native plants would not have a chance. Rats and mice eat the seeds before they have a chance to germinate and if they do germinate, possums come along and eat the plants.” The control work is also helping to protect the birds, bats and insects that are an integral part of the ecosystem. With the thriving vegetation, native birds have returned, with kererū and tūi now commonplace with other native birds also making the delta their home.

Over the years Stu has also reshaped and changed the contour of paddocks on the farm to ensure more resilience in times of drought or heavy rain when run-off must be checked. “We’ve also built a big wintering barn that’s completely revolutionised the way we farm. We’re saving nutrients, protecting soil and still running a profitable business,” he says.

“It’s this balance of production and protection that is the future of New Zealand farming. Some assume that looking after the environment and farming are diametrically opposed. They’re not. When you focus on your most productive land, you get more profit and when you give back the parts that aren’t, you build biodiversity and resilience. It’s good business and, at the same time, good stewardship.”

Te Papa Eco Cottage