Outcomes for Waitaha Canterbury
Taking action together to shape a thriving and resilient Waitaha Canterbury, now and for future generations | Toitū te marae o Tāne, toitū te marae o Tangaroa, toitū te iwi.
Our Council has identified a set of outcomes for our environment and communities – the enduring changes we want to see, which move us towards the Council’s vision for Waitaha Canterbury. Each outcome has one or more measures to monitor progress towards these outcomes over time.
Many of these outcomes and measures are sourced from existing legislation or national direction. We can influence and contribute to these outcomes, but we are not solely responsible, and we rely on contributions from many others to make progress over time.
The outcomes have been organised in our Long-Term Plan 2024-34 by their alignment to the core services we deliver. Most of our core services contribute to multiple outcomes, and not just those listed for that service.
Outcome measures – reporting on outcomes
For each outcome, we have developed one or more outcome measures, which will help us to monitor how effectively we are making progress towards these outcomes over time.
In 2024/25, the focus has been on refining these measures and establishing baselines for future outcomes reporting. From September 2025, we will report annually on progress, with a summary in the Annual Report, and more detailed information on our progress in our reporting back section.
Environmental Regulation and ProtectionNgā mahi tiakina me ngā whakaritenga taiaoWe want to make progress on the outcomes that are important for Waitaha by accelerating regeneration of the natural environment, enabling improved water and land use outcomes and empowering communities taking action. Find out more about the Environmental Regulation and Protection area of work.
Improving the health and well-being of waterbodies and freshwater ecosystems
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the ten-year trend of concentrations of nitrates in monitored groundwater sites. We will report a rolling 10-year period starting in 2016 (2016-2025) to compare the percentage of sites with decreasing nitrate concentrations to sites with increasing concentrations.
Baseline/comparator: Baseline comparator will be available in the outcomes report (% increasing, % no change, % decreasing).
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What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the percentage of monitored sites that are degraded.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, the percentage of monitored sites that were degraded (D and E grades) (percentage will be available in the outcomes report)
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What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the proportion of monitored aquatic ecosystem health sites graded fair or better.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, the percentage of monitored sites graded fair or better for aquatic ecosystem health (percentage will be available in the outcomes report).
Increasing the extent and values of wetlands
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on monitored values (number/area and types), and five-yearly on the extent of natural inland wetlands within Canterbury. We will report 5-yearly comparisons using the Canterbury Wetland Inventory and Wetlands of National Importance/Land Cover Database 5 Inventory.
Baseline/comparator: 2018/19 wetland number/area and types.
Improving the health and wellbeing of coastal environments
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the mud content grade at monitored estuary and mudflat sites.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, mud content grade of eight monitored sites (grades will be available in the outcomes report).
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What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on monitored coastal sites graded suitable for contact recreation.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, percentage of sites graded suitable for contact recreation (In 2022/23, 78% of coastal sites were deemed suitable).
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Increasing indigenous biodiversity
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting five-yearly on area (hectare and per cent) of indigenous vegetation cover by vegetation types. We will report 5-yearly comparisons using land cover data for the Canterbury Region
Baseline/comparator: The 2018/19 data (available in the ‘What we know’ section of our website) will be compared to 2022/23 data. This is dependent on Land Cover Database 6, to be released late 2025.
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What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually, using information from covenanting agencies, to compare the change in area (hectare) of legally protected indigenous habitat on private land. Each year, the area protected will be compared to the previous year’s area protected.
Baseline/comparator: New baseline to be reported for 2024/25.
Increasing abundance of, condition of, and access to mahinga kai by mana whenua
What we are measuring and reporting: We continue to work with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga on visions and outcomes in parallel with delivering the Long-Term Plan. This work will inform future Annual Plans and Long-Term Plans.
Baseline/comparator: To be confirmed.
Increasing the natural character of braided rivers
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on two rivers for natural character values and reporting on ~10-yearly extent, regionally, of braided river habitats.
Baseline/comparator: 2012 compared to 2024 for extent, regionally, of braided river habitats.
