Agenda of Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.2 Interests Register

File Reference: n/a

Author: Tami Woods, Zone Facilitator

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Staff Recommendations

That the information be noted and updated when required.

Declaration of Interests Register – as at 10 June 2020

Keeping a Zone Committee Members’ declarations of interest register allows Zone Committees to identify and manage a conflict of interest when it arises.

The Office of the Auditor General notes a conflict of interest can arise when: “A member’s or official’s duties or responsibilities to a public entity could be affected by some other interest or duty that the member or official may have.”^{^[1]}

If a member is in any doubt as to whether or not they have a conflict of interest, then the Member should seek guidance from Catherine Schache (General Counsel, Environment Canterbury), the Zone Facilitator and/or refer to the following guidance: https://www.oag.govt.nz/2010/lamia

Types of Interest to be documented in the register:

· Employment, trade or profession carried on by the Member or the Member’s spouse for profit or gain

· Company, trust, partnership etc for which the Member or their spouse is a director, partner or trustee, or a shareholder of more than 10% shares

· Address of any land in which the Member has a beneficial interest and which is in the area of the Zone Committee

· The address of any land where the landlord is Environment Canterbury or [Name of TLA/s] and:

o The Member or their spouse is a tenant;

the land is tenanted by a firm in which the Member or spouse is a partner, a company of which the Member or spouse is a director, or a Trust of which the Member or spouse is a Trustee.

· Any other matters which the public might reasonably regard as likely to influence the Member’s actions during the course of their duties as a Member.

· Any contracts held between the Member or the Member’s spouse and Environment Canterbury or [name of TLA/s]. Including contracts in which the Member or their spouse is a partner, a company of which the spouse is a director and/or holds more than 10% in shares, or a Trust of which the Member or their spouse is a trustee (noting that no committee member should be a party to a contract with Environment Canterbury or the relevant TLA if that value is more than $25,000 per annum)

Zone Committee members are to ensure that the information contained in this register is accurate and complete.

Name	Committee Member Interests
Lisa Anderson	Farmer and irrigator in Lake Benmore Ahuriri Arm catchment. Resource consents CRC201984, CRC136698, CRC156110, CRC012017.
Stuart Barwood	Mackenzie District Council Councillor, Chairman Assets and Services committee MDC, trustee of Helwood Trust.
Mat Bayliss	Chairs the Meridian Energy Waitaki Community Fund. Asset Maintenance Manager for Meridian Energy in Twizel. Shareholder of Meridian Energy. Consents held CRC142283
Simon Cameron	Local Merino sheep farmer. Trustee of Ben Ohau Farming Trust. Trustee Cameron Investment Trust. Trustee of Mackenzie Wilding Trees Trust. Trustee Aoraki Mount Cook Museum Trust. Resource consents CRC952244, CRC952245, CRC952267, CRC952268, CRC952269, CRC100234,
Ross McRobie	Shareholding Director of RPM Management Limited, Chair of Otago Community Trust, Trustee Bayliss Family Trust. Councillor Ahuriri Ward for Waitaki District Council.
Joy Paterson	Member of Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board, Trustee of LineTrust South Canterbury. Husband is a Mackenzie District Councillor.
Richard Subtil	Farmer and irrigator in Omarama catchment. Member of Omarama Stream Water Users Group. Committee member of Omarama Airfield. Resource consents CRC010693.1, CRC010694, CRC010727.2, CRC110202, CRC122382, CRC174573, CRC194088, CRC194520, CRC203348.
John Sunckell	Environment Canterbury Councillor, Register of interest held by Environment Canterbury
Keiran Whyte	Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, Employee of Tuna Trap and Transfer Team.
John Wilkie	Te Rūnanga o Waihao. Representative on the Waitaki Native Fish Committee.
Michael McMillan	Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.3 Action List

File Reference: n/a

Author: Tami Woods, Zone Facilitator

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Staff Recommendations

That the report be received.

Background

This report is from Tami Woods, Zone Facilitator, Environment Canterbury.

The purpose of this report is to update the committee on progress on items identified at previous zone committee meetings in 2019 and 2020.

