Lower Waitaki-South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee named

Six community members have been appointed to the Lower Waitaki-South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee.

“The selection process was designed to find the best combination of people with the skills, interests and expertise to ensure the collective strength of the zone committee,” said Mayors John Coles (Waimate) and Alex Familton (Waitaki).

The six people join the latest committee of the 10 that are being established under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The first, the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee, was launched in late June.

The six Lower Waitaki-South Coastal Canterbury community members were selected from a total of 12 applicants. They are Matthew Ross, Robin Murphy, Sean McCready, Kate White, Andrew Cocking and Anne Te Maiharoa-Dodds. Mayors Coles and Familton and Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Caygill are delighted by the range of values, interests, and experiences the six appointees bring to the committee.

The range includes forestry management, environmentalists, farmers, company directors and health.

“While each member brings different strengths to the committee, they all share a common passion for the district and a desire to ensure its resources are properly managed in the interests of the community at large,” said Mayors Coles and Familton.

Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Caygill also acknowledged the impressive individual qualifications, accomplishments, interests and occupations of the community committee members.

“As a group they have the breadth and depth of expertise to work collaboratively to develop creative solutions to water management issues in the district, while addressing the priorities set out in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy,” said David Caygill.

They assessed each applicant on skills, expertise and experience, as well as their ability to work collaboratively to develop water management solutions that deliver economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes. The community members will be joined on the committee by Jim Anderson (Waimate councillor), Alistair Mavor (Waitaki District Council), Patrick Tipa (Moeraki runanga), Te Wera King (Waihao),Mandy Home (Arowhenua) and Environment Canterbury Commissioner Peter Skelton.

David Caygill said the new committee represents another important step in the implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

“Its role is to develop a zone water management implementation programme, taking into account other zone committee programmes and the Regional Water Management Committee’s programme, to give effect to the fundamental principles and targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.”

David Caygill said the Environment Canterbury Commissioners wholeheartedly endorsed the implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and recognised the significance of encouraging and facilitating community input on water issues in Canterbury.

“The Environment Canterbury Commissioners also recognise the need to get the process right and to make sound, balanced decisions for the management of the natural physical resources of Canterbury.”

The committee is being established under the Local Government Act as a joint committee of Waitaki and Waimate district councils and Environment Canterbury. For further information contact: Mayor John Coles Waimate District Council Phone 03 689-0000

Mayor Alex Familton Waitaki District Council Phone 03 433 0300

David Caygill Environment Canterbury Commissioner Phone: 027 432 5228

www.canterburywater.org.nz
Lower Waitaki-South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee Committee member biographies Matthew Ross (Duntroon) Matthew has lived and farmed in the Lower Waitaki region for 12 years and also describes himself as a business owner, outdoor enthusiast and parent.

“I am particularly interested in a well-balanced region and community where the social, economic and environmental values are held in equal regard. Solutions to the issues before all catchments within the wider Canterbury region must be community and stakeholder driven. It is our responsibility and obligation to take on this challenge and get it right.”

With a sound technical knowledge of agricultural production systems and the use of irrigation, Matthew is also a director of the Upper Waitaki Community Irrigation Company, chairman of the Marewhenua District Water Resource Company, and is a board member of Irrigation New Zealand.

He is committed to operating at the highest level and says attention to detail and quality are key drivers of his farm business, factors which contributed to his sharemilking operation being judged the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year in 2007.

He is also committed to environmental enhancement with an emphasis on bio-diversity and has a significant planting programme in place on his Kokoamo property. Plantings include several kilometres of shelter trees, 120 specimen trees and the development of a 1.5 hectare wetland with support from Environment Canterbury’s environmental enhancement fund.

Matthew regularly jetboats, fishes and hunts throughout the lower river and lakes of the Waitaki catchment. He is married to Julie and they have three young children. Robin Murphy (Glenavy, Waimate) Robin is chair of the Morven Glenavy Ikawai Irrigation Company. He is active on the Waihao Wainono Water Use Society, and was on Environment Canterbury’s Southern Regional Committee.

