The Waimakariri water zone lies north of the Waimakariri River and extends from Pegasus Bay in the east to the Puketeraki Range in the west. Both the Waimakariri and Ashley/Rakahuri rivers have high ecological, mahinga kai and recreational values. The vision for the zone is, “Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri, ā muri ake nei; for us and our children after us".
Wai We Care
Applications are open to join your local water zone committee. Hear from current members and apply now.
Proposed Plan Change 7
The period for submissions on Plan Change 7 to the LWRP is now closed.
Waimakariri Land and Water Solutions Programme
Learn about the Waimakariri Land & Water Solutions Programme, a collaborative project being led by the Committee to achieve the community’s goals for freshwater.
News and events
Check out your zone's latest stories, videos and newsletters via the news and events section of our website.
Meet your water zone representatives
Find out who your water zone committee members are and meet your on-the-ground zone delivery team.
A word from your water zone chair
Read columns by the chair of the Waimakariri water zone committee and view other updates.
Upcoming meetings and agendas
Find out when your zone's next meeting is and read the agenda.
Subscribe to your water zone mailing list
Are you interested in receiving the latest water zone committee news? Subscribe today.
Farmers' hub
Visit the Farmers' hub to find zone-specific farming information.
The natural environment
Discover the natural environment in the Waimakariri water zone.
Biodiversity funding
Find out how to apply for funding for biodiversity projects in your area.
View agendas and meeting papers
Use our Document Library to find water zone committee agendas and meeting papers.
What does the Waimakariri water zone committee do?
The committee works with an on-the-ground team made up of Environment Canterbury staff and other Canterbury Water Management Strategy partners to implement work programmes in the Waimakariri area. Sign up to our mailing list for updates.
What are we aiming to achieve by 2020?
We've agreed on several areas of priority and outcomes to budget for and act on in the Waimakariri water zone, which we will measure progress against to 2020. Use the drop-down menus below to see how we are getting on or download and read a summary here.
Instream ecosystem health
Instream ecosystem health, maihinga kai gathering and recreational use increases in the Silverstream and Cam catchments by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Mahinga kai gathering standards
Mahinga kai food gathering standards are part of all catchment monitoring programmes by December 2017
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Ashley/Rakahuri River work programme
A work programme for the Ashley/Rakahuri River is delivering improvements in overall braided river ecosystem health and recreational opportunities by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Good Management Practice
All farmers are operating at Good Management Practice, and more collective groups are managing within nutrient limits by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Solutions to land and water management issues
Urban and rural communities are implementing solutions to land and water management issues by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Drinking water supplies
Greater numbers of residents in the zone have access to drinking water supplies that meet the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Water storage solutions for river flows
A water storage solution is identified to provide for Ashley/Rakahuri River flows and reliability for surface water irrigation by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Biodiversity planning and management
Integrated stakeholder awareness and engagement in biodiversity planning and management in the district by 2020
Not Started | Started | Progress | Good Progress | Achieving
Zone Implementation Programmes
Zone Implementation Programmes or ZIPs were developed in the early stages of the zone committees' existence, following the adoption of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.
While we may have moved on in terms of our priorities in each zone, ZIPs remain the foundation of the work we do.
You can download the Waimakariri ZIP using the button at the bottom of the page and view submissions on the draft ZIP and a summary of feedback here.