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee – June 2020 Action list (updated from February 2020)

Date of meeting	Action	Who	Status
21 February 2019	Elected representatives on the committee to come back with a response on how their council intends to respond to the report on Tourism from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.	Zone Committee Council representatives	To be actioned
21 February 2019	Concern was expressed about a lack of representation on the committee from the north of the basin. To follow-up with the community board and other contacts to see if there were people that could help bring issues from the north to the committee table.	Tami Woods	To be actioned
21 February 2019	That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee writes to Mackenzie District Council in support of the need to join the Lake Ruataniwha campground to the main sewerage system	Tami Woods	Work in progress
21 February 2019	Signage linking poor quality water to human activity is installed at Lake Ruataniwha	Tami Woods/Kate Doran	Refer item 1
21 February 2019	The Committee agreed that once a year they needed to meet in Otematata and Lake Tekapo.	Tami Woods/Arlene Goss	To be actioned
21 February	Joint meeting of the Upper and Lower Waitaki Zone Committees to be investigated in Otematata in April.	Tami Woods	To be actioned
21 February 2019	That the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee registers its disappointment that after five months nothing has been received from the parties involved in Destination Mackenzie.	Tami Woods	Zone Committee to communicate as part of item 3.
20 September 2019	Staff update the Committee on progress with Destination Mackenzie within one week.	Tami Woods	No answer received
20 September 2019	ECan to follow up the September Clay Cliffs report with communication around the impact of erosion on the Clay Cliffs	Tami Woods & Kate Doran	Completed
20 September 2019	Committee recommends that DOC commission a survey report around lake Middleton and then return to the Committee for a discussion around next steps	Jeremey Severinsen	Jeremy Severinsen had advised that he would pay for a survey and had been in touch with Alastair Ensor who represents the landowner. He recommended that the zone committee contact Alastair to follow-up.
20 September 2019	The Committee recommends that Jeremy Severinsen draft a formal report on DOC timing and plans around the Drylands Heritage Area with how it aligns with the Mackenzie Trust and the MDC District Plan for November.	Jeremey Severinsen	Zone Committee to communicate as part of item 3.
16 August 2019	A technical group of Environment Canterbury staff and consultants to further discuss the options to address inequity between consent holders with TLI trigger levels of 2.75 and 2.9 and then further discuss options with consent holders.	Zella/Bianca and Irricon	Held 19 September
16 August 2019	A catchment group for Ahuriri Arm to be formed as soon as possible and determine what further science is needed to establish where the nutrients are coming from. Graeme Clarke’s report to be discussed with the catchment group.	Marty Mortiaux	Completed
16 August 2019	Environment Canterbury to then identify where nutrients are originating from within the catchment area and report back to the catchment group.	Marty Mortiaux	Completed
16 August 2019	Make Available Environment Defence Society presentations on Mackenzie available to the Committee.	Tami Woods	E-mailed 10 September
16 August 2019	Explore options of replacement for Committee member Sandra Hampstead-Tipene, in regard to Arrowhenua rūnanga	Brad Waldon-Gibbons	Completed
16 August 2019	Regional Committee dates be included in Committee calendars and be a standing item on the agenda confirming who could attend	Tami Woods	To be confirmed as part of item 1 to this meeting
19 July 2019	Chair to write to Regional Committee asking for some Committee meetings to be held in Timaru.	Committee Chair	Completed
17 May 2019	Clay Cliffs – analyse (for P) a sample of the sediment being eroded from below Clay Cliffs.	Graeme Clarke	Item 2 on September 2019 Agenda
17 May 2019	Changes to Ahuriri delta – find out whether there is new LIDAR or other data that provides new information on build-up of the delta and sedimentation of the lake. If new data available, then advise committee and indicate whether this can be analysed and brought to the committee.	Graeme Clarke	Work in progress
17 May 2019	Refresh the committee’s “Posters” at the five locations across the zone	Kate Doran	Spring and Summer Posters prepared
15 February 2019	Kellands Pond/Wairepo Arm – will a hydraulic study be done on how these two waterbodies connect be done? Previously agreed that a study was needed.	Chris to follow up with ECan Science	Work in progress
15 February 2019	Develop a visual one-page summary to report progress against the Zone Delivery Work Programme	Chris Eccleston	Work in progress

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.4 Encouraging Responsible Toilet Use at Ruataniwha

Author: Kate Doran, Senior Communications and Engagement Advisor

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Staff Recommendations

That the committee recommend the development of a communications campaign to raise awareness of responsible toilet use at Lake Ruataniwha to be developed and created in collaboration with key stakeholders ahead of summer 2020/21.

PURPOSE OF REPORT

This report is from Kate Doran, Senior Communications ＆ Engagement Advisor, Environment Canterbury.

This report outlines the outcomes from the on-line workshop on 15 May with the Committee and next steps.

Workshop and next steps for communications for Summer 20/21

On Friday 15 May, members of the Zone Committee took part in a short online workshop to consider and discuss the proposed next steps for raising public awareness of responsible toilet use at Lake Ruataniwha in summer 2020/21.

This workshop followed up on a request from the Zone Committee in February for signage to be created after high levels of faecal bacteria resulted in the Lake Ruataniwha campsite beach area being shut down for more than a week during the January 2020 peak holiday period. The committee asked for the signage to highlight that holiday makers should be aware of their responsibility to protect (and not degrade) the quality of the water they are using for recreation.

