Upper Waitaki water zone committee
The Upper Waitaki water zone committee is a joint committee of Mackenzie District Council, Waitaki District Council and Environment Canterbury. It is in the rohe of Arowhenua, Moeraki and Waihao 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, including councils, through a Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP).
The Upper Waitaki water zone committee has been operating since 2010 is now overseeing the ZIP's implementation, along with its addendum, ensuring the integration of agency work and resolving any ongoing resource management dilemmas.
It meets monthly on the third Friday of each month and meetings are open to the public.
View zone committee members
For the past 17 years Mathew has been a member of the Omarama Volunteer fire brigade and was a member of the Land SAR team until recently.
He also chairs the Meridian Energy Te Anau / Manapouri Community Fund and was previously acting chair of the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund.
As the Asset Maintenance Manager for Meridian Energy in Twizel, Mat has accumulated more than 25 years' technical and management experience in the energy sector.
Richard played a significant role in creating the Omarama Stream Water Users Group, is a consistent contributor to the NAWG group and has worked alongside the local iwi to protect the local eels in the Omarama Stream.
In 2014 the Subtil’s Omarama high-country farm was awarded the Supreme Award at the Ballance Farm Environment Award Regional Awards, as well as the Environment Canterbury Water Quality, Water Force Integrated Management, Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management, and Massey University Innovation Awards.
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
With your contribution, with my contribution, we will sustain the people.
Kā mihi.
- Cr Brent Cowles- Waitaki District Council
- Cr Scott Aronsen - Mackenzie District Council
- Cr Lisa Small (observer) - Waimate District Council
- Cr Nick Ward
View agendas and meeting papers
How are zone committee members selected?
Water zone committee members are appointed after councils advertise for expressions of interest from the community and serve for three years.
Applicants are assessed on skills, expertise and experience, as well as their ability to work together to develop water management solutions to economic, social, cultural and environmental issues.
Each water zone committee has between seven and 10 members, including:
- An Environment Canterbury appointee
- A local territorial authority councillor
- A rūnanga appointee
- Between four and six local members nominated from the community who come from a variety of backgrounds and interests.
See our video about managing water in Canterbury.
Zone committee key resources
Download key documents developed by the committee, and view meeting minutes, agendas and presentations:
- Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee Action Plan 2021-2024
- Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee Progress Report 2021/22
- View the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct
- View presentations to the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee
- View agendas and meeting papers for the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee
- Upper Waitaki Compliance and Incident Report update 2020/21 (PDF File, 132KB)
- Upper Waitaki Zone Work Programme progress update 2018/19 (PDF File, 3.35MB)
- Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee Implementation Programme (PDF File, 6.34MB)
- Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee Implementation Programme addendum (PDF File, 2MB)