Agenda of Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Membership:

Matthew Bayliss (Chair)

Adriana Theobald

Richard Subtil

Marcelo Carena

Michael McMillan

Rynee de Garnham

Scott Aronsen

Brent Cowles

Nick Ward

***************************************************

Upper Waitaki Zone Committee Meeting Friday 14^th April 10.30am McKenzie Country Hotel
Time	Item	Reference	Lead
10.30	Opening Karakia		Mana Whenua
	Welcome		Chair
	Standing Items Apologies, Minutes, Conflicts of Intertest, Matters arising		Chair
10.40	AP1: Nohoanga / mahinga kai: Biodiversity – native nursery plots		Felicity McMillan / Lex Evans
11:00	AP2: Recreational Values: Love our lakes: Community Engagement Tools Static Display Boards Social Media / Events		Kate Doran
11.30	AP3: Catchment Groups: CCSC: Catchment Group facilitation		Rhys Taylor
12:15	AP4: Community Engagement: Public Information presentations / w.shops		Facilitator
12.25	Zone Facilitator’s Report CWMS Zone Committees Sthn Hui summary Lake Aviemore e-coli update Hangi Twizel River Reserve facilitation		Facilitator
12.35	General Business		All
13:00	Closing Karakia		Mana Whenua

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Minutes 2 December 2022

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Unconfirmed MINUTES

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting

2 December 2022

MINUTES OF THE
Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting
HELD AT Omarama Station,
ON Friday, 2 December 2022 AT 11.30am

PRESENT: Matthew Bayliss, Richard Subtil, Rynee de Garnham, Marcello Carena, Adriana Theobald, Cr Scott Aronsen, Cr Brent Coles, Cr Nick Ward

IN ATTENDANCE: Environment Canterbury staff: Murray Griffin, Sandra Bowman, Andrew Oliver, Shirley Haywood, Selma Smith, Kate Bailue

Others: John Benn (DoC), Rick Ramsay and Nick Douglas (Salmon Farms), Arlene Goss (Minutes)

1 Opening

Richard Subtil welcomed everyone to Omarama Station and Murray Griffin opened the meeting with a karakia. He then asked everyone in the room to introduce themselves.

2 Election of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

Murray Griffin called for nominations for chair.

Richard Subtil nominated Matt Bayliss, and this was seconded by Adriana Theobald. There were no further nominations.

Mr Bayliss said he was an employee of Meridian Energy and if there was a conflict between his role as chairman and his role as employee he would like to know if anyone had a problem with this. Mr Subtil said he was confident that Mr Bayliss was capable of wearing two hats. Mr Bayliss was elected unopposed.

Mr Griffin handed over the meeting to the new chairman.

Mr Bayliss then spoke about the role of deputy chair. Richard Subtil nominated Adriana Theobald and this was seconded by Rynee de Garnham. There were no further nominations and Adriana Theobald was elected unopposed.

Committee Resolution UPP/2022/99

Moved: Richard Subtil

Seconded: Adriana Theobald

1. That Mat Bayliss be elected as chairperson of the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee.

Carried

Committee Resolution UPP/2022/100

Moved: Richard Subtil

Seconded: Rynee de Garnham

2. That Adriana Theobald be elected as deputy chairperson of the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee.

Carried

3 Apologies

Apologies were received from members Michael McMillan and Keiran Whyte.

4 Reports

4.1 Interests Register

Murray Griffin outlined the reason for having the interests register and said that it would be updated at each meeting. He also talked about the relevant legislation.

Changes: Spelling - Adriana Theo bald not bold. Matt Bayliss to send changes to Arlene Goss by email.

4.2 Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the last meeting of the former triennium were noted. There were no matters arising.

4.3 Committee Appointments

The following appointments were noted:

1. Community representatives Mat Baylis, Marcelo Carena, Richard Subtil and Adriana Theobald.

2. Runanga representatives Rynee de Garnham – Te Rūnanga o Waihao, Michael McMillan – Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, and Keiran Whyte – Te Rūnanga o Moeraki.

3. Council representatives Cr Scott Aronsen – Mackenzie District Council, Cr Brent Cowles – Waitaki District Council, and Cr Nick Ward – Environment Canterbury.