Environment Canterbury communications, who support the committee, suggested widening the scope of the committee’s request for signage to include other channels of communication and utilise the existing Love Our Lakes branding.

Discussion:

The committee agreed on the approach to utilise the existing Love Our Lakes brand and collaborate with other key groups to raise awareness on responsible toilet use at and near Lake Ruataniwha this summer.

Targeted communication methods should be used to address key barriers to using toilets (eg. not knowing location of toilets/not understanding implications of E. coli entering swimming area).

Next steps agreed:

Mid July	Site visit and meeting with key stakeholders to plan campaign overview (invite to include local rūnanga, Mackenzie District Council, Department of Conservation, Youth rōpū, Lake Ruataniwha Camping Ground, Mackenzie Tourism, Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, Ruataniwha Rowing Club, Zone Committee Members.
August	Continue to develop campaign. Create collateral (including regular community posters and Love Our Lakes material for summer) and organise dates for any events.
September	Present campaign to stakeholders and zone committee.
October 2020 – April 2021	RUN CAMPAIGN
Peak summer	Measurement –survey of visitors on awareness of toilet locations.
Autumn	Review and debrief

Members of the Committee who volunteered to assist with next steps:

Input into collateral	Mid July site visit and meeting
Mat Bayliss	Mat Bayliss
Joy Paterson	Joy Paterson
Richard Subtil	Keiran Whyte
Keiran Whyte

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.5 Ahuriri Catchment Update

Author: Tami Woods, Richard Subtil and Lisa Anderson

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

This report is from Tami Woods, Richard Subtil and Lisa Anderson.

This report provides:

1. Information on the Lake Trophic Level Limit (TLI) result for 2019/20 and implications for consent holders.

2. An update on actions that occurred in 2019 and early 2020 and the on-going risks that remain about the TLI in the Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore being exceeded in future years.

Staff Recommendations

That the Committee

1. Notes:

a. The 2019/2020 Lake Benmore Ahuriri Arm TLI is 2.75.

b. That a TLI at 2.75 or under does not trigger any additional actions on top of a farmer’s usual consent requirements.

c. The actions that occurred in 2019 and early 2020 in response to last year’s TLI of 2.9.

2. Considers how it would like to address the on-going issues.

Context

Lake Benmore is highly valued by all. Environment Canterbury measures the lakes state using a Trophic Lake Index (TLI).

TLI is not used as an indicator of safety for swimming; Land and Water Aotearoa reports that the sites monitored in Lake Benmore are generally suitable for swimming, based on three years of summer-time monitoring.

The TLI, or the Trophic Level Index, is an index used across the country as a measure of the nutrient status of a particular lake. A higher TLI results from higher nutrient concentrations and higher algal biomass (phytoplankton). Lakes with high TLIs generally have greener and more turbid (cloudy) water columns.

The low TLI limit of 2.9 for the Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore recognises the lakes good water quality.

The TLI limit for Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore was set to achieve the community outcomes agreed by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, which included maintaining its good water quality and providing for a diverse ecosystem of plant and animal life, recreational opportunities and customary use.

If the TLI limit is exceeded there is an increased risk that water clarity will deteriorate, lake colour will change from blue to green, and there will be algal blooms.

2019/2020 Lake Benmore Ahuriri Arm TLI

The TLI for Ahuriri Arm of Lake Benmore for the 2019/20 monitoring season is 2.75. This is below the catchment limit of 2.9.

Sampling was unable to be taken in April 2020, due to COVID-19 Alert levels. An extension to the timeframe for collecting the last sample was made by Environment Canterbury. The final sample was collected in May. The table below shows the TLI results from 5 samples taken from December to May.

	Chla -average	TN- average	TP-average	TLc	TLn	TLp	TLI	GRADE
2019/2020 season incl. May	2.480	92.600	7.200	3.222	2.309	2.721	2.751	OLIGO

Background

In 2019, The Trophic Level Index (TLI) calculations for the Upper Waitaki Lakes had reached 2.9 which was the lakes TLI limit in the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).

Although the lake limit was not exceeded, 1/3^rd of the farms in the catchment with water permits (granted prior to the TLI 2.9 limit being included in the LWRP) with an early warning TLI trigger level of 2.75, were required to reduce their nutrient discharge allowances (NDA’s) and operate within the new allowances.

A further 1/3^rd of consent holders consent holders, with farming land use consents, had no actions required. If the TLI had however exceeded 2.9 they would have needed to prepare a remedial action plan.

The last 1/3^rd of farms in the catchment, that are either dryland or with small areas of irrigation and winter grazing, were not required to carry out any actions linked to the lakes TLI.