Preventing establishment of exclusion pests
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on number of exclusion pests established (listed within the Canterbury Regional Pest Management Plan).
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, there were 0 new exclusion pests established.
Improving ambient air quality
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the number of exceedances in airsheds in each calendar year We will report a rolling trend in concentrations in each of eight airsheds over the last ten years (i.e. reporting 2015-2024 in the first outcomes report).
Baseline/comparator: From 2014 to 2023, the trend in concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) in seven airsheds was decreasing and in Washdyke there were not enough data to report a trend.
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Community Preparedness and Response to HazardsTe whakarite hapori me ngā urupare mōreareaWe want to make progress on the outcomes that are important for Waitaha and help advance prepared and resilient communities that are empowered to take action. Find out more about the Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards area of work.
Increasing the natural character of braided rivers
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on two rivers for natural character values and reporting on ~10-yearly extent, regionally, of braided river habitats.
Baseline/comparator: 2012 compared to 2024 for extent, regionally, of braided river habitats.
Decreasing the economic impact of flooding
What we are measuring and reporting: We are currently unable to report on the cost of flooding events in Canterbury.
Baseline/comparator: To be confirmed.
Improving our communities understanding of natural hazard and climate change risks
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on understanding of natural hazards and climate change risks in the region through the Civil Defence Emergency Management community survey.
Baseline/comparator: Work is underway to analyse the data and produce a result (this will be available in the outcomes report).
Increasing the regional capacity and capability to respond to and recover from civil defence emergencies
What we are measuring and reporting: A regional evaluation tool is in development, which will be used as the measure when it comes into effect.
Baseline/comparator: There is no baseline until the evaluation tool has been developed, but we can report on our capability and capacity, and our ability to respond to and recover from events.
Decreasing navigational safety incidents in the region
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the number of incidents, accidents and mishaps in Canterbury that are reported to Maritime New Zealand.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, there were 82 events in Canterbury reported to Maritime New Zealand
Public TransportNgā waka tūmatanuiWe want to make progress on the outcomes that are important for Waitaha, by making safe, reliable, multi-modal transport choices available. Find out more about the Public Transport area of work.
Increasing public transport mode share
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on the number of estimated unique users of public transport in Greater Christchurch using the ticketing system.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, an estimated 30.7% of Greater Christchurch population used public transport in the last year
Reducing impacts of vehicle emissions on the health and safety of people
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting every 10 years from the Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand (HAPINZ) 3.0 report.
Baseline/comparator: In 2016, there were 359 premature deaths due to NO2 from motor vehicles in the 10 districts of Canterbury.
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on NO2 emissions generated by the public transport fleet in our real-time data.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, there were 73.65 tonnes of NO2 emissions generated by public transport.
Increasing accessibility by public transport
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on active bus stops from our network information (updated annually), and Stats NZ data (updated every census).
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, 77.1% of Greater Christchurch workplaces were within 400m of a bus stop and 84.5% of Timaru workplaces were within 400m of a bus stop
Increasing inclusive access to public transport
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on active bus stops from our network information (updated annually), and Stats NZ data (updated every census). Note key activity centres include schools, hospitals, medical centres and defined key activity centres by territorial authorities.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, 94.9% of key activity centres in Greater Christchurch were within 400m of a bus stop.
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on active bus stops from our network information (updated annually), and Stats NZ data (updated every census).
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, 80.5% of households in Greater Christchurch were within 400m of a bus stop.
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on active bus stops from our network information (updated annually), and Ministry of Māori Development data.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, 4 out of 7 marae in Greater Christchurch were within 400m of a bus stop.
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually on active bus stops from our network information (updated annually), and the Māori Land Court.
Baseline/comparator: In 2023/24, 12.6% of Māori reserve land in Greater Christchurch is within 400m of a bus stop.
Improving public transport environmental sustainability/climate change mitigations
What we are measuring and reporting: Reporting annually from the Christchurch City Council’s emissions tracker
Baseline/comparator: In 2022/23, there were 2.5 mega tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions within the Christchurch City Council boundary.