Water Group Bids Farewell As Future Remains Cloudy

Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 7:28 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Waimakariri’s water committee celebrated its successes at its final meeting on Monday, as uncertainty remains over its replacement.

Waimakariri Zone Committee members past and present gathered in the Waimakariri District Council chambers to acknowledge the work of the committee over 15 years.

The Canterbury Mayoral Forum - which represents the local councils - will meet on May 30 to complete its review of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) zone committees and make recommendations on their replacements.

But Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon expressed his support for the existing Waimakariri Zone Committee.

‘‘I appreciate the zone committee structure hasn’t worked in some areas, but in my observation it has worked well here.

‘‘If it is not broken it doesn’t need to be completely fixed.’’

The CWMS came into force in 2009, leading to the formation of 10 zone committees, which are a partnership between ECan, local councils and rūnanga.

The zone committees, which have up to seven community representatives, are due to be disestablished in June.

Under the proposed new model, local leadership groups comprising council and rūnanga representatives, will replace the zone committees.

It will be up to each local leadership group to determine its final makeup, including any community involvement.

But Mr Gordon said he plans to consult with Waimakariri Zone Committee chairperson Carolyne Latham and the council’s representative Tim Fulton, before the council makes its decision.

‘‘I do have an open mind, but I don’t want to see the things we have worked for being lost in the new structure.’’

Mr Gordon paid tribute to former Waimakariri Zone Committee chairperson Michael Blackwell, who passed away in 2023.

It was Mr Blackwell’s passion which led to the council buying farmland on Lineside Road to restore as wetland.

‘‘I remember the phone call from Michael calling for us to do the right thing.

‘‘It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I personally think there is some tremendous opportunities for the future.’’

Environment Canterbury councillors Claire McKay and Grant Edge were on the first Waimakariri Zone Committee back in 2010, with Cr McKay returning to serve as ECan’s representative.

She said the committee’s community engagement had encouraged more property owners to engage in the planning process.

‘‘This must not be the end of working together in a collaborative approach.’’

Cr Edge has since become ECan’s representative on the Kaikōura Zone Committee, which has made it clear ‘‘they don’t want to change either’’.

Ms Latham said the zone committee led the community engagement for the Zone Implementation Plan Addendum over several years, which led to ECan’s Plan Change 7.

Plan Change 7 established rules for freshwater protection and nutrient management and set guidelines for resource use.

‘‘In the last 10 years there has been a significant shift in awareness of climate change and our impact, particularly in the rural sector and the committee had an impact on that,’’ Ms Latham said.

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