This year’s TLI at 2.75 does not trigger any additional actions on top of a farmer’s usual consent requirements.

Actions in 2019 and early 2020

As a result of the TLI reaching 2.9 last year, the following actions occurred in response to the Zone Committee’s recommendations:

· Environment Canterbury prepared the ‘Cause Report’ on behalf of consent holders. Consent holder were charged a small fee for the time preparing.

· Meetings were held with consent holders and their consultants with the 2.75 TLI trigger levels to clarity the reductions to the NDA’s required and alternative pathway of demonstrating they were not contributing to the TLI.

· Consent holders with the 2.75 TLI trigger levels, all made the reductions to their NDA’s and choose not to take an alternative pathway.

· A technical group of Environment Canterbury staff and consultants formed to further discuss options to address the inequity between consent holders and a discussion was then held with consent holders.

· All farms that required farming land use consents were followed up to ensure they applied for their farming land use consents.

· All farms with Environment Canterbury consents were visited to ensure they were operating in accordance with their consent conditions.

· All farms with irrigation were visited by an Environment Canterbury Land Management advisor to check their irrigation management.

· To support collective action, all farms in the catchment (and industry bodies) were invited in December to a catchment meeting. The meeting was independently facilitated and addressed what was influencing the TLI, including where nutrients were coming from, the importance of all farms operating at good management practice (gmp) and what gmp covered.

At the end of the catchment meeting there was good support for the formation of a catchment group.

A facilitator/coordinator was identified, and a committee was established to progress the Ahuriri Catchment Collective (ACC). The focus of the Collective is on education, upskilling and relationship building. In February topic ideas were identified for the next six months. The first field event was held in March. This focused on irrigation management in conjunction with Environment Canterbury Land Management staff. Progress has been subsequently delayed due to COVID-19.

On-going issues

There are three key issues that Richard and Lisa will lead a discussion on, at the meeting, which are considered barriers to achieving the outcomes sought for Ahuriri Arm of lake Benmore in the Zone Committee’s Zone Implementation Addendum (ZIPA).

1. Inequities across farms, including:

· Inequities around TLI limits on consents and the actions required when limits are exceeded;

· Inequities also exist as a result of consents not being lodged or lodged, but not granted.

2. Everyone operating at gmp or better to minimise the risk of the TLI limit being exceeded. Everyone operating at gmp was a key assumption to ensuring the TLI did not exceed 2.9.

· Gmp implementation is checked for consented farms with Farm Environment Plan’s (FEP’s) that need to be Audited. However, 1/3^rd of farms are also required to implement management plans, that are not monitored/audited.

· Farms with the highest concentrations of nitrogen are not required to go beyond gmp.

3. The effectiveness of the planning regime.

· Concern that the outcomes sought for the Lake (in the Committee’s ZIPA) may not be achieved as the assumptions about what would be in place compared with the final planning regime, intensification occurring, and climate predications now differ.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.1 Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme Update

Author: Annabelle Dunn, Programme Manager

Authoriser:

Attachments: 1. Geographical Scope of the Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme ⇩

2. Appendix 2: Summary of Progress Made ⇩

Purpose of Report

This report is from Annabelle Dunn, Programme Manager – Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment

The purpose of the report is to:

1. Follow up on the last update in August 2019 and provide the Zone Committee (Committee) with an update on the Mackenzie Basin Alignment Programme (Alignment Programme) and support discussion between the Alignment Programme Steering Committee and Committee members.

2. Seek Feedback from the Committee on the Alignment Programme’s focus areas for 2020 and how the Committee would like to be engaged in these focus areas.

Staff Recommendations

That the Committee notes:

a. the background information about the Alignment Programme;

b. the progress made through the Alignment Programme to date; and

c. the six focus areas for 2020 and current activities.

That the Committee provides feedback on the focus areas for 2020 (to be discussed at the meeting).

Background

1. During 2017, the five statutory agencies with environmental responsibilities in the Mackenzie Basin formed a leading-edge alliance, a first for New Zealand. The Alignment Programme acknowledges that the agencies have individual and collective responsibility to partner with mana whenua, work with farmers and communities to protect the iconic landscape, together with its water quality and biodiversity.

2. The group comprises the Mackenzie District Council, Waitaki District Council, Environment Canterbury, Land Information New Zealand, and the Department of Conservation. The five agencies’ functions include management of land use, landscape, water quality and quantity, vegetation clearance, biosecurity and biodiversity. The agencies have different statutory responsibilities which at times overlap (see attachment 1 for the geographical scope of the Alignment Programme).

