Canterbury Zone Committee Review ‘Death By Strangulation’

Friday, 28 February 2025, 6:34 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

The ongoing review of Canterbury’s water zone committees feels like “death by strangulation”, a committee leader says.

Ashburton Water Zone Committee chairperson Bill Thomas didn’t hold back his feelings about Environment Canterbury’s proposal to replace water zone committees.

“It feels like death by strangulation because this process has taken way too long”.

ECan senior strategy manager Cameron Smith provided an update to the committee on a proposed restructure, which was started by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum in 2023.

The zone committees help manage local water resources and are made up of a mix of community, Runanga, ECan and council representatives.

A proposed new local leadership group would consist of ECan, district council, and Rūnanga representatives.

Smith said the details haven’t been worked through, including the number of representatives, how they are appointed, and any decision-making hierarchy.

Having permanent community representatives “sitting around the table” could be a discussion for each regional group, Smith said.

However, Thomas said any new model still needed community representatives.

“We want to be in the game rather than try and set up interest groups in the back.

“We don’t want to be sitting outside.

"We want to be in the discussions.”

ECan councillor Ian Mackenzie had concerns about the local leadership being “diluted” at the regional council offices on Tuam St in Christchurch.

He said the argument wasn’t to retain the existing structure but to maintain local leadership.

It was absolutely critical for people to be assured the new model wouldn't be run from Tuam St and override local decisions, he said.

“Where is the assurance these core leadership groups will be delivering what the community want?”

He also questioned the rūnanga commitment to the new proposal, something he had earlier raised at a council workshop on the review, he said.

Members of the public were granted an opportunity to speak on the proposal at the meeting.

Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective chairperson Duncan Barr said his region is a highly engaged community and “don’t want to be shut out”.

“There is scepticism in the community...you always get that with change”.

Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation general manager Rebecca Whillans said any new model needs buy-in from those who have influence over the outcome.

An Ashburton District Council review of the local committee has fed into the review.

Council democracy and engagement group manager Toni Durham said a review of the committee last year found the committee's role had changed and there was an opportunity to enhance things.

“It’s about getting that form and function right,” she said.

Smith thanked the committee and members of the public for the feedback that would be used to refine the proposed model, which will be presented to the Mayoral Forum in May.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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