Latest news with #CanterburyRegionalCouncil
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Canterbury's Regional Council Moving Forward In The Face Of Change
Press Release – Canterbury Regional Council Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Craig Pauling said the proposed changes to freshwater, primary sector and infrastructure national direction were just the latest example of government reforms impacting the region. The Chair of Canterbury's regional council says the Council is taking every opportunity to advocate for the region, amidst significant reforms and changes being made by central government. Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Craig Pauling said the proposed changes to freshwater, primary sector and infrastructure national direction were just the latest example of government reforms impacting the region. 'The changes being made by central government will impact on the way local and regional governments operate, and how natural resources are managed under the RMA (Resource Management Act 1991). As Councillors, we want to ensure Canterbury can enjoy the opportunities – and avoid the pitfalls – that these changes may present.' Chair Pauling said while clear national standards support greater regulatory certainty, consistency and improved compliance, there are unique issues in Waitaha Canterbury that justify a more sophisticated, locally informed and evidenced approach. 'Waitaha is unlike any other region in Aotearoa. We have about 70 per cent of the country's groundwater, braided rivers, coastal environments, and highly productive farmland. We also have a unique partnership with Ngāi Tahu as mana whenua. 'We want to make sure that any decisions made by central government value existing land uses, such as food production, and enable new opportunities and resource uses, while safeguarding the region's environmental and cultural health for future generations.' Chair Pauling also referenced Council's recent strategic work. 'We have a set of shared positions that we agree on as a Council, that cover a range of issues impacting the region. The Council's positions relate to managing environmental effects, managing natural resource use, economic prosperity, structure of local, regional and central government, and Treaty Partnership.' 'Our Council is clear about what outcomes we want to achieve for the region. Alongside Te Uru Kahika and our partners, with a view across Te Waipounamu, we welcome the opportunity to inform central government decisions and, together, make these outcomes a reality,' he said. Canterbury Regional Council Deputy Chair Dr Deon Swiggs outlined how the national direction package is one example of Government's work programme that puts increased pressure on regional government and ratepayers. 'Resource management system reforms, Local Government Act amendment, changes to legislation around Te Tiriti partnership and transport funding decisions — these are all changes coming our way from central government. Whether you think they're good or bad, these reforms all impact on elected members' ability to make decisions for our community. 'The current structure and funding of local government across Aotearoa New Zealand is unsustainable and we all agree that change is needed. We look forward to having some crunchy conversations over the coming months, within the Council and with others in the region, to develop a collective vision of what might work best for Waitaha Canterbury,' he said. Deputy Swiggs reaffirmed that the council was united in its position and agreed that change was needed. 'We need greater regulatory clarity and certainty, as well as better alignment between central, regional, and local government. We are taking a strategic approach so that we can be clear, to government and our communities, about what we need and want for Waitaha Canterbury. 'We need to strike an approach that values our community and environment's needs, that allows us to adapt and explore exciting opportunities for the region such as tourism, aerospace, renewable energy, and other emerging innovations,' he said. Chair Pauling and Deputy Swiggs reinforced Canterbury Regional Council's commitment to proactively work with its partners to improve economic and environmental outcomes for the region.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Canterbury's Regional Council Moving Forward In The Face Of Change
The Chair of Canterbury's regional council says the Council is taking every opportunity to advocate for the region, amidst significant reforms and changes being made by central government. Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) Chair Craig Pauling said the proposed changes to freshwater, primary sector and infrastructure national direction were just the latest example of government reforms impacting the region. 'The changes being made by central government will impact on the way local and regional governments operate, and how natural resources are managed under the RMA (Resource Management Act 1991). As Councillors, we want to ensure Canterbury can enjoy the opportunities – and avoid the pitfalls – that these changes may present.' Chair Pauling said while clear national standards support greater regulatory certainty, consistency and improved compliance, there are unique issues in Waitaha Canterbury that justify a more sophisticated, locally informed and evidenced approach. 'Waitaha is unlike any other region in Aotearoa. We have about 70 per cent of the country's groundwater, braided rivers, coastal environments, and highly productive farmland. We also have a unique partnership with Ngāi Tahu as mana whenua. 'We want to make sure that any decisions made by central government value existing land uses, such as food production, and enable new opportunities and resource uses, while safeguarding the region's environmental and cultural health for future generations.' Chair Pauling also referenced Council's recent strategic work. 'We have a set of shared positions that we agree on as a Council, that cover a range of issues impacting the region. The Council's positions relate to managing environmental effects, managing natural resource use, economic prosperity, structure of local, regional and central government, and Treaty Partnership.' 'Our Council is clear about what outcomes we want to achieve for the region. Alongside Te Uru Kahika and our partners, with a view across Te Waipounamu, we welcome the opportunity to inform central government decisions and, together, make these outcomes a reality,' he said. Canterbury Regional Council Deputy Chair Dr Deon Swiggs outlined how the national direction package is one example of Government's work programme that puts increased pressure on regional government and ratepayers. 'Resource management system reforms, Local Government Act amendment, changes to legislation around Te Tiriti partnership and transport funding decisions — these are all changes coming our way from central government. Whether you think they're good or bad, these reforms all impact on elected members' ability to make decisions for our community. 'The current structure and funding of local government across Aotearoa New Zealand is unsustainable and we all agree that change is needed. We look forward to having some crunchy conversations over the coming months, within the Council and with others in the region, to develop a collective vision of what might work best for Waitaha Canterbury,' he said. Deputy Swiggs reaffirmed that the council was united in its position and agreed that change was needed. 'We need greater regulatory clarity and certainty, as well as better alignment between central, regional, and local government. We are taking a strategic approach so that we can be clear, to government and our communities, about what we need and want for Waitaha Canterbury. 'We need to strike an approach that values our community and environment's needs, that allows us to adapt and explore exciting opportunities for the region such as tourism, aerospace, renewable energy, and other emerging innovations,' he said. Chair Pauling and Deputy Swiggs reinforced Canterbury Regional Council's commitment to proactively work with its partners to improve economic and environmental outcomes for the region. Environment Canterbury Councillors endorsed a range of public positions relating to central government reform and issues impacting the region at the May 2025 Council meeting.