3. The Alignment Programme was established in early 2018. Its formation was one of the key recommendations of the Mackenzie Basin – Opportunities for Agency Alignment report (the report), prepared by Dr Hugh Logan and John Hutchings (26 January 2018). The purpose of the report was to investigate how higher levels of agency alignment could be achieved, applying best public sector practice to better realise the outcomes desired by the community.

4. The report suggested 25 recommendations, which the Mackenzie Basin Agency Steering Committee (MBASC) used to develop a work programme. The Alignment Programme has made significant progress to date, including establishment of management structures, delivery of several priority projects and implementation of supporting work (see appendix 2 for details).^{^[2]}

5. The Alignment Programme is unique in that it is the first time in New Zealand that a cross-agency programme of this scale has been undertaken that focuses on improving how agencies work together to achieve the outcomes desired by the community in one of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes.

6. The purpose of the Alignment Programme is to make a transformational shift in the way that agencies join together to undertake their statutory functions, leading to improved environmental and social outcomes through the delivery of core work. The goal of the Alignment Programme is to show that Mackenzie Basin agency alignment leads to better (1) environmental and community outcomes, (2) effective service delivery and (3) is seen as an exemplar of collaboration and partnership.

7. During your meeting on 16 August 2019, Karina Morrow (the Programme Manager at that time) provided an update on the Alignment Programme. Since you received this update, the focus has continued to be threefold:

I. establish better working relationships, understand the work each agency is doing, and keep each other informed of decisions;

II. deepen relationships and Treaty Partnership with Papatipu Rūnanga as mana whenua of the Waitaki; and

III. improve the Resource Management Act planning and consenting processes across the councils to be more joined-up.

EVOLVING THE PROGRAMME – FOCUS AREAS 2020

8. The MBASC has developed a forward view of the Alignment Programme, identifying the following six focus areas for 2020. These are outlined below along with an update on current activities.

I. Grow agency collaboration – This focus area is about increasing the value of collaboration between the agencies, Councils and iwi in delivering projects. Supporting activities will seek to evolve the Alignment Programme to ensure ownership at the governance level across all agencies and with the Treaty Partner (Minister for Conservation and Land Information New Zealand, District Council Mayors, Environment Canterbury Chair and the Chairs of Papatipu Rūnanga).

II. Enhance and deliver Treaty Partnership – This focus area is about continuing to work with Papatipu Rūnanga to explore what Treaty Partnership means for the Alignment Programme. Supporting activities will seek to develop a relationship engagement framework consistent with the mana to mana principle (right resource/person at the right level). A principled agreement with a supporting work programme may also be developed.

A hui that was set to take place between Papatipu Rūnanga and the Minister for Conservation and Land Information New Zealand, the Environment Canterbury Chair and the Mayors of Mackenzie and Waitaki District Councils on 26 March did not occur due to Covid-19. The three Mackenzie Rūnanga have recently advised that they are keen to meet and are proposing August for this Minister/Governance/Rūnanga hui.

III. Support economic recovery from COVID-19 with nature based employment – This focus area is about leveraging the established, trusted partnership group that the Alignment Programme has built across agencies to support the Mackenzie Basin’s recovery from COVID-19. Supporting activities will seek to use the mana and expertise of the Alignment Programme to attract recovery funding by engaging with the Crown, the private sector and key stakeholders. The Alignment Programme understands the challenges faced by the region, provides a solid framework for co-ordinated deployment of resources in the Basin and is also well equipped to carry out or support critical programmes such as pest control.

Since the onset of COVID-19, the Alignment Programme has supported the Department of Conservation’s successful Revitalising communities through nature-based employment proposal. This has been funded $200M from the Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund and will enable regional delivery of jobs. The five agencies have also welcomed the government’s announcement of a further $2million funding for wilding pine control, both in the Basin and elsewhere in Canterbury. Three new projects have been announced, to tackle both the problem of wilding pines and employ about 50 people who have been hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19.

IV. Align information, regulatory plans and approaches – This focus area is about developing consistent agency information and sharing in the development and implementation of agency policies (e.g. planning instruments, strategies, monitoring and compliance) to ensure the right outcomes are achieved. Supporting activities will seek to develop consistent technical information to support regulators and explore opportunities and new ways of working together.

Current activities include exploring a joined up approach to compliance and monitoring resourcing; continuing to bring all agency maps and data into one place and making it easily accessible to support agency work; investigating the feasibility of cross-warranted Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement officers; and reviewing the Waitaki and Mackenzie District Plans to address gaps and enable better protection of the region’s indigenous biodiversity and iconic landscape.

V. Support wider agency initiatives – This focus area is about providing a pathway for strategic conversations, cross-agency coordination and resolving issues that are common to these wider agency initiatives There are several wider agency initiatives occurring in the Mackenzie Basin that have strong links between the outcomes they are seeking to achieve and the goal of the Alignment Programme. These initiatives are managed separately and are accountable to individual agencies, but their success cannot be achieved in isolation (see appendix 2 for a list of these initiatives).

