Getting started
The Physiographics of Southland is a large and complex project that underpins our proposed Southland Water and Land Plan.
Where do I start?
This PDF gives a general overview of what the physiographic zones are, where they are found and water quality issues for each. Or you can download factsheets for each zone individually.
What zone am I in?
The physiographic zones map shows the physiographic zones as different colours. Use the + button on screen to zoom in to find the area you're interested in. Click on a colour to find out what zone it is. A link to a factsheet for that zone will also appear.
Found my zone - now what?
If you've got over 20ha of land you'll need to prepare a farm environmental management plan. Part of this includes a good management practices section where you outline what you are going to implement on your property.
This is where the importance of physiographic zones comes in. Your good management practices will reflect what zone (or zones) you are in.
Find out more about Good management practices and see our range of good management practice factsheets.
Where do I find more information?
Technical Sheets - describe generalised water quality risks associated with individual physiographic zones. Written for farm professionals and decision-makers.
See the Guide for using the Southland physiographic zones technical sheetsfor descriptions of terms used and source data.
Reports - the following reports can be downloaded as PDF files:
- Physiographics of Southland Part 1: Delineation of key drivers of regional hydrochemistry and water quality
- Physiographics of Southland: Development and application of a classification system for managing land use effects on water quality in Southland
- Physiographic Zones for the Southland Region: Classification system validation and testing report
- Management practices and mitigation options for reducing contaminant losses from land to water
Contact us - we're here to help
Every farm is different, so having the expert advice of a land sustainability officer is recommended.
To arrange a free visit please contact Environment Southland's land sustainability team on 0800 76 88 45 or email service@es.govt.nz.
