On 21 March 2024, a “moderate adverse event” was declared in Canterbury, as El Niño conditions and a warming climate made their mark. Conditions are still very dry, with our monitoring showing record...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2024/record-low-water-levels-across-waitaha-canterburyMore Waitaha Canterbury farmers have been experimenting with hay bale grazing this past winter in a bid to minimise pugging and retain soil nutrients and structure. The practice has been endorsed
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/hay-bale-grazing-wintering-without-mudWe're urging North Canterbury residents to take greater care with outdoor burning after a sharp rise in complaints over the past few weeks. Outdoor burning rules exist to protect our air and our
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/playing-with-fire-the-cost-of-ignoring-outdoor-burning-rulesLooking for a way to reduce the risk of nitrogen (N) leaching and make the most of the valuable nutrients left behind after winter forage crop grazing? A catch crop could be the answer. The role
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/catch-crops-a-powerful-tool-for-reducing-nitrogen-leachingDuring summer, we regularly monitor the water quality at nearly 100 popular swim spots in Waitaha Canterbury. We check for faecal contamination and toxic algae (cyanobacteria). Find out more
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/swimming-water-qualityConstruction of a wallaby exclusion fence is the latest development in South Canterbury's war on wallabies. The 48km wallaby exclusion fence aims to contain the spread of these pests and protect
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2023/fence-the-latest-tool-in-the-war-on-wallabies-2Our regional parks and forests team is stepping into campaign mode – not for an election, but for Bird of the Year. Our candidate? The shy but spectacular matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/were-backing-the-matuku-hurepo-for-bird-of-the-yearDuring 2025, the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) applied for judicial review of our decision to include Rrule 5.63 in the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP). Current status:
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/plans-strategies-and-bylaws/canterbury-land-and-water-regional-plan/environmental-law-initiativeEnvironment Canterbury has today declared a climate emergency, highlighting both the urgent need to address the issue, and the work already being done to help the region respond. "Climate change
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2019/environment-canterbury-declares-climate-emergency