Final Council meeting of the year prompts robust discussions

Canterbury Regional Councillors had a full agenda in the final council meeting of 2025 that prompted discussion around committee representatives, allowances, and nitrates on Wednesday 10 December.

Councillors were appointed to represent the Canterbury Regional Council on several trusts and community advisory groups during the 2025-28 triennium:

• North Canterbury Biosecurity Advisory Group: Cr John Faulkner
• Central Canterbury Biosecurity Advisory Group: Cr Sara Gerard
• Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biosecurity Advisory Group: Cr Nick Moody
• South Canterbury Biosecurity Advisory Group: Cr Nick Ward
• Canterbury Biosecurity Champions: Cr Nick Moody
• Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour Governance Group (Whakaraupō Catchment Management Plan): Cr Andrea Davis
• Project Oversight Group – Pest Free Banks Peninsula: Cr Nick Moody
• Canterbury Regional Council Youth Rōpū: Cr Genevieve Robinson, Cr Andrea Davis, Cr John Faulkner, and Cr Sara Gerard
• Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust: Cr Ashley Campbell
• Hekeao Hinds Water Enhancement Trust: Cr Ian Mackenzie

Beginning of triennium speeches

The remaining eight councillors, who did not deliver speeches at the council meeting in November, were given the opportunity at this meeting. Councillors Claire McKay, Megen McKay, Nick Moody, Genevieve Robinson, Peter Scott, John Sunckell, Nick Ward, and Chair Dr Deon Swiggs all spoke, addressing the recent reforms and expressing their goals and ambitions for the term ahead.

Councillor remuneration

Councillors approved the proposal to allocate the governance remuneration pool set by the Remuneration Authority.

This included payment to the Deputy Chair in recognition of extra duties in that role, along with consideration of any additional responsibilities that councillors may have, such as Committee Chair or representing council on a regional or other forum.

The Remuneration Authority will now consider the proposal and make a final determination.

Councillor Allowances and Expenses Policy

Councillors adopted an updated Allowance and Expense Reimbursement Policy, which determined how councillors can be reimbursed for expenses incurred in undertaking their duties.

This also included a new allowance added by the Remuneration Authority that covers costs associated with childcare and home security.

These allowances are also overseen and approved by the Authority.

Plan Change 8 application for exemption

After a robust discussion, council decided to apply to the Minister for the Environment for an exemption that would enable two parts of Plan Change 8 to proceed to the public notification stage.

The first part proposes removing barriers to important infrastructure work, such as stormwater management for development projects like roading, bridges and subdivisions. It also provides a consenting pathway to apply for a change of use, except for applications for a change of use to water-bottling.  

The second part would make constructing wetlands easier, where the proposed activity meets certain criteria.

With input from the Chair, staff will make the application before the 2025 summer break for an exemption that would enable PC8 to proceed.

Nitrate Notice of Motion update

Council received an update on work requested from the September 2025 decision to support the Notice of Motion on nitrate impacts in drinking water. The work strengthens regional leadership on nitrate risks, particularly for private households.

Work is underway to map high-risk areas, support household testing and treatment, and assess the costs and funding options for reducing and managing nitrate risks for communities and private well owners.

This work also includes a new agricultural sector leadership group and enhanced collaboration with water services regulator Taumata Arowai, territorial authorities and health agencies.

The aim is to build a shared understanding of groundwater trends and ensure consistent advice to communities.

A series of Council briefings has outlined the scale, causes and implications of nitrate contamination, with more to come in 2026.

Keen to catch the next meeting? The first Council meeting of 2026 will be on Wednesday 25 February and streamed on our YouTube channel.