A dairy farmer in the region since 1975, Robin’s property uses water from the Waitaki River, and until recently he was an active member of the Lower Waitaki River Society.

Robin served two terms on the Waimate District Council where his main interests focussed on economic development and finance and has been active in sporting and recreational groups – particularly tennis and table tennis – within the community.

He says he has a strong interest in water for agriculture and for the recreational use for all New Zealanders. He is married with one adult son, Bruce, who farms in partnership with his parents.

Sean McCready (West Melton) Sean is a partnership manager with Meridian Energy Limited and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Management and the Institute of Directors NZ. He has experience in the hydro electricity sector including working on the Manapouri power station and Mackenzie district power scheme. He is a member of the Selwyn District Water Race Committee, is an executive member for the Power Engineering Excellence Trust and a board member of West Melton School.

Sean says his role for Meridian requires him to engage with the Waitaki community seeking long-term solutions. He believes in the importance of developing transparent community relationships and of balancing and prioritising limited resources.

“I believe the Waitaki River and community is a very special unique location for New Zealanders from environmental, historic, recreational and economic perspectives. I want to be able to contribute to managing a vitally important resource to ensure a balance between environmental, economic and social needs for future generations.” Sean says he enjoys developing his 30-acre lifestyle property, gardening, tramping and family time with his partner and five-year-old son. Kate White (Kurow) Kate owns an irrigated farm on the edge of the Waitaki River at Otiake, is a keen environmentalist, is heavily involved in Waitaki community activities and is the senior ambulance officer in Kurow.

She initiated the first community meeting for Kurow for Project Acqua, from which the Kurow Aqua Liaison Group was formed.

She set up the Waitaki Environmental Charitable Trust, has been a member of the Lower Waitaki River Management Society since its inception, and is a member of Waitaki First.

She spent 10 years with the Organic Producers Exporters NZ, three of them as chair, and she was a founding member of the Ahuriri Resource Trust which started recycling within the Waitaki communities.

Kate is company director with Waitaki Honey Company Limited. Her additional community activities include teaching yoga in Twizel, Kurow and Tokarahi.

Earlier Kate spent more than 30 years in the film and television industry as a producer and director.

“The greatest resource we have in the world today is fresh water. I am passionate about the survival of rivers and the need for sustainability within their use. I am particularly passionate about the Waitaki River, its survival, and its unique features as a braided river.” Andrew Cocking (Timaru) Andrew has spent the past 15 years on land-based management within the forestry industry in South and North Otago and South Canterbury. He is the South Island Regional Manager for Blakely Pacific Limited, based in Timaru, and responsible for the management of 25,000 hectares of sustainably managed production forests.

Andrew believes committed leadership to developing sustainable water management solutions for Canterbury is essential.

“Forests play a key role in managing water quality and flow. Principles in riparian management of waterways and management around native forests are key components of modern day forest management. I am proud to work in an industry that places a strong emphasis on growing sustainable communities for future generations.”

He is a board member of the South Canterbury Rural Fire Committee, on the Otago/Southland Southern Wood Council, and is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

Andrew, a keen golfer, is married to Jodie. They have four school-aged daughters. Anne Te Maiharoa-Dodds (Glenavy, Waimate) Anne belongs to Waitaha, has been a nurse receptionist for a medical centre in Timaru and was formerly personal secretary to the medical superintendent-in-chief at Timaru Hospital.

She was instrumental in establishing the first health clinic on the Arowhenua marae, and helped carry responsibility for the Waihao marae when families moved away to workplaces elsewhere.

She has chaired hui at Waihao, and is on the Lower Waitaki River Management Society.

A former Maori Advisor, Anne is a marriage celebrant in the district and recently was one of three judges of school kapa haka groups.

She has organised Waitangi Day events in the area, and helped with workshops in harakeke at North Otago Museum and other cultural events over many years.

She says the Lower Waitaki is special to her whanau as all were born and bred there.

“When our mother collected food, it was saved in a basket and shared. Now we are putting our knowledge in a basket to share. It is about culture, coming together and taking care of the wai. It is our responsibility.”

ENDS

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