4.4 Groundwater Flow Paths into Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond

Kate Bailue, a groundwater scientist from Environment Canterbury, gave a presentation called Groundwater flow paths into Wairepo Arm and Kellands Pond.

Questions were asked and answered about surface water flow, groundwater, and how this research would impact current practice. It will inform future consenting activity and plans.

The bulk of the nutrients entering Kellands Pond come from groundwater rather than surface water. Kellands Pond has a relatively slow flushing system. This makes it vulnerable to the effects of nutrient inputs.

Rick Ramsay gave the group his perspective of groundwater movements in the area. The salmon farm was testing the TLI of Kellands Pond monthly. He offered to share data with the committee. He did not believe scientists knew the whole picture of how Kellands Pond and Wairepo Arm influenced each other. He did not agree that nutrients from Wairepo Arm were going into Haldon Arm/Lake Benmore.

There was a request to see the overall data, both public and private. Discussion took place on getting data from other organisations like Meridian Energy.

The chairman asked about what this means for the nutrients and where they go. How do the nutrients get from the Wairepo Arm to the Haldon Arm? The committee would like more work to be done on this.

Richard Subtil said local farmers who spent money collecting flow data needed to know that data was being used. He also asked that an overview of the zone’s hot areas be supplied, especially for the new members of the committee.

The chairman congratulated Kate Bailue on her research. Murray Griffin suggested adding an action to the committee’s work programme to follow up on this.

4.5 Upper Waitaki Lakes Trophic Level Index (TLI) and Suitability for Recreation Grade Update

Ecan scientist Shirley Hayward gave a presentation on the TLI annual results. She outlined the meaning of the Trophic Level Index and how it was measured. It is used as a general index to show the enrichment status of a lake.

Richard Subtil asked for an index of acrynoms for new members. The chairman also suggested an induction process for new members.

Shirley Hayward then provided the latest TLI results for lakes in the Upper Waitaki zone.

The large lakes were in a good state and she was not worried about fluctuations, which were driven by climate factors.

Some of the smaller lakes were over their TLI limit, such as Lake Middleton and Lake Alexandrina.

Lake Benmore and Lake Aviemore had mixed results and these were discussed.

TLI targets were set by community consensus and were based on environmental outcomes, recognising that a TLI of above three would affect everyone who uses the lakes.

Shirley Hayward then showed nitrogen concentrations in tributaries of Ahuriri River. These have been affected by record rain in the area. Nitrogen concentrations are much higher than in previous years.

Climate change was affecting the lakes, due to increasing temperatures resulting in higher algal growth.

Shirley Hayward then updated the committee on swim site grades.

Rick Ramsay noted the change in clarity of the major lakes and the impact this would have on the TLI.

Rick Ramsay asked for some of this information to be sent to the irrigators in the area to make them aware of the climate change impacts.

The chairman suggested adding an action point of communication with the local catchment groups.

4.6 Zone Facilitator's Report

Murray Griffin updated the committee on matters noted in the update attached to the agenda.

Kate Doran will share communications material by email, related to the Love our Lakes campaign.

Marcelo Carena spoke about a meeting with runanga regarding the Tekapo Regional Park. They discussed a long-term project to get rid of wilding pines in the park. Discussion took place on the need to consider community feedback, while at the same time clear out a problem area of pines in the centre of the park. The community would be consulted in March, with a decision to be made in April.

It was suggested that the Twizel River Restoration Project go on the next agenda. The chairman expressed his disappointment that the application for 10k funding to the Waitaha Impact to Action Fund was denied. This money mainly went to Christchurch and Banks Peninsular.

The committee would like to discuss sources for further funding for this district, due to it being such a huge area.

The chairman said the February meeting needed to focus on the induction of the new members, and start building an action plan for the year.

4.7 General Business

John Benn from DoC gave some updates including staff movements, new toilets, and flood damage to tracks. The flooding has impacted the black stilt breeding season, but some chicks have already been banded and are doing ok.

He reported back on a previous project funded by the committee to protect native fish from trout and said this had been a big success, with galaxid numbers increasing.

