Breens Intermediate student Yiting Su won the 2025 Wrybill Trophy for showing how tī kōuka leaves could replace imported fibres and reduce landfill waste.
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Supporting local action
Last updated: 16 February 2026
Reporting frequency: Quarterly
Core service: Environmental Regulation and Protection
Everyone has a role to play in improving environmental outcomes, and supporting and empowering local communities to lead local projects is an investment that will make a significant contribution to achieving these outcomes.
We provide access to co-funding for projects that align with Council’s strategic priorities and we provide advice and other assistance.
This service includes contestable funding, and the subsidies we offer to help people transition to cleaner heating options.
It also supports the Soil Conservation and Regeneration programme, environmental infrastructure work programmes and the work to support implementing the Canterbury Water Management Strategy zone committee action plans.
Our youth engagement and education team works to build and strengthen the relationship between young people, our region, and the work we do and, with other providers, delivers the Enviroschools programme.
How are we tracking on our service measures?
Service measure 18: Percentage of applicants satisfied/very satisfied with Environment Canterbury’s contestable funding allocation processes
Target: 80%
How we are doing: It is planned that applicants to the contestable funds will be surveyed in quarter four.
On track
More information
To assist local community-led projects, we provide various pathways for environmentally-focused community organisations and landholders to access support, including funding.
We recognise that it is often volunteers who are making applications and we want the process to be efficient, transparent and well aligned with Council’s strategic priorities.
Contestable funds include the Waitaha Action to Impact Fund, the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund and the CWMS Action Plan Fund.
Recent highlights and updates
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Glenavy workshops helped farmers upskill on their environmental practices. If you missed out, here's what they learned.
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Te Rōhutu Whio students restore Te Repo o Papatahora wetland, planting natives and learning kaitiakitanga alongside rūnanga and restoration partners.
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Enviroschools celebration united 18 kura from across Waitaha to showcase projects from bees to wilding pine control, inspiring action for a sustainable future.
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We are the first regional council to offer practical, in-depth guidance for farmers on how to compost animal mortalities on-farm.
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Apply now for three Canterbury funds supporting community projects that restore nature, improve waterways, and deliver local environmental outcomes.