Latest news with #CanterburyMayoralForum
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Mayors Call For Clarity On Regional Council Alternatives
North Canterbury's mayors say they are not opposed to change, but they want to know what would replace regional councils. There has been a bit of chat about scrapping regional councils, but Hurunui Mayor Marie Black and Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle say they have yet to see a better alternative. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Resources Minister Shane Jones have suggested regional councils could be abolished as part of the Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has expressed support for forming a unitary authority, but the North Canterbury mayors are not so keen. They say the present model is working, with Environment Canterbury (ECan) as the regional council, supported by the Canterbury Mayoral Forum - a forum of the region's mayors. Mrs Black said the mayoral forum has worked well together this term. ''We have all brought into the mantra, if it's good for one, it's got to be good for all. ''If we can all hold true to that, you don't lose the voice of the small rural areas against the big metro.'' Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said geographically his district is the same size as regions like Taranaki, but has just 9205 ratepayers. ''Those places with unitary authorities act as a one-stop shop, but you probably need a certain population base to make it viable, and what that population base is, is the question.'' Mr Mackle said with just 3082 ratepayers, there is no way his council could take on ECan's functions, such as looking after rivers, environmental issues, pest control and flood mitigation. It would mean amalgamating with either the Marlborough District Council, a unitary authority in the north, or other Canterbury councils to the south. ''I'm not opposed to change, but show me how it works for our district,'' Mr Mackle said. ''What representation would we have? Do we want to loose our voice to save a couple of bucks?'' Former Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jim Palmer led a review of local government, with a report presented to Parliament in 2023. He said looking at the structure of local government in isolation was unlikely to achieve a sustainable outcome. Other issues such as funding, partnership with central Government, empowering local government to develop local solutions, enabling ''citizen-led democracy'', improved governance arrangements and embracing the Treaty of Waitangi also needed to be addressed. ''Local government needs to be given the opportunity to lead the design process, supported by central Government,'' Mr Palmer said. Unitary authorities or ''combined networked councils'' were possible alternatives, but each region is different. ''In my view, just transferring regional council functions to existing councils would be unworkable as most local authorities do not have the capacity,'' Mr Palmer said. ''It requires a certain critical mass to operate effectively.'' Combined networked councils is where local councils appoint representatives to make decisions at a regional level, similar to the Greater Christchurch Partnership, which brings together representatives from the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri councils and ECan.
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Science
- Scoop
NIWA Study On Native Forest Likely To Influence Carbon Policy
A recent study of carbon storage in native forests could affect the efforts of Canterbury's mayors to address climate change. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (Niwa) recently completed a study of native forests and found they could be absorbing more carbon dioxide than previously thought. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum, which brings together the region's mayors, and Environment Canterbury (ECan) have been working to address climate change, with the forum launching the Canterbury Climate Partnership Plan in December. While more research is needed, ECan said initial indications were indigenous forests and some grazed pasture areas in the South Island could be effective at absorbing carbon. ''The recent Niwa-led study is an exciting development in the way we look at carbon in the atmosphere and the types of ecosystems that absorb carbon,'' an ECan spokesperson said. ECan adopted its own climate action plan last year and is reviewing its forest management strategies to address climate risks and and carbon opportunities. ''We have backed native planting and restoration of ecosystems on marginal farmland as it supports climate resilience, biodiversity and water quality goals,'' the ECan spokesperson said. ''We keep up to date with research like this and take it into consideration as our plans and policies are reviewed and updated. Canterbury Mayoral Forum chairperson Nigel Bowen said the research findings are timely as the forum continues to address climate change. ''We know that we need to work with nature to address the dual climate and biodiversity challenges we face. ''We recognise the importance of our native forests and the multiple benefits that native vegetation provides, including absorbing greenhouse gas emissions and improving indigenous biodiversity.'' But Mr Bowen said while absorbing greenhouse gas emissions will help the help the country meet its international emissions reduction targets, reducing emissions at source remained the priority. Niwa atmospheric scientist Dr Beata Bukosa said both native and exotic forests played a vital role in absorbing carbon through photosynthesis, but previous studies may have underestimated the amount of carbon taken up by native forests. Using advanced modelling and Niwa's supercomputer, the researchers examined a decade of atmospheric data, from 2011 to 2020. ''It was thought that some areas and land use types were in a near-balance state with the absorption and release of carbon,'' Dr Bukosa said. ''Earlier estimates of how much carbon was removed by New Zealand land ecosystems ranged from a net 24 to 118 million tonnes a year. ''Our research found that New Zealand's natural environment absorbed around 171 million tonnes of carbon annually.''