Richard Subtil said he had received an abatement notice for carrying out ditch work during the recent floods. He would like it communicated to the public that people needed to contact Ecan before carrying out flood protection work.

Marcelo Carena asked a question about the Waitaki Geopark project and the impact of increased visitors in the future. The chairman did not understand how the geopark would impact on the matters under the purvey of the committee.

Richard Subtil suggested asking the Waitaki District Council for information about increased visitor numbers and mitigation. Cr Coles suggested sending him an email with these questions and he would take them to the economic development board, which included tourism.

The Meeting closed at about 1.45pm.

The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting held on .

...................................................

CHAIRPERSON

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.2 Interests Register

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Staff Recommendations

That the information be noted.

Declaration of Interests Register – as aT April 4, 2023

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

1. 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://oag.parliament.nz/2020/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, Mackenzie District Council or Waitaki District Council and:

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, Mackenzie District Council or Waitaki District Council. 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)

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

Name	Committee Member Interests
Cr Scott Aronsen	Mackenzie District Councillor, Register of interests held by Mackenzie District Council.
Mat Bayliss	Head of Generation Strategy for Meridian Energy in Twizel. Shareholder of Meridian Energy. Consents held CRC142283.
Marcelo Carena	Independent consultant/contractor. Independent writer for the Twizel Update. Volunteer member of Mackenzie Wilding Pines Trust.
Cr Brent Cowles	Waitaki District Councillor, Register of interests held by Waitaki District Council
Rynee de Garnham	Te Rūnanga o Waihao.
Michael McMillan	Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua.
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.
Adriana Theobald	Nil
Cr Nick Ward	Environment Canterbury Councillor, Register of interests held by Environment Canterbury.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.3 Biodiversity - Native Nursery Plots

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

To establish trial native nursery demonstration plots in key locations as a community education and seed resource for the purpose of (but not exclusive to) repopulating riparian zones with native plant species.

This is a project that could be sponsored by commercial interests with support from Mana Whenua via Te Kete Tipuranga O Hurapa. Felicity McMillan and Lex Evans will speak on behalf of Te Kete Tipuranga O Hurapa on how they can assist / contribute to this project.

AP1: Nohoanga / Mahinga kai.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

Background

At the March 3^rd 2023 workshop the committee felt that better community education pertaining to native plant species would have wider positive implications for the mauri and health of water and waterways in the upper basins due to, but not exclusive to, the riparian buffer effect and as an indirect food source for aquatic species. It was felt that establishing native plant plots in key locations would:

· Educate the community about what was here prior to land modification (schools, people developing land, farmers establishing riparian planting etc)

· Demonstrate what can grow and how natives can be established, grow the knowledge base available for revegetation projects

· Use the plots as both a focal point for further native revegetation initiatives (e.g. replicating elsewhere, nursery development) and a potential future seed source for acclimatised native species.

DISCUSSION

· Packaged and promoted effectively, these plots have the capacity to allow individuals to explore local environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment, mauri and management of water. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions around native habitat.

· The Mackenzie Basin is a prime example of a tussock dryland. This unique ecosystem has low rainfall and is dominated by shrubs and tussock grasses. Tussock drylands cover just 19% of New Zealand's land area and contain up to half of Aotearoa's most threatened native plants.

Source: https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/campaigns/mackenzie-country

· As an indicator of invertebrate population density, the abundance of certain spider families and species, such as Lycosidae and Anoteropsis hilaris, was consistently affected by vegetation. In other words, more appropriate vegetation equates to more invertebrates.

Source:https://resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1752-4598.2012.00195.x

New Zealand has over 200 species of freshwater macroinvertebrates … Macroinvertebrates are often surveyed as part of water quality testing – as the type and number of individuals found in an area can be related directly to water quality. In good quality streams, it is possible to find more than 30 types of macroinvertebrates in a small area, and thousands of individuals within just one square meter of streambed.

Source: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/invertebrates/freshwater/

· Sponsors such as The New Zealand Merino Company (nzmerino.co.nz) can be approached to co-fund demonstration plots and associated educational signage.