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Canterbury Regional Council defends its management of Lake Ellesmere during storm
Lake Ellesmere during heavy rain in Canterbury. Photo: Jan Daffin / Supplied The Canterbury Regional Council says there was an agreement to open Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere to the sea last Tuesday but sea conditions prevented it from happening before the rain storm hit. Environment Canterbury is being criticised for its management of Lake Ellesmere, with people in Selwyn telling RNZ they are frustrated the lake was not opened to the sea earlier. Taumutu farmer Tim Sanson said there had been good warning that a fairly serious weather system was on the way. He was expecting around 80 millimetres of rain but received more than 150mm on Thursday, which was "a fairly significant chunk of rain in a short period of time". "That is a lot more than what we were expecting from the forecast, that happens occasionally, but to get more than sort of two inches in one hit here, particularly where I live on the coast, is pretty unusual," he said. Sanson said the decision-making around opening Lake Ellesmere was a long-running "bugbear" for many locals. "It's a bit like having a bucket that's full of water, you keep putting water in it, it's going to start running out. Well, if you put a hole in it somewhere, it'll drain away, and potentially we should be doing that with the lake with a bit more management," he said. It was not an easy job to open the lake, which required heavy machinery and hard work, he said. "It did seem crazy to me watching the bulldozers head down there at high tide. I think it was yesterday morning or the morning before, to start preparing for opening with the southerly roaring in," he said. Doyleston's Tom Dowie, whose home was flooded overnight, said he thought the lake should have been opened sooner. He woke at 4am on Friday to find six inches of water through his home after a nearby creek overflowed. His house had since been yellow stickered. "If the council had opened the lake last weekend when it was nice and sunny, then there would have been far less room for the water to move to the lake and travel on its way out to the sea," he said. Lake Ellesmere during heavy rain. Photo: Jan Daffin / Supplied Pip Adams, who lived near Tai Tapu, also questioned why officials did not act earlier to open the lake before the heavy rain caused widespread flooding. She said she struggled in vain to get officials to open Lake Ellesmere to help the rising floodwaters drain away on Thursday evening. She rang the Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Regional Council after she got home to find water lapping on neighbours' doors. The regional council told her it was after hours, to call again in the morning and that the lake's opening was out of staff hands. Adams said her property was a disaster zone, her paddocks full of water, with a repair bill estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars. The council used diggers to create a channel between the lake and sea at certain times, governed by a 1990 water conservation order and resource consents held jointly with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Lake Ellesmere at Birdlings Flat. Photo: Jan Daffin / Supplied ECan general manger of hazards Leigh Griffiths said consultation for a lake opening began on Monday and by Tuesday afternoon, a joint decision had been made to open the lake. "We can only open the lake once a joint decision has been made, and the lake height reaches a minimum of 1.13m (from 1 April to 15 June). The lake conditions were not met until Tuesday 30 April," she said. Griffiths said earthworks had begun to open the lake but in current sea conditions it would not be successful because the cut would fill in and it was unsafe for people to operate machinery in the surf zone. "We are watching conditions closely and the lake will be opened to the sea as soon as weather and sea conditions allow. This is likely several days away at the earliest," she said. RNZ also approached Ngāi Tahu for comment. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell said he was confident officials had made the right call not to open Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere to the sea earlier. Mitchell met Environment Canterbury staff and mana whenua on Friday about the lake. "It is very apparent there is a lot of work and focus on how they manage Lake Ellesmere and the fact that there was a request to put in to widen that access," he said. "All the information that they had in relation to that was what informed their decisions and they're all united in the fact that they've done the right thing and they've made the right decisions and they've done what they could." Mitchell said he had full confidence in that decision but he was prepared to hear more about the community's concerns over the the lake's management. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Greater Christchurch Metro Fares To Come Into Effect In July
Greater Christchurch public transport fares will increase in July this year, following a decision made by Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) today. Environment Canterbury Chair Craig Pauling said today's decision was about the timing for when new fares would come into effect, after the decision to increase fares was made by Council last year. 'In December, we announced that we needed to increase how much it costs to use the bus and ferry. Today's decision was about the timing on when the new fare prices will come into effect.' 'We had originally planned to do this in line with when the national ticketing solution (Motu Move) gets rolled out in Canterbury. However, a delay to the roll-out means we've had to make a decision about when to start the new fares.' Chair Pauling acknowledged the impact that the fare increase will have on individuals and families who use public transport frequently. 'We know that any change to the household budget will have an impact, however after spending many hours going over the numbers, we're pleased that we can provide reliable and accessible public transport for a maximum Metrocard adult fare of $3.' Councillor Joe Davies said public transport was an important service provided by Environment Canterbury. 'We're proud to be responsible for public transport in Canterbury and are committed to future-proofing our network. We are working towards being able to provide a world-class service for the community.' Cash fares will remain the same for now, however from July 2025, Greater Christchurch Metrocard bus fares will be: Fares for the Diamond Harbour Ferry will increase to $5 for an adult, with concession levels applied as per bus fares. The full suite of changes to fares will be published on in June.
