Partnering for improved freshwater outcomes

To achieve this level of service, we will:

• 6.1 Develop campaigns to improve landowner/community understanding of new national direction and Land and Water Regional Plan requirements.

How are we doing: Information on the two campaigns currently being delivered, intensive winter grazing and the synthetic nitrogen cap, can be found on our website.

To achieve this level of service, we will:

• 8.1 Deliver programmes with the community to respond to significant emerging environmental issues.

How are we doing: A work programme is in progress at Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes. A website has been developed and a pop-up Communication event is scheduled to keep local community updated with progress.

To achieve this level of service, we will:

• 9.1 Ensure Environmental Farm Plan audits are completed.

How are we doing: For this measure, the target is to ensure ≥ 25% of all consented farms are audited. However, Farm Environment Plan (FEP) auditing was put on hold in 2021 following the Government’s review of OVERSEER®. FEP auditing and compliance monitoring has resumed south of the Hurunui River, where agreement has been reached with Papatipu Rūnanga on the interim approach, but there is a backlog of FEPs to audit so we may not achieve this target. Find out more about Good Management Practices and why they are important and how we are tracking with FEP audits. 

To achieve this level of service, we will

• 10.1 Review campaigns and implementation programmes to inform ongoing improvements and effectiveness.

How are we doing: Work is in progress, information is not yet available.

To achieve this level of service, we will:

• 11.1 Deliver actions as agreed in shared work programme(s) between the relevant parties in accordance with priorities for each catchment-based partnership
• 11.2 Deliver actions as agreed in shared work programme(s) between the relevant parties in accordance with aligned priorities
• 11.3 Identify and support projects through Zone Committee Action Plans.

How are we doing: Examples of catchment-based partnerships include the Te Waihora Co-Governance Arrangement, Whaka-ora Healthy Harbour and Te Mōkihi in the Mackenzie Basin. Find out more about the committees and their work programmes.

How are we doing: We continue to deliver the second year of the intensive winter grazing and synthetic nitrogen cap campaigns and to report on progress against delivery of Essential Freshwater Regulations. In this quarter the new rules for intensive winter grazing came into force and information is now available on our website.

How are we doing: The Ōtūwharekai working group have had two hui in this quarter to understand the opportunities for action to reduce nutrient loss into the lakes and improved water quality. Research has been viewed by the working group, and work with landowners to explore and understand mitigation options is ongoing. Find out more about the Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes.