Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora water zone committee

The Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora water zone committee is a joint committee of Timaru District Council, Mackenzie District Council and Environment Canterbury. It is in the rohe of Arowhenua rūnanga.

The committee's role is to work with the community to develop actions and tactics to deliver on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

It recommends these actions and tactics to various agencies for implementation.

View members

Learn more about the current community members, Rūnanga representatives, Council appointments and Environment Canterbury representative.

Community members

Glen Smith - Chair

Glen Smith has been on the Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora (OTOP) Zone Committee since 2017 and is the Chair of the Lower Ōrāri Catchment Group. He lives in the Peel Forest area and farms between the Rangitata and Ōrāri Rivers.

Chris Konings - Deputy Chair

Chris has a keen interest in the environment, a BSc in Biology, and tertiary qualifications in Theology. He completed a Master's in Environmental Policy and Management in 2022. Chris lives in Timaru and has worked with Waterwatch Trust alongside roles for the district council. He was also instrumental in establishing Predator Free Timaru. Chris now works for the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust as a biodiversity facilitator on a pilot program funded by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Mid & South Canterbury Trust.

Suzanne Eddington

Suzanne lives in Timaru and has a connection to all local waterways and Waitaki in particular. She is the Te Rūnanga o Waihao representative on the Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee. Suzanne currently has several public health roles including on the Clinical Governance Board and the Māori Health Advisory Group. She hopes her background in science and Mātauranga Māori concepts can help build understanding across different community interests and catchments.

Bailey Lissington

Bailey has grown up in Timaru and has been a youth representative on the zone committee for the last two years. A former deputy head boy at Timaru Boys High School, Bailey is currently undertaking a degree in Engineering. He is concerned about the declining trends in local waterways, and the traditions of mahinga kai.

Rūnanga representatives

  • John Henry - Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua
  • Rynee de Garnham - Te Rūnanga o Waihao

Council appointments

  • Cr Michelle Pye - Timaru District Council

  • Cr Phillipa Guerin - Mackenzie District Council

  • Deputy Mayor Sharyn Cain - Waimate District Council

Environment Canterbury representative

  • Cr Deon Swiggs
Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora Water Zone Committee

Back row from left: Cr Phillipa Guerin (Mackenzie District Council), John Henry (Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua), Glen Smith (Chair, Community Member), Cr Dion Swiggs (Environment Canterbury), Cr Sharyn Cain (Deputy Mayor, Waimate District Council) Front row from left: Rynee de Garnham (Te Rūnanga o Waihao), Suzanne Eddington (Community Member), Cr Michelle Pye (Timaru District Council), Dave Moore (Facilitator), Chris Konings (Deputy Chair, Community Member) Not present: Bailey Lissington (Community Member)

Zone committee key resources

Download key documents developed by the committee, and view meeting minutes, agendas and presentations:

Zone committee recommendations

The OTOP Water Zone Committee has developed a package of recommendations called a Zone Implementation Programme Addendum (ZIPA), for regulatory and non-statutory actions to improve water quality and quantity, as well as biodiversity and tāngata whenua values in the zone.

Read the OTOP water zone recommendations for action to improve local water quality and quantity as part of the Healthy Catchments Project.

Download documents

Get in touch

Zone contacts

Dave Moore — Zone Facilitator   027 604 3908  dave.moore@ecan.govt.nz 

Stephen Bragg  — Tangata Whenua Facilitator     027 487 3892  stephen.bragg@ecan.govt.nz

Local on-the-ground team 

Staff deliver work related to the zone committee's recommendations through an on-the-ground team, also called zone delivery.

See a list of staff working in your area and find out how to contact them.

Email newsletters

The committee has an email newsletter, which sends zone news, columns from the committee chair, and key events straight to your inbox. Sign-up to our mailing list to receive these newsletters.

Advice and resources for farmers 

Staff are available locally throughout the region to provide advice and assistance to farmers.

See information and resources for farmers on the Farmers' Hub page.