Activities this year will seek to continue to support agency projects and develop frameworks for project managers and key staff to connect within the Mackenzie Basin. Practical and tangible support that is making a real difference includes:

Ø Central Government support to Local Government in recognition of the critical role of District Plans – DOC and LINZ have provided a total of $200,000 ($100,000 to Mackenzie District Council and $100,000 Waitaki District Council).

Ø Joined up communications across the five agencies – for example, ensuring communications and press releases are aligned and do not cut across other agencies' announcements.

Ø DOC and LINZ commissioned the Environmental Defence Society to report on new ways to protect New Zealand landscapes with the first case study on the Mackenzie Basin. The report was released this month, which showed strong community support for the Alignment Programme.

Ø Supporting Mackenzie District Council on Destination Mackenzie with in-kind work and agency support for Provincial Growth Funds awarded. Additional resource support and specialist expertise including planning, mapping and ecological advice is also being provided.

Ø Joined up efforts to control Wilding conifers in the Mackenzie Basin through the Mackenzie Wilding Conifers Group.

Ø Supporting Te Manahuna Aoraki – LINZ is assisting with a coordinated approach to biosecurity control (wilding conifers and rabbits), including data collection and presentation of pest control information. DOC is a major funding partner for the project and works closely with Te Manahuna Aoraki Limited (the company delivering the work), providing seconded staff members, support with governance and expert advice/guidance for the biodiversity and operational work on the ground.

Ø Working with farmers to support their work on reducing biosecurity threats and increasing our compliance and monitoring programmes so that we can take a joined up approach to inspecting properties. Working with farmers to support their efforts to reduce biosecurity threats and increase our own compliance monitoring programmes.

VI. Align and improve agency engagement activities – This focus area is about helping agencies demonstrate a consistent engagement approach with key stakeholders in the Mackenzie Basin. Supporting activities will seek to develop mutual commitments for collaboration, engagement and communication between the five agencies, Mackenzie community organisations and other government agencies.

The Alignment Programme is currently developing a cross-agency engagement package that will include a set of engagement principles for all agencies to use, as well as a suite of supporting tools. Planning for further engagement with farmers is underway including identifying practical projects that deliver benefits for farmers; aligning a team of agency staff in the Basin as key contacts for lessees; and investigating the potential for a ‘trusted advisor’ role. The Programme is also working to engage with community organisations and other government agencies to develop mutual commitments for collaboration, engagement and communication regarding Mackenzie matters.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 19 June 2020

5.1 Zone Facilitator's Report

Author: Tami Woods, Zone Facilitator

Authoriser:

Attachments: 1. Zone Committee Survey Results - Summary ⇩

2. Freshwater Package Announcement 28 May 2020 ⇩

3. Groundwater Quality QA ⇩

4. Mackenzie Basin Landscape Report Key Messages ⇩

5. New Aerial Photography of our Region ⇩

6. Environment Canterbury Consents in Process ⇩

Purpose of Report

This report is from Tami Woods, Zone Facilitator, Environment Canterbury.

This report provides information that may be of interest to the Zone Committee that is not covered elsewhere in the agenda or where feedback is sought to inform the focus for the committee.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

1. Committee Member Changes

Since last formal meeting of the Committee, Michael McMillian has joined the committee as the rūnanga representative replacement for Sandra Hampstead Tipene from Arrowhenua.

2. Zone Committee Review – Update

As part of the recent Fit for Future project (that added 2025 and 2030 targets to the CWMS), the Mayoral Forum have asked Environment Canterbury to lead some advice on how to help zone committees focus on implementation of the CWMS.

This advice:

· takes into account the ten years of evolution of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) and all the work by zone committees, now completed, to develop implementation programmes (ZIPs and ZIPAs) tailored to each unique zone and community

· sits alongside several other reviews of differing types in Hurunui Waiau, Selwyn Waihora and the development of the Regional Work Programme on behalf of the Mayoral Forum. The latter outlines what initiatives are recommended to deliver on the 2025 CWMS targets.

Where are things at:

Over the last few months, Environment Canterbury has been developing a series of suggestions for improvements and changes to the role and function of zone committees. These have been discussed with Environment Canterbury’s Councillors, and are now ready for discussion and further work with Territorial Authorities, Rūnanga Reps, and Zone Committee representatives.

The draft advice was based on councillor advice, the reviews, in-person conversations with CWMS rūnanga reps and two zone committees, and the results of the on-line survey sent to all committee members in May. Attachment 1 summarises the zone committee survey results.

