Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
What’s your wai? Now is the time to join your local water zone committee and make a contribution towards the future of Canterbury’s precious water resources.
Nine of Canterbury’s water zone committees are looking for new community members, with applications closing on Monday 30 May.
We are looking for community members from across the region who are keen to work together to make positive changes to the waterways they deeply care about.
What does a water zone committee do?
Water zone committees collaborate on land and water management solutions to deliver on the Canterbury Water Management Strategy vision, principles and targets in their geographical zone.
Committees are made up of people with a wide range of interests in water, who have a strong connection to the zone.
They facilitate community engagement, provide advice to councils, and work with stakeholders to support and expand local water and biodiversity focused projects to make on-the-ground impacts in the zone.
If this sounds like something you could contribute to, we want you to apply.
Hear from current committee members
Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee member Trudi Bishop
Community members from across Canterbury are involved with freshwater and biodiversity outcomes affecting positive change in waterways they deeply care about.
Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee member, Trudi Bishop, joined the local committee so she could help make a positive impact on water management in her area.
“I wanted to give back to my community, helping in a small or large way to look after our precious water and environment.
“For me, water is life. Every aspect of our lives and environment is connected to it. We owe it to our tamariki, our mokopuna, and ourselves to look after this life force,” Bishop said.
One of the founding members of the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, Mat Bayliss, got involved with his local committee after seeing a public notice for a new collaborative approach to water management that piqued his interest.
“The role of the water zone committee has never been more important. Farming systems are, in my view, the most impacted by the need for change, and the committee is proud to have farming representatives at the table helping us hold these vital discussions around water,” Bayliss said.
Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee member Mat Bayliss
Community members are being sought in:
Hurunui Waiau and Regional Committees are not refreshing at this stage.
Tell us wai you care?
Hear from current members of each water zone committee, and apply to join by 30 May.