Summary

Re-establishing native plant species in the upper basins will have a number of positive impacts on water health such as:

· Educating the community about what was here prior to land modification (schools, people developing land, farmers establishing riparian planting etc)

· Demonstrate what can grow and how natives can be established, grow the knowledge base available for revegetation projects

· Use the plots as both a focal point for further native revegetation initiatives (e.g. replicating elsewhere, nursery development) and a potential future seed source for acclimatised native species

· acting as riparian buffers to filter out contaminants;

· providing a nursery for invertebrates;

· a nutrient source for macroinvertebrates.

· Restoring the mana of both the whenua and the wai.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.4 Love Our Lakes

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

To confirm if the committee would like to purchase new Love Our Lakes signage from this year’s budget and decide on key locations.

To consider recommendations about ways to further develop the Love Our Lakes brand for summer 2023-2024.

AP2: Recreational Values

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

Background

The Love Our Lakes campaign has been running since 2016 to help educate locals and visitors on ways to protect the Waitaki Lakes.

It was initiated by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee, after members highlighted an urgent need to encourage people to dispose of rubbish responsibly and use public toilets.

The campaign uses simple messaging that can be adapted each year to meet new needs. Secondary messages have also been shared through online channels including: Check Clean Dry your boating gear; wash clothes/dishes away from waterways.

The campaign aligns with the committee’s priority outcomes for maintaining lake water quality for recreation, as well as ecosystem biodiversity and customary use by rūnanga.

Summary of Love Our Lakes activity – summer 2022-2023

For this year’s campaign (from November 2022 - March 2023), the focus moved from encouraging responsible toilet use to asking visitors to reduce rubbish by packing waste-free picnics and taking rubbish with them. Campaign material was sent to the local councils to share with their community.

On-the-ground channels included the committee's local networks (material distribution, online sharing, events), promotional material tote bags, car stickers and dog poo bags used at events (Meridian Swim Ruataniwha, and the Twizel Salmon and Wine Festival).

Online and traditional media channels included print advertising, radio advertising (140 ‘spots’), social media, Environment Canterbury website, and a competition. Social media posts gained over 1100 engagements. Facebook boosted posts were worthwhile as they are low cost and target people visiting the area (one boosted post reached 21,900 people). The Love Our Lakes webpage and news stories gained over 1030 views.

The main challenge for this past campaign was meeting the timeframe to provide printed material to the committee for distribution, due to additional delays finalising the campaign creative elements. For the 2023 campaign, we would like the campaign material to be delivered to the committee in late October –ideally before Labour Weekend. To meet this deadline, we recommend the agreed campaign approach and key elements should be decided by the end of July 2023.

The total campaign spend was $4,900 (NB: the largest cost was 350 tote bags at $2112).

We welcome additional feedback from the committee about whether rubbish remained a problem for the community over the summer.

Additional funding to support future campaigns

The committee has approximately $5000 left this financial year in its communications budget to spend before July. This could be put towards:

· Permanent signage to promote the Love Our Lakes message - based on existing key themes. Appropriately placed signage has the potential to educate large numbers of people; for example – Lake Ruataniwha high-traffic areas. Committee to recommend exact locations that are mostly likely to encourage on-site behaviour change.

· Buying additional promotional items for future summer campaigns eg tote bags and stickers as larger quantities cost less per item.

Planning the upcoming Love Our Lakes summer campaign - 2023-2024

The zone committee is keen to explore ways to further develop the Love Our Lakes brand and look at whether the online presence can be improved.

The zone committee could consider using funding from their Action Plan budget if their recommendations are likely to exceed the annual communications budget.

Recommendations for summer 2023-24:

· Increase and improve the Love Our Lakes presence at key events: Develop and purchase a Love Our Lakes event kit that could be rolled out at community events. The kit could include pull-up banners, event flags, posters, and giveaway items such as stickers, tote bags, and a children’s game (something like the popular Stormwater Superheroes Tuna & Drains game). It could also include the printing of t-shirts for events staff to wear, and some for giveaways. This approach would require a commitment from committee members to attend events in person, and advocate for the brand. Events would need to be decided and booked well in advance.

· The committee can decide if they would like to create their own Facebook page. This would require dedicated members who will ‘administrate’ the page and post regular local content and respond to any comments / feedback. Note it can take some time to build a following, and sourcing regular content can be time-consuming.

