Environment Canterbury

Christchurch West/Ōpuna Constituency
Environment Canterbury is the regional council for Canterbury. It makes decisions about managing resources in the region, such as air, water, soil and the coastline. It also carries out plant and pest control, helps prepare for natural disasters, and is involved in regional transport. The council is made up of up to 16 councillors. 14 councillors are elected to represent constituencies (areas in the region), including two councillors from the Christchurch West/Ōpuna constituency. Up to two councillors can be appointed by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Environment Canterbury election.

Freshwater

The worsening state of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers is a major challenge for regional councils, which play a leading role in managing freshwater in their areas. To this end, regional councils create plans to protect water resources from contaminants and overuse.

Freshwater

The worsening state of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers is a major challenge for regional councils, which play a leading role in managing freshwater in their areas. To this end, regional councils create plans to protect water resources from contaminants and overuse.

  • Review the Land and Water Plan to set higher water quality and quantity limits for all catchments and promote appropriate land use change.

    Review and improve river rating and flood protection schemes to ensure a ki uta ki tai/whole of river approach to river management.

    Implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater to incorporate Te Mana o Te Wai and improved monitoring that includes both fish and cultural assessments.

  • Educate, educate, educate, with ads and community events how to minimise pollutants from reaching a stream. Know your storm water path.

    Use rainwater for gardens and lawns and toilets. New builds have rain water tanks and even rain gardens to filter their storm water.

    Farmers need education about organic practices and soil health. Support farmers who move away from fertilisers.

  • Aim for all 64 rivers in the Canterbury Regional Council area to be swimmable by 2040.

    Implement policy that takes the long game approach to protecting our drinking water aquifer system from unhealthy nitrate intrusion.

  • Explore creative farming alternatives to high-water use farming in areas where water draw-off has big environmental impacts.

    Intensify rectification of local rivers and lakes under threat, and roll-out successful mitigation programmes to secondary waterways

    Commit to achieving NZ-wide alternative farming or productive land uses over time that have less of a damaging footprint on land and water.

  • Review the Land and Water Plan to set higher water quality and quantity limits for all catchments and promote appropriate land use change.

    Review and improve river rating and flood protection schemes to ensure a ki uta ki tai/whole of river approach to river management.

    Implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater to incorporate Te Mana o Te Wai and improved monitoring that includes both fish and cultural assessments.

  • Educate, educate, educate, with ads and community events how to minimise pollutants from reaching a stream. Know your storm water path.

    Use rainwater for gardens and lawns and toilets. New builds have rain water tanks and even rain gardens to filter their storm water.

    Farmers need education about organic practices and soil health. Support farmers who move away from fertilisers.

  • Aim for all 64 rivers in the Canterbury Regional Council area to be swimmable by 2040.

    Implement policy that takes the long game approach to protecting our drinking water aquifer system from unhealthy nitrate intrusion.

  • Explore creative farming alternatives to high-water use farming in areas where water draw-off has big environmental impacts.

    Intensify rectification of local rivers and lakes under threat, and roll-out successful mitigation programmes to secondary waterways

    Commit to achieving NZ-wide alternative farming or productive land uses over time that have less of a damaging footprint on land and water.