The Upper Waitaki catchment is the most distinctive and largest of New Zealand’s high inland basins, almost completely derived from glacial activity with features ranging from alpine ice fields and lakes, to braided river plains. The region has many lakes including the glacial-fed lakes of Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau and Alexandrina that lie behind moraines and the artificial hydro lakes of Ruataniwha, Benmore and Aviemore.

Love Our Lakes

If you’re planning a trip to the Upper Waitaki lakes, pack your own picnic to reduce food and drink rubbish when visiting your favourite lakeside spot.

Wai We Care

Applications are open to join your local water zone committee. Hear from current members and apply now.

Action on the ground

We deliver work related to the zone committee's recommendations through an on-the-ground team made up of Environment Canterbury staff.

Meet your water zone committee

Meet your water zone committee members.

Local planning

Zone committee recommendations for environmental limits are given effect to through the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.

News and events

Check out your zone's latest stories, videos and newsletters via the news and events section of our website.

Farmers' hub

Visit the Farmers' hub to find zone-specific farming information.

Subscribe to your water zone mailing list

Are you interested in receiving the latest water zone committee news? Subscribe today.

Integrated monitoring framework (IMF)

The IMF draws on several existing groundwater and surface water monitoring programmes for the Waitaki catchment.

Your natural environment

Discover the natural environment in the Upper Waitaki water zone.

View agendas and meeting papers

Use our document library to find water zone committee agendas and meeting papers.

Key documents

The Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) and addendum contain the Upper Waitaki water zone committee’s recommendations. The annual report summarises the committee’s activities and achievements. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy is a framework for water management in Canterbury containing targets and goals. It also sets out the zone committee’s structure. You can download these documents using the following links: