The Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project, a flagship initiative of the Te Waihora Co-Governance Group, has been awarded the prestigious Te Waka o Aoraki trophy at the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/selwyn-waihora/whakaora-te-waikekewai-wins-top-honour-for-conservation-excellence... biodiversity across the zone. The rivers, streams, hāpua and wetlands of Waimakariri have always been an important place and food basket for Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tūāhuriri. Animal and arable...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biodiversity/nature-in-your-area/waimakariri-zone-biodiversityCommunity groups across Waitaha Canterbury can now apply for three contestable funds. Whether you’re restoring native bush and wetlands, improving local waterways or delivering catchment-scale action, these funds are designed to back practical, on-the-ground initiatives that make a measurable difference. ...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/contestable-funds-now-open-to-boost-community-led-environmental-actions... across the wetlands. It’s this distinctive call that helps us keep track of these stealthy wetland dwellers. Monitoring populations in Waimakariri
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/were-backing-the-matuku-hurepo-for-bird-of-the-yearWe continue to lead by example and increase biodiversity protection on our land. Here are some examples of work on council-owned land:
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biodiversity/our-biodiversity-work/biodiversity-on-our-landThe Lower Waitaki South Coastal Canterbury zone is comprised of a number of significant areas of biodiversity interest including the Wainono Lagoon, the Lower Waitaki River and the Hakataramea Valley
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biodiversity/nature-in-your-area/lower-waitaki-south-coastal-canterbury-zone-biodiversityWe've recently completed the first phase of a targeted willow control programme across more than 270 hectares in the Upper Waitaki region, where willow trees have impacted water flow and freshwater
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/upper-waitaki/targeted-willow-control-in-ahuriri-catchmentRestoring the Avoca Valley catchment from top to bottom has been the vision of the Summit Road Society which embarked on the ambitious multi-year project back in 2021. The Valley, once cloaked
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/zone-news/christchurch-west-melton/restoration-to-avoca-valley-ecosystem... and help protect it for future generations. Ākonga (students) planted native trees at a site on Te Repo o Papatahora wetland, next to the marae. They searched for invertebrates and insects...
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2025/school-students-take-action-to-protect-te-repo-o-papatahora-wetlandA significant component of our biodiversity programme is on-the-ground projects in partnership with willing landowners, agencies, non-government organisations, rūnanga and others on private
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/biodiversity-and-biosecurity/biodiversity/our-biodiversity-work/biodiversity-project-effectiveness-programme