· The existing webpage http://ecan.govt.nz/loveourlakes should remain the landing page used for all campaign activity, as it is well-established, with good content and easy to update. There should be continued use of Environment Canterbury (which has 16,000 users) and local councils’ social media pages to share campaign news and stories.

· Increase the presence of the committee’s name on any new collateral and adverts, to make it clear it’s the committee’s campaign.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.5 Catchments Collective South Canterbury (CCSC)

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

Rhys Taylor will present to the committee on the Catchment Collective South Canterbury, their aims, objectives, terms of reference and how, or if, Rhys may add to the value and reach of Catchment Groups in the upper basins.

Note that a MOU exists between ECAN and the CCSC to facilitate support.

AP3: Catchment Groups

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

Background

The UW Zone Committee have highlighted the need to support the Ahuriri Catchment Group since at least 2019 when concerns around TLI’s in the Ahuriri Arm were noted. To aid in mitigating this issue and as a means of offering generic support, one suggestion was for the committee to fund a facilitator who would utilise their time to seek further funding as well as the establishment and enhancement of other catchment groups in the basin. At their March 2023 workshop, the committee noted that an ECAN staff member is appointed to do that role for the OTOP zone, on a small scale.

DISCUSSION

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been established through which part-time ECan team member Rhys Taylor advises the CCSC and connects catchment groups in the OTOP Zone with technical support services. He was previously an external contractor, providing this service on contract, involved since 2016.

Rhys’ presentation will describe the current activity of the Collective, to aid an informed discussion / decision regarding local initiative and Zone funding for 2023.

Memorandum of Agreement between Environment Canterbury (Timaru office) and the Catchments Collective South Canterbury Society Inc.

At a meeting of the Catchments Collective South Canterbury Society managing committee on 6th August 2021, a collaboration for 2021-2022 between the two organisations was proposed, to facilitate development and effectiveness of catchment groups across the South Canterbury rural area. This update is for 2022-2023 year.

The MOU comprises:

(1) Provision of support time for the Collective Society, of up to one day a week, in an advisory and facilitation role, through Rhys E. Taylor, former contractor and now an Environment Canterbury part-time staff member, based at Timaru office (currently until June 2023).

(2) Access to some advisory time from staff in Environment Canterbury Timaru team, drawing on skills in land management, biodiversity, biosecurity, resource management, water science and mahika kai; to assist catchment project development and funding applications and to meet local catchment groups. Access to this support from Environment Canterbury will be managed by the OTOP Zone Lead (Gina Slee) and Rhys Taylor, who will together monitor the time demand and staff capacity to respond, alongside other priorities.

The Catchments Collective Society will for its part seek to develop local catchment groups’ capacity for self-organisation, including recruitment of more voluntary facilitators, so that they are by June 2023 more able to facilitate their own meetings and projects and thus less reliant on external facilitation. This may include raising grant or sponsorship funding, such as a grant offer recently secured by the Society from Mid &South Canterbury Community Trust. An approach to MPI for grant support to employ workers (first submitted in May 2022, revised and resubmitted September 2022) forms part of this intention.

Signed & dated: 1st October 2022

Gina Slee, OTOP Zone Lead Mark Adams, Chair.

For Environment Canterbury (Timaru) Catchment Collective Society

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.6 Public Information Presentations/Workshops

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: Nil

Purpose of Report

To sponsor an annual series of information workshops and evenings that support the health and mauri of our water.

AP4: Communicate and engage with our communities.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

Background

It was suggested at our March workshop that we ask appropriate people from www.irricon.co.nz to run 3-4 workshops for the rural community. As an addition to that there was discussion around the idea of having ‘community’ presentations for the general public to attend on a variety of appropriate topics from conservation to hydrology.

DISCUSSION

In terms of facilitating enduring positive behaviour and attitude change towards the mauri and management of water in our zone, the research suggests that consistency is key.

Adapted from: Why Content Consistency Is Key To Your Marketing Strategy (forbes.com) is this: Choosing and adhering to a schedule becomes a part of the social calendar within a community. When content quality, quantity or schedule isn’t consistent, it can confuse the target audience. Keeping with a regular strategy not only helps create a better public / user experience but it also helps build credibility, reputation and trust in the capability of the UWZ committee.

