About the water zone committees

Water zone committees develop actions and tactics to deliver on the 10 targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) in their zone.

Water zone committees are made up of people with a wide range of interests in water who have a strong connection to the zone.

Committees meet monthly, and meetings are open to the public. View upcoming meetings.
Read inspiring 'wai we care' stories from committee members to see what it means to them to be part of local water management.
View latest events, committee news and projects (you can filter by area and by subject, to see what's relevant to you).
And if you're unsure which water zone you are in, you can see your water zone on the map.

Actions and tactics

Water zone committees recommend actions and tactics to councils and other organisations involved in water management, which are recorded in Zone Implementation Programmes (ZIPs). View ZIPs for each water zone.

Committees oversee and champion the implementation of these recommendations by Environment Canterbury and other CWMS partners.

Operating philosophy

Zone committees give effect to the fundamental principles, targets and goals of the CWMS.
Zone committees are culturally sensitive, observing tikanga Māori.
Zone committees give consideration to, and balance the interests of all water stakeholders in the region, in debate and decision-making.
Zone committees work in a collaborative and co-operative manner using best endeavours to reach solutions that take account of the interests of all sectors of the community.
Members of zone committees are appointed on the basis of their experience and knowledge and do not represent a particular interest or group. Accordingly, members will contribute their knowledge and perspective but not promote the views or positions of any particular interest or stakeholder group.
Zone committees promote a shift in philosophy from an individual rights basis towards using water resource to a collective interests approach to water management.
Committees will seek consensus in decision-making where at all possible. Where unanimous agreement is not able to be reached, despite the best endeavours of members, a decision may be taken if in the view of the significant majority (i.e. 75 percent or more of members) it represents the best interest of all sectors of the community.
Meetings of zone committees shall be called and operate in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
In the event that neither unanimous agreement is able to be reached nor a significant majority view formed, zone committees must in the first instance seek assistance from an external facilitator to further committee discussions and deliberations.
Where zone committees are unable to reach consensus (75 percent or more), despite having sought assistance and exhausted all avenues, they must recommend that respective councils disband them and appoint a new committee.