Recreational and amenity opportunities
Recreation and amenity opportunities provided by Canterbury's water bodies are of social, cultural and economic benefit to the region.
Environment Canterbury reports on progress on behalf of CWMS partners. Note there is no consistent information source on the extent and quality of water-related recreational activities in Canterbury, with the exception of Fish & Game's angler surveys. Lacking this information, the benefits of recreation – including tourism benefits – cannot be accurately described or measured.
Here's how things are progressing against 2020 goals. View information on:
- Water-based recreational opportunities
- Recreational water flows
- Freshwater angling
- Recreational water quality
Water-based recreational opportunities
By 2025: A continuing and measurable positive trend, against baseline information, in the diversity, availability and quality of recreational opportunities in each zone.
Has the goal been met?
Measuring trends against different baselines for this goal is challenging given the diversity of options available and numerous ways people choose to enjoy Canterbury's lakes and rivers. Several projects have been undertaken to map and improve the quality of recreational spots across Canterbury.
- The National Angler Survey 2023 shows that freshwater fishing continues to be a popular pastime.
- Canterbury Maps offers a digital register of all publicly accessible lake, river and coastal recreation sites available in the region, as well as the facilities available at each site.
- Water zone committees across the region have funded local projects each year aimed at improving biodiversity and water quality for recreational opportunities.
- The Environment Canterbury interactive recreational access map can help visitors planning recreational activities with information on more than 1,000 publicly accessible sites around Canterbury's rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
Environment Canterbury and territorial authorities will continue to work alongside the community to improve water quality to support recreational in Canterbury.
By 2025: Identify the restoration of priority freshwater recreational opportunities in each zone, developing plans to achieve and show measurable progress.
Has the goal been met?
Measuring progress for this goal is challenging as there are no monitoring programmes in place to evaluate trends in the region’s available recreational opportunities. However, territorial authorities and water zone committees have numerous projects to improve existing conditions or develop new recreational opportunities in their respective districts.
- Upper Waitaki zone committee created the Love Our Lakes campaign to engage agencies, catchment groups and stakeholders about the enhancement and protection of recreational areas, such as Twizel River and Lake Ruataniwha.
- Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora (OTOP) water zone committee has undertaken a number of riparian planting projects with the aim of improving water quality in the catchment, including at Tengawai River.
- Waimakariri zone committee has facilitated the extension of recreation corridors and amenity space in the zone by supporting initiatives like the Northbrook Trail project and Ashley Rakahuri Estuary Shorebird Monitoring programme.
Canterbury territorial authorities will continue to prioritise the restoration of freshwater recreational opportunities.
By 2025: Understand threats and act to reduce risk to freshwater recreational opportunities.
Has the goal been met?
Environment Canterbury undertakes regular water quality monitoring at more than 100 swimming spots around Canterbury. The purpose of this monitoring is to assess conditions, trends and public health risks by identifying faecal contamination and toxic algae (cyanobacteria) at lakes and rivers.
Water quality samples are collected in sterile pottles and sent to Hills Laboratory for analysis for bacteria, the results come back within 1-2 days of sampling and are published on the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website.
Temporary health warnings are issued by Te Mana Ora if a water quality issue is found during weekly testing at sites that were graded as suitable for swimming at the start of the monitoring season.
- The Can I Swim Here? section of the LAWA website hosts up-to-date information about water quality at more than 100 sites around Canterbury so that the community can make informed decisions about suitability for swimming and recreation.
- Environment Canterbury is working on predictive water quality model for the bays in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour. It is hoped the model will give daily predictions of water quality at some of the bay to improve understanding about the suitability for swimming at popular sites around the harbour.
- Environment Canterbury will continue to conduct regular water quality sampling and research to assess the health of waterways and coastal environments.
- The new predictive water quality model for the bays in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour, being developed by Environment Canterbury, is expected to be available for the 2026/2027 swimming season.
Recreational water flows
By 2025: Environmental flows, which support recreational requirements, are set as part of the rule setting process in new plans and included in existing plans when up for review.
Has the goal been met?
The Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan sets environmental flows through sub-regional chapters.
Environment Canterbury monitors river flow throughout Canterbury and provides real-time information on irrigation restrictions across most rivers in Canterbury.
Development of the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, Canterbury’s key planning document, is scheduled to resume 2026 in alignment with central government’s direction on freshwater management.