One suggestion maybe to timetable twice yearly events – workshop or presentations - potentially six months apart (May and November) split between Omarama / Twizel and Tekapo. Potential costs being the hiring of a venue and / or presenters.

Upper Waitaki Zone Water Management Committee Meeting Agenda 14 April 2023

1.7 Zone Facilitator's Update

Author: Staff Report, Environment Canterbury

Authoriser:

Attachments: 1. UW Action Plan budget updated 22_23 DRAFT ⇩

Purpose of Report

To update the committee on matters of interest.

Staff Recommendations

1. That the report be received.

CWMS Zone Committee – Southern Hui summary from 31/3/23: Mat Baylis

Lake Aviemore: e-coli update from summer outbreak …

‘… we don’t know the cause of high E. coli concentrations that occurred at the two Lake Aviemore swimming sites (Te Akatarawa and Waitangi boat ramp) on the 17^th and 19^th January 2023. Water quality improved back to low E. coli concentrations when we resampled on the 23^rd January, and have remained good for the remainder of the summer monitoring season. It’s possible that lake level fluctuations caused the temporary high E. coli concentrations, but we won’t know for sure’. Shirley Haywood. 4/3/23

Hangi: May 12^th

Martha Jolly is in her first year doing a PhD with the Freshwater Ecology Research Group at UC and has made herself available to present and discuss ‘fish’ in the context of Te manhuna.

Omarama School: 41 children and 3 staff as at 3/4/23

Twizel River Facilitation:

With reference to the attached memo below in italics dated 12/11/2020.

As of March 2023, nothing has happened to date. Subsequently a time and place has been made available on 30^th June 2023 at Meridian Twizel to bring key stake holders together to:

· Agree on common goals

· Agree on a path forward

· Deal to low hanging fruit

· Key players: ECAN, DOC, LINZ, MDC, Mana whenua X3

Memo

Date	12 November 2020
To	Mackenzie Basin Steering Committee
CC	Chris Eccleston; Zone Manager
From	Janine Roux; Zone Facilitator. On behalf of the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee

Subject

Twizel River Restoration

Background

This section of the Twizel River (see appendix 1) is primarily owned/managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Land Information NZ (LINZ).The area of interest includes a stretch of the Twizel Walkway which is highly frequented by locals and visitors to the town for recreational purposes and is advertised as a ‘highlight’ on the Mackenzie Region website. The primary issues brought to the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee’s attention for the area were gravel build-up, pest plants (lupins, broom and willows) and loss of recreational values. The site is managed by DOC for pest plants and Environment Canterbury have a rating district over the river. Due to lack of capacity and funding, lupins and broom were last managed in 2014 and willow and gravel management have been minimal; the existing issues are considered an amenity rather than flood management.

Considerations

The numerous values of the Twizel River were deliberated during a site visit by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee in June. The group considered how these values could be brought together in a vision involving the community and various stakeholders. Rūnanga reps also saw the site as an opportunity to communicate mahinga kai information to the community and its recreational users. Options put forward by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee:

- Engage with agencies (through the Mackenzie Basin Steering Committee) to advocate for the Twizel River restoration and gauge their level of support.

- Generate a ‘spatial plan’ for the site that draws together the water values, recreational and mahinga kai ideas by working with all the agencies and the community. Consider engaging a student to complete the plan.

- Write to DOC regarding pest plant management.

- Follow up with LINZ to determine whether new COVID-19 funding could be used this area.

Expectations

This project has the potential to show case the agencies working together to achieve a positive outcome for the local community. It has a high profile due to its location and is valued by the numerous recreational users for activities such as swimming, walks and picnics.

The Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee would like to put the following questions to the Mackenzie Basin Steering Committee:

- How does the Steering Committee see the Twizel River restoration progressing?

- Where do they see their involvement in this project?

The Steering Committee have been invited to the next informal meeting of the Upper Waitaki Zone Water Committee, a hāngī hosted on Friday 20^th November, and a discussion on this project is welcomed.

Janine Roux

Zone Facilitator

END

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