Working Groups

The Environment Canterbury Council has formed two working groups to look at specific aspects of Council business and make recommendations for decision by the full Council.

Remit of two working groups

  1. Public Visibility Working Group
    Public visibility of Council business, including community engagement, the democratic processes, and community participation in democratic decision-making.
  2. Planting and Regeneration Working Group
    A proposal for a region-wide ecological planting and native regeneration project for inclusion in the next Long-Term Plan.

Each Working Group is chaired by a Councillor appointed by the Council Chair and may involve Council staff. It may also co-opt external advisors or members of the community to 'test' ideas and solutions.

The Working Groups have no decision-making authority and will bring recommendations to Council for Council consideration. The Chair of each Working Group will report monthly to the full Council at Council meetings as a standing agenda item. Notes and actions of each Working Group will be made public.

1. Public Visibility Working Group

The Public Visibility Working Group will make recommendations to Council on the public visibility of Council business, including community engagement, democratic processes, and community participation and inclusiveness in democratic decision-making.

The Public Visibility Working Group is chaired by Councillor Nicole Marshall, with Councillors Megan Hands, Vicky Southworth, Tane Apanui and Phil Clearwater.

View the Public Visibility Working Group guidelines.

Council reports (including working group meeting notes and actions)

2. Planting and Regeneration Working Group

The Planting and Regeneration Working Group will scope and design an ambitious region-wide planting and native regeneration proposal for consideration in the Council's 2021-31 Long-Term Plan.

It will bring together existing Council initiatives including rivers planting, forest management, and the Soil Conservation and Revegetation programme and align them with external initiatives to drive benefits across a range of Council priorities, including climate change, freshwater quality, biodiversity and carbon offsets. It will also explore external funding sources, partnerships, and opportunities to support COVID-19 recovery.

The Planting and Regeneration Working Group is chaired by Councillor Craig Pauling, with Councillors Lan Pham, Ian Mackenzie, Vicky Southworth and Grant Edge.

View the Planting and Regeneration Working Group guidelines.

Council reports (including working group meeting notes and actions)