Scoop
30-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Water Committee Signs Off As Decision Looms On Replacement
The Ashburton Water Zone Committee signed off at their final meeting on Tuesday. Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown told the committee that the Canterbury Mayoral Forum will be deciding on the future model on Friday at its meeting in Kaikōura. Ten zone committees were launched, joint committees between Environment Canterbury and district councils, in 2010 to implement the Canterbury Water Management Strategy. The Mayoral Forum launched a review of the zone committees in 2023 to consider how best to include local leadership in freshwater decision-making. The new proposed model is for a local leadership group that will consist of ECan, district council, and Rūnanga representatives. Brown said he will be pushing the Ashburton District to retain a stand-alone group under the new structure, and for community representatives, from a local advisory group, to have a seat at the table. 'I can't see any reason why we won't get what we want in Ashburton.' The zone committee's final meeting had chairperson Bill Thomas, who joined the committee in 2016, have the final say. He covered the success, challenges, 'regulations, plan changes and solutions to local issues' the committee has tackled over the years and what the next steps are in the process towards a new model. Thomas thanked the committee members and the community members in attendance for their support and hoped the community voice the zone committee had championed wouldn't be lost in the new model. He hopes the proposed Mid Canterbury Advisory Group model will be a success. Committee member Angela Cushnie provided an update on the progress of forming the group to provide 'the voice of the local community to the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and Canterbury water management strategy in the development, implementation, and reporting' on regional and national policies. During the meeting, the committee received updates from various catchment and landcare groups. Hekeao Hinds Lowlands Catchment Group facilitator Phil Everest thanked the zone committee for their support over the years helping community-led environmental projects get off the ground. 'I think you can see clearly just what a little bit of seed funding can do to actually create good science and good work in our community that would have never have got off the ground without your support,' Everest said. The meeting also included a presentation from Ashburton Forks Catchment Group's Jono Allen, the son of Chris Allen who had served on the committee since 2014 until his death in a farm accident in December. Thomas said a plaque recognising Chris Allen's contribution to the community was being organised to be placed in the Forks catchment area near his family farm.
Scoop
17-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Freshwater Management Review Offers Options
Hurunui's mayor doesn't expect too much change in the way freshwater is managed in her district, following a region wide review. The Canterbury Mayoral Forum - which represents local councils - will meet on May 30 to complete its review of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) zone committees and make recommendations on their replacements. The remaining zone committees will be disbanded next month. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black has been on the mayoral forum's working group looking at the restructure. The Hurunui District Council disbanded the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee in 2019, and it was later replaced by a land and water committee. Mrs Black said the land and water committee was similar to a zone committee, with representatives from the local council, Environment Canterbury (ECan), mana whenua and stakeholders, but had a different focus. She said the work of the zone committee was largely taken over by initiatives such as Hurunui Irrigation, the Hurunui District Landcare Group, the Hurunui Biodiversity Trust and local catchment groups. But she saw a role for a local leadership in providing oversight and guidance. ''I think there is still a desire to have something like the land and water committee to bring the stakeholders together. ''We don't need a big people structure, we just need to support people to do this work.'' The CWMS came into force in 2009, leading to the formation of 10 zone committees, which are a partnership between ECan, local councils, rūnanga and up to seven community representatives. Under the proposed new model, local leadership groups comprising council and rūnanga representatives, will replace the zone committees. It will be up to each local leadership group to determine its final makeup, including any community involvement. The Kaikōura and Waimakariri zone committees, which both have the backing of their local councils, have expressed frustration at the lack consultation in the review process. But Mrs Black said the review was necessary as not all zone committees were working as intended. ''I think it was expected local authorities would consult with their zone committees. ''I don't think the working group's desire is to fundamentally change the way freshwater is managed, but if councils need to fine tune their arrangements this will give them a way to do that.'' Mrs Black said the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee was the first to be established and the first to develop a zone implementation plan - a set of rules for local freshwater management. But there was some dissatisfaction with the zone committee and it lost its purpose once the plan was completed, she said. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
