Ashburton water zone committee

📢 From 2026, new local leadership groups will replace the Water Zone Committees, building on their legacy of community collaboration.

The Ashburton water zone committee is a joint committee of Ashburton District Council and Environment Canterbury.

The committee's role is to work with the community to develop actions and tactics to deliver on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

It recommends these actions and tactics to various agencies for implementation.

 
View members
 
Zone committee key resources
 
Get in touch

View members

Learn more about the current community members, Rūnanga representatives, Council appointments and Environment Canterbury representatives.

Community members

Bill Thomas (Chair)

Bill Thomas is a farmer in the lower Hinds. His family has farmed the historic Longbeach Estate for more than 150 years.

The farm is a mixed sheep, beef, dairy grazing and arable operation which also includes a self-contained dairy unit.

The estate has a commercial function centre; hosting events such as weddings, business and sports events. William is a member of the Eiffelton Irrigation Scheme and has 17 years’ experience as a commercial director, including directorship of PGG Wrightson Ltd.

He has also served on two school Boards of Trustees.

Angela Cushnie

Angela Cushnie owns a communications business and a lifestyle property at Eiffelton. She is a member of many local organisations and was a founding member and Trustee of the Kanuka Mid-Canterbury Regeneration Trust.

Sidinei Teixeira

Sidinei Teixeira was the Head of Science at Mt Hutt College (Methven) from 2015 to 2021. She now teaches chemistry at Christ’s College and is currently completing a master's degree in Water Resource Management.

Clare Buchanan (Deputy Chair)

Clare Buchanan is Head of Environment and Innovation for an innovative local farming business which is undertaking a trial of regenerative farming.

Rūnanga representatives

  • Vacant - Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga

  • Vacant - Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua

  • Jess Hobbs - Te Taumutu Rūnanga

Ashburton District Council appointment

  • Cr Richard Wilson

Environment Canterbury appointment

  • Cr Ian Mackenzie 

Zone committee key resources

Download key documents developed by the committee, and view meeting minutes, agendas and presentations:

Zone Implementation Programmes

Zone Implementation Programmes (ZIPs) - were developed when water zone committees were established. These bits of work followed the adoption of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and aimed to provide overarching goals for water management in the ten different water zones of Waitaha/Canterbury. 

While we may have moved-on in terms of our priorities in each zone, ZIPs remain the foundation of the work we do.

Zone contacts

Jaimee Grant — Zone Facilitator   027 220 2694
 jaimee.grant@ecan.govt.nz 

Stephen Bragg — Tangata Whenua Facilitator  027 487 3892
 stephen.bragg@ecan.govt.nz 

Get in touch

Zone contacts

Jaimee Grant — Zone Facilitator   027 220 2694  jaimee.grant@ecan.govt.nz 

Stephen Bragg  — Tangata Whenua Facilitator     027 487 3892  stephen.bragg@ecan.govt.nz

Local on-the-ground team 

Staff deliver work related to the zone committee's recommendations through an on-the-ground team, also called zone delivery.

Email newsletters

The committee has an email newsletter, which sends zone news, columns from the committee chair, and key events straight to your inbox. Sign-up to our mailing list to receive these newsletters.

Advice and resources for farmers 

Staff are available locally throughout the region to provide advice and assistance to farmers.

See information and resources for farmers on the Farmers' Hub page.

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