Community Reps Go Behind Closed Doors To Discuss Mid Canterbury Freshwater Plans

Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 4:11 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Community representatives have a seat at the table as the new freshwater leadership group is taking shape in Mid Canterbury. 

Ashburton District Council, Environment Canterbury, mana whenua, and community representatives met in Ashburton last week to discuss how a local freshwater leadership group for the Hakatere region, and its shared boundaries with the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, might look and function. 

The meeting was held behind closed doors to allow for “open, honest, and constructive discussion between the parties”. 

A joint statement issued by ECan on Monday said the groups had discussed the Hakatere catchment, and the critical importance of shared boundaries with the Rangitata and Rakaia catchments. 

It was agreed that follow-up conversations with Timaru and Selwyn Mayors would occur to agree on how best to manage these catchments, alongside respective Papatipu Rūnanga. 

Former Ashburton water zone committee members Bill Thomas and Angela Cushnie attended the discussion to represent the interests of the community, and potential inclusion of the Mid Canterbury Community Advisory Group. 

Cushnie told Local Democracy Reporting she felt it was important to have community representation at the discussion. 

Both councils and mana whenua were happy to be joined at the table by representatives from the new Mid Canterbury Community Advisory Group, which will represent local catchment collective groups, industry and community and environmental groups. 

Having community representation in the new leadership groups was something Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown had been standing firm on, wanting to have the “the four-legged stool” for the new leadership groups, which would include community representation alongside the district council, ECan, and Mana Whenua on the groups. 

Brown said the robust and productive discussion served as a good starting point for further conversations and the more formal formation of the group. 

“We know how important water is to our district and I think we have general agreement about how this leadership group will work going forward.” 

ECan chairperson Craig Pauling said there were some big issues to solve in the Canterbury region, and councils and their communities needed to work together. 

“There was a lot of talk about the group’s core purpose, which is to connect all the main players at a decision-making and strategic level. 

“We all have values, long-term aspirations, and priorities for freshwater in our region, and there was goodwill shown around the table this week.” 

The Hakatere Local Leadership Group aims to meet again in November, after the elections, and in early 2026 set a work programme that could feed into both councils’ long-term plans 2027-37. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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