Upper Waitaki 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 Upper Waitaki 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.
Hosting hāngī for stakeholders and local schools.

Hosting a hāngī for stakeholders and local schools

Supporting and enhancing our Love Our Lakes Campaign

Supporting and enhancing our Love Our Lakes Campaign

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.

We will commit to the enhancement of Nohoanga, improved health of key waterways for customary use and enhancement of mahinga kai opportunities by:

  • Gaining insight into cultural values and areas of significance relating to mahinga kai.
  • Engaging with schools and youth to illustrate the importance of mahinga kai and the local history.
  • Increasing engagement with Ngāi Tahu regarding enhancement of Nohoanga sites.
  • Recommending biodiversity funding with a priority focus on mahinga kai sites.
  • Improving understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Hosting hāngī for stakeholders and local schools.

We will commit to the improved management and preservation of recreational values of the Waitaki Lakes by:

  • Supporting and enhancing our Love Our Lakes Campaign.
  • Engaging with agencies, catchment groups and stakeholders to enhance and protect recreational areas such as the Twizel River and Lake Ruataniwha.
  • Educating the community about how to protect our environment through actions such as responsible toilet use.

We will support catchment groups taking collective action to reduce losses of contaminants, prioritised where they are addressing identified at-risk areas by:

  • Exploring opportunities to partner with key community groups who are focused on waterways, such as the Ahuriri Catchment Community Group.
  • Supporting establishment of new catchment groups and building on what is already on the ground in the community.
  • Requesting bi-annual reports from Environment Canterbury on Farm Environment Plan audit results and consenting follow-up and sharing this information with relevant catchments.
  • Requesting briefings from Environment Canterbury on the state of our water resources and results from monitoring and sharing with relevant catchments.

We will communicate and engage with our communities by:

  • Investigating additional channels for sharing the zone committee story within local townships around the Upper Waitaki zone.
  • Increasing engagement with local community boards, such as Tekapo Community Board, and discussing opportunities for collaboration.
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with industry, rūnanga, councils, and catchment groups to be an intermediary for when community members need advice.
  • Sharing and celebrating successes.

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.

Waitaki District Council priorities

  • Safe drinking water free of contaminants for humans and animals.
  • Rivers and wetlands have healthy ecological flows and high water quality.
  • Rural and urban communities are fully engaged and have ownership of water management processes.
  • Native and indigenous wildlife associated with waterways have adequate habitats.
  • The objectives of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark are supported and strengthened through the above.
  • The objectives of the Mackenzie Basin Alignment Programme are supported and strengthened through the above.

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 in the zone
  • protection and enhancement of named wetlands.

Recreation and amenity targets

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

Mackenzie District Council priorities

  • Managing impacts of recreational use on lakes and rivers
  • Enabling biodiversity enhancement
  • Understanding cultural values – rehabilitation of nohoanga and mahinga kai.