Partnering with Ngāi Tahu – freshwater

We will continue to partner with Ngāi Tahu and engage with communities to implement the Government’s Essential Freshwater package, including Te Mana o te Wai, and improve freshwater outcomes.

We will protect and restore priority aquatic ecosystems and habitats and create opportunities for mahinga kai through regulation and other initiatives to improve water quality and flow.

We are leading a shared regional commitment through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) – strengthening collaborative arrangements with Papatipu Rūnanga, Zone Committees, community and key organisations, including through joint work programmes.

How are we tracking on our Levels of Service?

Level of Service 1: Facilitate the Canterbury Water Management Strategy zone and regional committees to support achievement of the 2025 goals, in partnership with Ngai Tahu and the Canterbury region’s city and district councils.

As part of this level of service we will:

1.1 Provide opportunities for community engagement through Zone and Regional Committee actions.

How are we doing: On track. You can find out more about the committees and their work programmes, including links to their action plans for the three-year term to June 2024.

On track

Level of Service 4: Partner with Papatipu Rūnanga and engage with the community to inform amendments to the regulatory framework (to give effect to Central Government's Essential Freshwater package, achieving Te Mana o te Wai).

As part of this level of service we will:

4.1 Notify a land and water regulatory framework that provides for a Ngāi Tahu and community vision when giving effect to the Government’s Essential Freshwater package across the region.

How are we doing: Following a successful hui on 10 March, Te Rōpū Tuia confirmed that the work programme will focus on delivering a Regional Policy Statement (RPS) by 2024 along with targeted amendments to our Land and Water Regional Plan to give effect to the government’s Essential Freshwater package. This is the first major step towards achieving better management of natural and physical resources in Canterbury through an integrated planning framework.

On track

Level of Service 5: Partner with Papatipu Rūnanga and engage with the community to implement Central Government's Essential Freshwater package to improve freshwater outcomes.

As part of this level of service we will:

5.1 Develop and implement a programme in partnership with Papatipu Rūnanga to deliver Te Mana o te Wai.

How are we doing: The Kaitiakitanga Mahinga Kai programme of work involves working with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga to identify sites they would like to see actively restored and/or protected. Four projects are underway, including a coastal lagoon project involving some willow removal. Other projects are being scheduled.

On track

How are we doing on our key initiatives?

Zone Committee Action Plan delivery and implementation

How are we doing: Zone Committees continued to identify and recommend Action Plan funding projects, with around half of the available funding allocated to projects across the zones. The Regional Committee is not yet re-established. Find out more about the committees and their work programmes.

On track

Ashburton Consent Reviews

How are we doing: The project is very near to completion - the majority of the 88 consents reviewed have been decided, with the appeal period for two consents where a hearing was requested now resolved. We are on track to achieve increased minimum flows by 1 July 2023.

On track

Te Mana o te Wai implementation – implementing new Essential Freshwater national direction in partnership with Papatipu Rūnanga

How are we doing: Staff have been working to maintain Rūnanga relationships and support the identification and initiation of projects. Recruitment of additional team members is expected to boost momentum of the programme.

On track

Zone initiatives

How are we doing: We are delivering priority projects in water management zones in conjunction with our other programmes of work. A work programme is in place with more than 65% of the available funds committed. The majority of projects are on track or completed.

On track