About the committee
The Lower Waitaki Zone Committee was established in late 2010 as part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
The strategy established 10 water zone committees in Canterbury – each with a local committee – with the Regional Committee working alongside zone committees and communities for positive outcomes.
The Lower Waitaki Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of Waimate and Waitaki District councils, and Environment Canterbury.
Zone committee members are appointed for a three year term, after which a new committee will be formed. Applicants were assessed on skills, expertise, and experience as well as their ability to work together to develop water management solutions that deliver economic, social, cultural and environmental issues.
Terms of Reference
Committee membership
Community members:
Environment Canterbury appointment:
Waitaki District Council Appointment:
Waimate District Council appointment:
Runanga representatives:
- Moeraki – Patrick Tipa
- Waihao – Te Wera King
- Arowhenua – Mandy Home
Committee member biographies
Matthew Ross (Duntroon)
Matthew has lived and farmed in the Lower Waitaki region for 12 years and also describes himself as a business owner, outdoor enthusiast and parent.
“I am particularly interested in a well-balanced region and community where the social, economic and environmental values are held in equal regard. Solutions to the issues before all catchments within the wider Canterbury region must be community and stakeholder driven. It is our responsibility and obligation to take on this challenge and get it right.”
With a sound technical knowledge of agricultural production systems and the use of irrigation, Matthew is also a director of the Upper Waitaki Community Irrigation Company, chairman of the Marewhenua District Water Resource Company, and is a board member of Irrigation New Zealand.
He is committed to operating at the highest level and says attention to detail and quality are key drivers of his farm business, factors which contributed to his sharemilking operation being judged the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year in 2007.
He is also committed to environmental enhancement with an emphasis on bio-diversity and has a significant planting programme in place on his Kokoamo property. Plantings include several kilometres of shelter trees, 120 specimen trees and the development of a 1.5 hectare wetland with support from Environment Canterbury’s environmental enhancement fund.
Matthew regularly jetboats, fishes and hunts throughout the lower river and lakes of the Waitaki catchment.
He is married to Julie and they have three young children.
Robin Murphy (Glenavy, Waimate)
Robin is chair of the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Company. He is active on the Waihao Wainono Water Use Society, and was on Environment Canterbury’s Southern Regional Committee.
A dairy farmer in the region since 1975, Robin’s property uses water from the Waitaki River, and until recently he was an active member of the Lower Waitaki River Society.
Robin served two terms on the Waimate District Council where his main interests focussed on economic development and finance and has been active in sporting and recreational groups – particularly tennis and table tennis – within the community.
He says he has a strong interest in water for agriculture and for the recreational use for all New Zealanders.
He is married with one adult son, Bruce, who farms in partnership with his parents.
Kate White (Kurow)
Kate owns an irrigated farm on the edge of the Waitaki River at Otiake, is a keen environmentalist, is heavily involved in Waitaki community activities and is the senior ambulance officer in Kurow.
She initiated the first community meeting for Kurow for Project Acqua, from which the Kurow Aqua Liaison Group was formed.
She set up the Waitaki Environmental Charitable Trust, has been a member of the Lower Waitaki River Management Society since its inception, and is a member of Waitaki First.
She spent 10 years with the Organic Producers Exporters NZ, three of them as chair, and she was a founding member of the Ahuriri Resource Trust which started recycling within the Waitaki communities.
Kate is company director with Waitaki Honey Company Limited. Her additional community activities include teaching yoga in Twizel, Kurow and Tokarahi.
Earlier Kate spent more than 30 years in the film and television industry as a producer and director.
“The greatest resource we have in the world today is fresh water. I am passionate about the survival of rivers and the need for sustainability within their use. I am particularly passionate about the Waitaki River, its survival, and its unique features as a braided river.”
Andrew Cocking (Timaru)
Andrew has spent the past 15 years on land-based management within the forestry industry in South and North Otago and South Canterbury. He is the South Island Regional Manager for Blakely Pacific Limited, based in Timaru, and responsible for the management of 25,000 hectares of sustainably managed production forests.
Andrew believes committed leadership to developing sustainable water management solutions for Canterbury is essential.
“Forests play a key role in managing water quality and flow. Principles in riparian management of waterways and management around native forests are key components of modern day forest management. I am proud to work in an industry that places a strong emphasis on growing sustainable communities for future generations.”
He is a board member of the South Canterbury Rural Fire Committee, on the Otago/Southland Southern Wood Council, and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.
Andrew, a keen golfer, is married to Jodie. They have four school-aged daughters.
Anne Te Maiharoa-Dodds (Glenavy, Waimate)
Anne’s whakapapa is from the Waitaha tribe, prior to Mamoe and Ngaitahu coming here.
Prior to retiring in 1993 as personal secretary to the Superintendent-in-Chief Timaru Hospital for 28 years, Anne was a nurse-receptionist for a medical centre in Timaru.
While working in Timaru Anne was very involved with Arowhenua marae and during this time instigated the first health clinic at the marae.
Involvement with Waihao Maori whanau carried responsibilities for the hall at a time when Maori Road families had moved to town for employment.
In 1988 Anne chaired meetings of the Waihao Runanga Executive, took responsibility for resource consents (with two other members), and the large Hui-a-tau (yearly meeting) of Te Runanga o Ngaitahu was held on the whenua.
Anne is a marriage celebrant and performs funeral services for community members. She also visits schools when requested to help with cultural teaching and singing.
I represent Maori at North Otago Library, the Museum, and Forrester Gallery in a cultural perspective when called upon.
Honorary Professor Peter Skelton CNZM
Professor Skelton is a former Environment Court Judge and Associate Professor of Resource Management Law at Lincoln University. He presided as an Independent Commissioner over the hearings by Environment Waikato into Variation 5 to the Waikato Regional Plan concerning the control of nitrates entering Lake Taupo and, as an Independent Commissioner appointed by Environment Canterbury, has been completing a series of decisions on Lower Waitaki Catchment water applications
With more than 20 years as a Judge of the Environment Court and having presided over the Lower Waitaki hearings, Professor Skelton brings the depth of knowledge and experience required for the Commission to fulfil its role in Water Conservation Order matters and the development of water management plans for Canterbury.