Freshwater angling
By 2025: 20% increase in the number and area of protected salmonid spawning sites from 2009 baseline in identified important areas.
Has this goal been met?
The National Angler Survey 2023 identifies Central South Island as the most popular fishing region amongst the 12 Fish and Game NZ regions.
Environment Canterbury will continue to implement work programmes to support fish screen compliance.
By 2025: Health of lowland streams, rivers and lakes in Canterbury show improving habitat and an increase in fishing opportunities.
Has the goal been met?
The 2024-25 national angling survey shows that fishing opportunities in North Canterbury have been variable with no consistent long-term trend, noting an increase in opportunities in the central South Island region (due mainly to an increased trend to fish in the canals). There is no available evidence to show that increased fishing opportunities are linked to improved habitats in Canterbury's lowland streams, rivers, and lakes.
Environment Canterbury completed 29 freshwater biodiversity projects during the 2023/24 financial year, with others still in progress. Projects include planting, fencing, weed control and fish passage works.
Environment Canterbury will continue to prioritise freshwater biodiversity projects to improve habitat to support ecosystem function and health, cultural and commercial harvesting, recreation and tourism.
By 2025: Advocate for and support measures to effectively restore and protect fishing opportunities in each water management zone.
Has the goal been met?
Fish & Game New Zealand supports measures to restore and protect fishing opportunities in Canterbury, primarily through habitat restoration projects, funding initiatives, and strong water conservation and protection measures.
- The Fish Habitat Fund in New Zealand helps protect native freshwater fish at risk from habitat loss and barriers. With a funding pool of $100,000 in 2024, it supported projects for habitat restoration and fish passage improvements.
- In 2021, North Canterbury Fish & Game completed the Canterbury High Country Wetland & Waterway Protection Project to enhance the salmon fishery in the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers, retiring approximately 370ha of streams and wetlands, and installing 20km of new fencing.
- Environment Canterbury and territorial authorities support regular campaigns about stormwater education, encouraging the community to consider that the health of our waterways is related to stormwater health.
- Fish & Game New Zealand will continue to play a crucial role in managing and enhancing sports fish and their habitats.
- Projects supported by the Fish Habitat Fund will continue to progress throughout the region.
Recreational water quality
By 2025: Improve on percentage of rivers and lakes being swimmable since 2020 using consistent water quality monitoring and real-time results.
Has the goal been met?
Environment Canterbury undertakes regular water quality monitoring at more than 100 swimming spots around Canterbury. The purpose of this monitoring is to assess conditions, trends and public health risks by identifying faecal contamination and toxic algae (cyanobacteria) at lakes and rivers.
Environment Canterbury is working on predictive water quality model for the bays in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour. It is hoped the model will give daily predictions of water quality at some of the bay to improve understanding about the suitability for swimming at popular sites around the harbour.
The Can I Swim Here? section of the LAWA website hosts up-to-date information about water quality at more than 100 sites around Canterbury so that the community can make informed decisions about suitability for swimming and recreation.
The new predictive water quality model for the bays in Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour, being developed by Environment Canterbury, is expected to be available for the 2026/2027 swimming season.
By 2025: Cyanobacteria risk for priority contact recreation sites in Canterbury rivers and lakes is understood and managed for public health.
Has the goal been met?
From November to March, Environment Canterbury monitors more than 100 marine and freshwater swimming spots for toxic algae (cyanobacteria) as well as faecal contamination.
Water quality and health information is a joint effort between Environment Canterbury who do the testing, assessment of long-term grades and reporting, and Te Mana Ora (part of Te Whatu Ora’s National Public Health Service) who issue and lift temporary health warnings and territorial authorities who erect signage to inform the public about health risks.
Water quality samples are collected in sterile pottles and sent to Hills Laboratory for analysis for bacteria, the results come back within 1-2 days of sampling and are published on the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website.
- The Can I Swim Here? section of the LAWA website is updated weekly through summer months, generally within two days of sampling, so that the community can make informed decisions about where they swim.
- Every year, swim sites are given a long-term grade prior to the summer monitoring season for suitability for swimming and recreation. The grade is based on the last five years of bacteria sampling. Sites that are not recommended for swimming are red on the LAWA website and signage should be in place at the site.
Environment Canterbury will continue regular monitoring to assess conditions, trends and public health risks.