The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Implementation Programme for water management was formally received by Environment Canterbury at its council meeting on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Members of the zone committee presented the Zone Implementation Programme to the Environment Canterbury Commissioners at the meeting.

Their overview included how the zone committee had taken a ‘whole of waterways’ approach, similar to the Maori concept of ‘mountains to the sea’ (Ki Uta Ki Tai).

This concept led to the zone committee taking a catchment-wide view of land use and water quality, nutrient management, potential water storage options, and farm management systems to achieve the outcomes the community wanted.

Environment Canterbury Commissioners voted unanimously to “endorse the Selwyn-Waihora Zone Implementation Programme as the basis for the design and realignment of work programmes, for drafting regional plan provisions and for preparation of a draft Long Term Plan”. Selwyn District Council received and endorsed the programme in early 2012.

Development of the Zone Implementation Programme included formal committee meetings, field trips as well a number of public workshops and community meetings to receive and review information, and discuss priorities for fresh water management in the zone.

People were asked to provide written feedback on the draft ZIP and 29 responses were received. In general the feedback was positive with many recommendations around points of clarity, accuracy or emphasis.

The feedback included requests that the committee set timelines and include other parties alongside Environment Canterbury to ensure the delivery of recommendations.

Funding of the Zone Implementation Programme recommendations was also a common theme with suggestions Environment Canterbury work with other agencies to achieve leverage.

The Selwyn-Waihora Zone Implementation Programme includes 82 recommendations.

Environment Canterbury is leading or involved in 64 with 18 recommendations for other organisations. Fifteen of the recommendations relate to nutrient management and will lead into the development in 2012 of a Selwyn-Waihora sub-regional chapter of the Land and Water Regional Plan (supported by Environment Canterbury officers).

Environment Canterbury, Ngai Tahu, and Te Waihora Management Board have also signed an interim co-governance agreement which establishes a framework for the active management of Te Waihora and its catchment.

Download the ZIP (2.4 MB)

Read the Selwyn Waihora ZIP acknowledgment letter (60 kB)

Read the written feedback on the ZIP