Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee Action Plan 2021-2024

Each of Waitaha/Canterbury’s water zone committees has an action plan which outlines how they will work with the community to deliver their aspirations for freshwater as outlined in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

The CWMS puts the future of our water resources in the hands of the community. Zone committees work collaboratively to develop recommendations for councils and other organisations to deliver shared goals and targets.

Committee purpose

To uphold the mana of the freshwater bodies within Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula by facilitating enduring land and water management solutions that give effect to the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) vision, principles and targets in our zone.

The CWMS aims to enable present and future generations to gain the greatest social, economic, recreational and cultural benefits from our water resources within an environmentally sustainable framework.

Committee role

  • To get involved in an active programme of community engagement on freshwater management matters.
  • To facilitate relevant advice to councils and other organisations contributing to freshwater management.
  • To extend the resources available to implement the CWMS by: working with stakeholders across all sectors and seeking opportunities to promote, support, leverage and expand catchment-based initiatives that deliver the CWMS.
  • To report back annually to councils and Rūnanga on progress towards delivery of the zone-specific priorities.
Port Levy planting

Mabel Hope Covenant

Photograph of erosion and sediment controls on a sloped site.

Whakaraupō cut slope erosion and sediment control site

Our actions

Find out more about how we're tracking to achieve our goals and what progress has been made in the last year.

View the 2021/22 progress report.

Consider mahinga kai, mātauranga Māori and climate change in all our deliberations and decision making:
  • We will recommend the allocation of the CWMS Action Plan budget towards initiatives that help us implement our action plan, and promote these initiatives.
We will engage with the community and partner with other organisations to encourage future proofing/resilience about: 
  • Water quantity within the context of Te Mana o Te Wai and climate change. We will encourage practical actions such as use of rain water tanks and grey water systems.
  • Mahinga kai, soil conservation, erosion and sediment control, biodiversity, water quality and quantity, stormwater, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and native forestry carbon farming.
  • Simple stormwater actions the community can do to reduce pollution of waterways.
  • Protection of clean safe drinking water supplies.
  • The management or replacement of on-site wastewater treatment systems.
We will collaborate on practical projects by supporting:
  • Ngā rūnanga mahinga kai projects.
  • Existing or new catchment groups and their initiatives that have a Ki Uta Ki Tai community approach.
  • Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour with implementing the Whakaraupō Catchment Management Plan.
  • Wairewa Bank Stabilisation Project.
  • Collaborative erosion and sediment control initiatives, that the Committee has jointly identified with the Christchurch West Melton Committee and Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour.
  • The removal of priority barriers to fish passage.
  • The reduction of sediment loss and other contaminants from roadside maintenance and cuttings.
We will advocate for and be engaged in:
  • Improved erosion and sediment control.
  • The collaborative development and funding of a soil conservation programme.
  • Fair and practical rules to optimise Te Mana o te Wai in the allocation of water.
  • Regional and local planning reforms in relation to freshwater management.
  • Finding long-term solutions to Whakaraupō recreational water quality issues coming from streams, stormwater and other sources.
  • Research on projected impacts of climate change on our waterways so there is an improved understanding of these impacts and opportunities are identified to support waterways to adapt.

Council priorities

Zone committees are joint committees of local and regional councils, with mana whenua and community representation. Councils provide CWMS priorities for each zone committee to guide the committee’s action plans.

Christchurch City Council priorities

Public awareness and engagement:

Model manaakitanga (caring and respect) for our waters and promote takohanga (commitment) and kaitiakitanga (stewardship) through:

  • Leading water forums and supporting CCC initiatives to give effect to Te Mana o Te Wai;
  • Advocacy of and support for the Community Water Partnership, connections with members’ community and professional networks;
  • Supporting erosion and sediment control workshops for industry.

Environment Canterbury priorities

Kaitiakitanga Wāhi Taonga and mahinga kai targets

  • Grow support and resources to achieve the goal of five mahinga kai projects.

Ecosystem health and biodiversity targets

  • Increased riparian management to protect aquatic ecosystems.
  • Reducing the number of fish barriers.
  • Protection and enhancement of wetlands.

Recreation and amenity targets

  • Achieving the 2025 target to restore priority freshwater recreation opportunities in each zone.