In a nut-shell the draft advice includes:

· Some suggested changes to the Terms of Reference (including zone committee role) and selection process

· A Letter of Shared Priorities sent to the zone committee every 3 years by the Territorial Authority and Environment Canterbury. The Letter of Shared Priorities will outline the Regional and individual Territorial priorities for each Zone Committee

· A requirement for Zone Committees to develop their own three-yearly Action Plan that will be owned, monitored and reported on by the committee.

What’s next

Regional and TA Councillors will work together with Rūnanga reps, ZC Chair/Deputy, Facilitators and senior staff from each Council to:

· Discuss, enhance and agree on the proposed changes including the TOR and proposed action plans and selection process changes

· establish priorities for the letter of Shared Priorities for individual zones

This work is anticipated to be advanced in July, with careful consideration of TA’s and Zone Committees capacity to focus on this while also addressing the range of contingencies they are currently facing as a result of Covid-19 and/or the Government’s Freshwater package.

Once confirmed, Environment Canterbury and TA Councils will formally endorse the revised TOR and confirm their Letters of Shared Priorities. The aim to have this in place by the end of July, subject to the Covid-19 contingencies Councils are facing.

A further update on how this review is progressing will be provided in July.

3. Regional Committee

The Regional Committee is not meeting in June. In July they will however have a workshop on the possible future Regional Committee functions, form and ways of working.

The date for the workshop has not been confirmed, but it would be good for there to be an Upper Waitaki Zone Committee presence at the workshop - so a volunteer to attend will be sought.

4. Love Our Lakes Update

Please refer to item 1 Encouraging responsible toilet use at Ruataniwha for future focus of ‘Love our Lakes’ for this summer.

Please also note that Winter posters for ‘Love Our Lakes’ have not been developed for this year due to COVID-19

5. Our Freshwater Report

The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ have released Our Freshwater 2020 in April.

https://ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/canterburys-water/freshwater/

The Report provides a national overview of the pressures on freshwater, and impacts from these, together with changes in state (and trends) through the lens of three themes and four environmental issues. The themes are water quality; water quantity and flows; freshwater ecosystems, habitats and species. The issues in the report are:

· Our native freshwater species and ecosystems are under threat

· Water is polluted in urban, farming, and forestry areas

· Changing water flows affect our freshwater

· Climate change is affecting freshwater in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The report provides a national picture of the pressures, states, and impacts on lakes, rivers, and groundwater. While recognising that significant regional variations exist, the report does not provide specific regional information or commentary on how freshwater is being managed – this is out of scope. The Secretary for the Environment and Government Statistician, in their introductory comments, state that changes in the state of our freshwater – both positive and negative – can take time. Some effects we are seeing today are legacies from our parents and grandparents. In some places we can expect to wait decades to see the results of our efforts to raise the health and mana of freshwater.

6. Freshwater Package Announcement 28 May 2020 – Action for Healthy Waterways

Attachment 2 provides an overview of the Freshwater Package Announcement.

Further information can be found at https://www.mfe.govt.nz/action-for-healthy-waterways

Environment Canterbury is waiting on the content of the National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards however to fully understand the implications of the announcements.

7. Groundwater Quality Reports

Two ECan groundwater reports have been recently published and the new LAWA groundwater quality topic has been launched:

https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/groundwater-quality/

A link to the LAWA topic and our reports have been published on these pages:

https://ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/canterburys-water/

https://ecan.govt.nz/your-region/your-environment/water/canterburys-water/groundwater/

Questions and Answers for you to refer to are included in Attachment 3.

Below are some key messages from each report from Environment Canterbury:

Groundwater survey

· Our annual survey reports data to 2019, so is a little ahead of LAWA

· The focus is on nitrate trends and results, which are particularly important to Cantabrians and all New Zealanders

· We welcome all research into the health impacts of nitrate in waterways

· This survey shows little change from earlier ones in line with our predictions (we expect little improvement for 15-20 years due to legacy effects, although our plans and on-the-ground action are having an impact)

· See https://ecan.govt.nz/get-involved/news-and-events/2019/nitrate-in-waterways-whats-the-story/

Nitrate risk maps

· For those with private wells drawing water from shallow aquifers

· Little change since 2017

· Used by Community and Public Health to ensure safe drinking water for private well owners - see https://www.cph.co.nz/your-health/drinking-water/ for individual zone maps.

LAWA groundwater quality topic

· We welcome the launch of the topic – it’s a valuable addition to the water / environmental information now available to the community that LAWA has been building for some time, with support from councils

· It brings ECan data (from last year) into a national framework

· We also welcome the E.coli trends data (something ECan collects but we’ve not been reporting).

