Meet your zone representatives

Banks Peninsula Zone Committee 2020The Banks Peninsula water zone committee is a joint committee of Christchurch City 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

Community members
Gina Waibl - Chair

Gina is the current Chairperson of the Committee.  She lives in Governors Bay and has a rural property at the head of Whakaraupō.  Gina has professional engineering skills along with interests in water, environmental protection and restoration, and farming.  She is also the Committee's representative on the Whaka Ōra Community Advisory Group, a community representative on Environment Canterbury Biosecurity Advisory Group and is a steering group member, newsletter editor and local coordinator for Predator Free Port Hills.  Gina grew up in Governors Bay.

George Howden

George is a third generation farmer in Port Levy.  George's farm has a number of waterways and significant areas of native bush.  George has also been a shepherd at large stations in Canterbury and the North Island.  He has been part of Banks Peninsula Wools, Banks Peninsula Agronomy Group, the Banks Peninsula Collie Club and helps organise dog trials at the Little River show.  George grew up Port Levy.

Ben Manson

Ben Manson farms his own property in Little River and farms in partnership on 2 other properties (Ōnuku and Ōnuku Heights).

He has lived in the area for the past 35 years and his parents and grandparents for most of their lives.

Ben has been involved in the local community with the activities of the Little River School and Co-Chair of the Little River Flood Working Group..

Trudi Bishop - Deputy Chair

Trudi is trained as a Climate Reality Leader under the Al Gore Climate Reality Training corp and has professional experience in marketing, education and behaviour change.

Trudi grew up in Ashburton, lives in Beckenham and spends a lot of her time recreating on Banks Peninsula.

Elisa Knight
Elisa has a range of experience in environmental management focusing on community and stakeholder engagement and assisting with change management to achieve improved environmental outcomes.
This includes experience in the UK supporting community flood response, and a regional compliance role at Environment Canterbury. 
She is based in Cashmere and has a property in Wainui, reflecting her passion for Banks Peninsula.
Andrea Davis
Andrea has an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, as well as completing a Masters of Landscape Architecture, with a focus on the Avonside Residential Red Zone. Andrea has been designing landscapes since 1985 and has lived in Christchurch for 32 years. Andrea also has connections to Kaikoura, Selwyn and Banks Peninsula zones, and is a keen river kayaker.
Erana Riddell - Youth Representative
Erana is a student at University of Canterbury and a member of the Environment Canterbury Youth Rōpū.
She is a youth representative on the Water Zone Committee, so she can be part of the conversation.
“I want to, through my experience, normalise open communication between youth and more knowledgeable people who are experts in certain levels of fields. By allowing me to get involved I can then take my knowledge base that I learn whilst taking part and address it to the wider communities that I am part of, diversifying opinions shared and explained."
Rūnanga representatives
Jaleesa Panirau -  Wairewa Rūnanga
Aurora Smith – Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke
Kia ora. My name is Aurora Smith.
I am very privileged to have spent my childhood at Rāpaki on the shores of Whakaraupõ - walking the land and experiencing a strong relationship with nature. Working in both Biodynamic and BioGro Certified gardens and orchards, tramping and kayaking, whilst living in the Nelson area, has further encouraged my respect and love of nature.
With a Diploma of Remedial Body Therapies from the Naturopathic College of New Zealand, I am aware that as humans, we are just one part of this amazing planet. Also, that our well-being and the well-being of the earth are inseparable. Maintaining the Mauri of the water is an absolutely vital element to maintaining the well-being of all.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri a muri ake nei.
For us and our children after us."
Vacant - Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata
Rik Tainui - Ōnuku Rūnanga

I am the Chairperson of the Onuku Runanaga and a Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu board member.  I am active in the community and currently  a trustee for 5 different organisations. I am passionate about the Peninsula and look forward to working with the other members of the BP zone committee.

Christchurch City Council appointment
Cr Tyrone Fields

 TBC

Environment Canterbury appointment
  • Cr Paul Dietsche

Meet your zone delivery team

We deliver work related to the zone committee's recommendations through an on-the-ground team made up of Environment Canterbury staff. See our video about managing water in Canterbury.

The Banks Peninsula water zone delivery team is:

  • Gillian Jenkins — Zone Delivery Lead
  • Will Todhunter — Land Management and Biodiversity Officer
  • Josh McDonald Davis — Maritime Monitoring Officer
  • Martin Rutledge — Land Management and Biodiversity Advisor 
  • Vacant — Resource Management Officer for Forestry
  • Vacant — Pou Mātai Kō

Talk to us

Johannes Welsch— Zone Manager     027 512 3158     johannes.welsch@ecan.govt.nz

Shelley Washington — Zone Facilitator     027 294 5219    shelley.washington@ecan.govt.nz

Murray Griffin — Zone Facilitator     027 705 4798     murray.griffin@ecan.govt.nz

Vacant — Tangata Whenua Facilitator

How are zone committee members selected?

Water zone committee members are appointed after councils advertise for expressions of interest from the community.

Applicants are assessed on skills, expertise and experience, as well as their ability to work together to develop water management solutions to economic, social, cultural and environmental issues.

Each water zone committee has between seven and 10 members, including:

  • An Environment Canterbury appointee
  • A local territorial authority councillor
  • A rūnanga appointee
  • Between four and six local members nominated from the community who come from a variety of backgrounds and interests.

Members serve for three years, meeting every few weeks to gather information from stakeholders and the community to ensure all interests are represented.

Zone committee key resources

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