Partnering and enhancing indigenous biodiversity and mahinga kai

We work, often with others, to protect, enhance and restore indigenous biodiversity and mahinga kai. We initiate and manage on-the-ground projects. We monitor to understand the current state of our biodiversity and what we need to do to protect and enhance it.

Our focus as a regional council is on habitat protection, in particular freshwater and coastal habitats. Wetlands and braided rivers are a priority.

Through our regional planning work, we set direction for others, such as city and district councils, to protect terrestrial habitat. Habitat protection and enhancement will lead to better outcomes for at-risk species of flora and fauna, and contribute to achieving the outcomes detailed in our Long-Term Plan.

This service covers key regional working relationships, including Pest Free Banks Peninsula, where the work to control and eradicate pests is primarily for the benefit of indigenous biodiversity. It includes our contributions to partnership programmes such as Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour, Whakaora Te Waihora, and Te Mōkihi, and our support for rūnanga-led mahinga kai projects.

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We monitor specific biodiversity indicators, including for wetlands and braided rivers. This is critical to understanding the impact resource users and our work programmes are having on indigenous biodiversity. We also partner with ngā Papatipu Rūnanga to deliver mahinga kai projects to support customary use and practices. 

Find out more about Canterbury’s wetlands and braided rivers and the biodiversity projects we deliver.   

• In quarter four, outcomes for the contestable portion of the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund were confirmed, with $0.3 million (of the $1.1 million total budget) allocated across eight projects supporting local community groups, rūnanga and non-profits. 
• Indigenous biodiversity work also continued at the Dobson/Hopkins–Lake Ōhau priority site, with vegetation clearance consent obtained for aerial cotoneaster control and ground-based control undertaken elsewhere, as part of a multi-agency weed control programme with the Department of Conservation and LINZ. 
• Grant funding through the Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour programme supported fish passage, coastal planting and expanded pest trapping in Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour, while the $4.2 million Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project — led by Taumutu Rūnanga Ltd in partnership with Canterbury Regional Council — progressed to near completion. 

Examples of catchment-based partnerships include the Te Waihora Co-Governance Arrangement, Whaka-ora Healthy Harbour and Te Mōkihi in the Mackenzie Basin. We work towards the goal of being a Treaty Partner of Excellence, by delivering operational programmes in partnership with ngā rūnanga and others.