8. Te Manahuna Mackenzie Basin and Landscape Protection Report

On 10 June the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) report released the ‘Te Manahuna – Mackenzie Basin and Landscape Protection’ Report.

The report covers the Historical context, pressure on the landscape, current management responses and further management responses, including:

· Filling gaps

· Strengthening the law, policy and planning framework;

· Integrated agency management; and

· Adopting a new approach

Attachment 4 includes the key messages from the report.

The full report is at https://www.eds.org.nz/our-work/eds-landscape-project

9. Potential opportunity of funding to support UW catchment or rural community groups

The Ministry for Primary Industries has an Extension Services Programme that has been set up to partner with farmers, regional stakeholders, industry groups and agricultural professionals to ensure services are relevant to the needs and priorities of local communities. Where possible this work is to build on existing capability and build more connected network of farmers, rural professionals, industry groups, and government.

In the new context of the Covid-19 pandemic central and local government are also considering COVID-19 recovery and gathering information about how best to partner with those on the ground to achieve the best outcomes. The Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme has been active in this space.

There is however also an opportunity for the zone committee to become central to any partnering with catchment and rural community groups to gather ideas that could be packaged together for funding where it relates to water management outcomes. Initial funding from the MPI Extension Services Programme could co-ordinate funds across South Canterbury, to support the establishment, build capacity within groups and deliver catchment and rural community group activities.

The key objectives for establishing a wider connected South Canterbury based approach (linking in with Lower Waitaki and OTOP Zones) could be to:

• Sell the idea of one central conduit in South Canterbury.

• Engage catchment groups in planning for their future and determining funds and activities that require support.

• Provide a framework to ensure efficient and focused delivery of support to where it can deliver most benefit.

The committee interest in having a role in progressing this further is sought.

10. Feedback on what worked or didn’t work around ZC communication during COVID-19 Alert levels

Feedback is sought around what worked and didn’t work during COVID-19 alert levels around Zone Committee work and communication and what you might like to keep moving forward. For example:

· Are e-mail updates more useful than items in the facilitators update or do you prefer them at the meetings?

· Do you want to do more video/remote meetings/workshops?

· Would you like to do more workshop type sessions on topics and make meetings more focused on formalising agreements? (as example Lake Ruataniwha comm’s workshop, followed by paper in agenda).

11. Upper Waitaki Responsible Campaign Ambassadors

Unfortunately, the Upper Waitaki Camping Ambassadors were unable to attend the February Hangi of the Zone Committee to talk about their activities over summer due to cancellation of the event.

Advice of the Committee is sought as to whether you would still like to hear about the Ambassadors work from Waitaki District Council and Mackenzie District Council and if on-going funding for the roles is likely to continue or not.

12. Review of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Management Plan

On 29 May the Department of Conservation released information that DOC and Ngāi Tahu in consultation with the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board have agreed to start a new review of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Management Plan. Restarting the review means that the notified draft Plan will be withdrawn and a new draft Plan will be developed. At this stage, a timeline for completion is not clear given COVID-19.

13. New aerial photography of our region

New aerial photography of the Ashburton, Banks Peninsula, Mackenzie and Timaru districts has been captured by Canterbury local authorities and Environment Canterbury.

Attachment 5 includes the media release information about the new photography

14. Environment Canterbury Consents in Process

Attached (Attachment 6) to this paper is a list of resource consents in process with Environment Canterbury. This has been included for the Committee’s and community reference only. This information is also publicly available on Environment Canterbury’s website.

[1] Office of the Auditor General Good Practice Guide – Managing Conflicts of Interest: Guidance for public entities

[2] Not all the recommendations made in the report have been implemented because they are no longer relevant (e.g. recommendations relating to land tenure review and Joint Management Agreements). Other recommendations have since been implemented by wider initiatives supported (but not directed by the Alignment Programme) including those relating to a predator-free and drylands areas.

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting Friday 19 June 2020 9.30am Twizel Events Centre Lounge
9.00am	Item	Arrive	Lead
9.30am		Standing Items Apologies, Minutes, Correspondence, Conflicts of Interest, Action List, Matters arising
9.45am	1	Encouraging responsible toilet use at Ruataniwha	Kate Doran, Environment Canterbury
10.00am	2	Ahuriri catchment - Update	Tami Woods, Environment Canterbury, Lisa Anderson & Richard Subtil
11-11.15am		Morning tea
11.15am	3	Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme - Update	Nadeine Dommisse, Environment Canterbury Hamish Barrell, Waitaki District Council Ann Rodgers, Mackenzie District Council Dave Wilkins and Barry Hanson, Department of Conservation
11.45am	4	Zone Facilitator’s Report	Tami Woods, Environment Canterbury
12.00pm	5	General Discussion	All
12.30pm		Close