Founded in response to the growing water quality crisis, the RiverWatch mission is to help New Zealand understand and manage water quality. RiverWatch is the data centre for organisations, companies, governments, and individuals committed to monitoring our waterways. Our water quality data collection empowers the nation to understand people’s integral connection with our water quality.
Little information is collected about the state of New Zealand’s waterways. Only 8% of rivers and only 5% of lakes are monitored, sampled on average once a month. Traditional sampling and monitoring methods are time-consuming and expensive. The limited data isn’t robust because it isn't collected in real-time.
The best way to observe and monitor water quality changes in real-time is to measure it continuously. Our mission is to enable New Zealanders to do so through our remote, robust monitoring Hardware, real-time Software, and IoT communications Technology.
As a social and environmental enterprise encouraging the collective responsibility of keeping New Zealand’s waterways clean, RiverWatch achieves this by connecting people with water through the data collected from the Waka network.
Using IoT to provide real-time water quality monitoring information for critical business.
Learn MoreHelping Iwi to understand our water quality and protect the health and well-being of our waters.
Learn MoreUnderstanding water health in agricultural areas with real-time water monitoring.
Learn MoreDeclining water quality is a part of New Zealand’s reality. Rivers and streams that were once an abundant resource have seen a dramatic degradation in health and productivity. New Zealand’s water quality crisis became very clear to Father and Son, Grant and James Muir.
Grant and James watched their awa, the Te Pahaoa river, degrade due to farm pollution. In 2002, the Pahaoa River that runs through RiverWatch Cofounders’ farm was thriving. But ten years later, in 2012, the river was dead and devoid of aquatic life.
The story of the struggle to save the river compelled James Muir to create the documentary film River Dog.
The success of the documentary led James and Grant to explore ways to help reverse the decline of water quality in Aotearoa, identifying the need for clear and consistent water quality data as a starting point.
A 12 times award winning film recognising the real water quality crisis in New Zealand and the poetic journey of New Zealanders’ struggle to come to terms with the Clean Green image that is the facade of their identity.
Japan Wildlife Film Festival - Aug 2013
Japan Wildlife Film Festival - Aug 2012
Telenatura Film Festival Spain
Telenatura Film Festival Spain
Aesthetica Film Festival UK
Good Dog Film Festival (Sydney)
Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival (NZ)
Aesthetica Film Festival UK
Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival (NZ)
Documentary Edge Festival (NZ)
Documentary Edge Festival (NZ)
Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival (NZ)