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Reduce nitrogen loss — Join our catch crops field day in Omarama Farmers, don’t let your winter nitrogen go to waste — grow more feed between main crops and pasture renewal. Join us for a field day in Omarama to learn about catch crops from scientists studying their potential in the high-country. Event details Date:…
From your streets to our streams – take action to protect stormwater This summer, we are encouraging everyone to take simple steps to protect our waterways—starting with being mindful about what ends up in our stormwater drains when you’re out and about. Every time it rains, water washes across our roads, driveways and footpaths—carrying with…
Keep you and your dog safe from toxic algae this summer With summer just around the corner, rivers and lakes across Aotearoa New Zealand are calling — but it’s also the time to watch out for toxic algae that can harm both people and their pets. Toxic algae, also known as cyanobacteria, thrives in warm,…
Motu Move rolls out in Greater Christchurch Motu Move, Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Ticketing Solution, has launched in Greater Christchurch. Residents and visitors can now pay for Metro bus and ferry services using contactless credit/debit cards, phones, or smartwatches. Through the National Ticketing Solution (NTS), passengers can now pay for standard non-concession adult fares using…
Robinsons Bay locals encouraged to protect peninsula from Chilean needle grass Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula residents are being encouraged to stay vigilant following the recent discovery of Chilean needle grass near Kākakaiau Robinsons Bay, the first known site of this invasive pest plant on the peninsula. The discovery prompted swift action from our…
Major disruptions to Metro routes on Friday 7 November Due to a driver union meeting, Ōtautahi Christchurch residents may experience bus service disruptions on Friday 7 November. Routes affected The following routes will be affected from 9:10am to 2:30pm: 1 Rangiora-Cashmere 5 Rolleston-New Brighton 7 Halswell-Queenspark 27 Northwood-Huntsbury 44 Shirley-Westmortland 60 Hillmorton-Southshore 80 Lincoln-Parklands 95…
Monitor your local streams with new testing kits How healthy is your local stream? You can now find out with our easy-to-use Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kits (SHMAK), available for community use across Waitaha Canterbury. Landowners, schools, iwi, and community groups can now access testing kits to monitor the health of local streams and rivers….
What you need to know about extreme weather events With weather events causing damage and disruption across Waitaha Canterbury in the past week, we understand the challenges as landowners take stock of the impacts and begin the clean up. Work can be undertaken to remediate and clean up following an extreme weather event. When going…
Love your backyard? Here’s how to enjoy it without the smoke The weather’s heating up, but that doesn’t mean your fire should! In most parts of Christchurch, lighting your fire pit or brazier for warmth or ambience isn’t allowed. Under the Canterbury Air Regional Plan, using fire pits, chimineas, and braziers is generally not permitted…
Free wetland restoration workshop to be held in Glenavy Join Dr Rebecca Eivers in Glenavy for a hands-on wetlands restoration workshop. Learn how to create, restore, and manage farm-scale wetlands. Workshop details Date: Friday 7 November 2025 Time: 9am to 5pm Location: Glenavy Hall, 3 Innes Street, Glenavy Register: Contact our land management advisor Jess Cochrane…
New leadership for the Canterbury Regional Council Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) has confirmed its new Chair and Deputy Chair, beginning a new leadership term focused on collaboration and sustainable outcomes for Waitaha Canterbury. Chair and deputy chair appointed Source link
State of Local Emergency Declared for the Canterbury Region A Red Warning is in place for Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains from 9am to 4pm today (Thursday 23 October). Expect severe gale northwesterlies with damaging gusts up to 140 km/h in exposed areas. A State of Emergency has been declared and remains in place to…
Final results confirm new councillors for regional council Final election results confirm the make-up of Canterbury Regional Council, with six re-elected and six new faces around the table. The Christchurch South/Ōwhanga constituency has entirely new representation, while the other five have a mix of new and returning councillors. First time councillors include John Faulkner, Sara…
Welcoming major Government investment in Canterbury’s flood resilience We have welcomed a significant $21.5M co-funding investment from the Government to accelerate Waitaha Canterbury’s flood resilience efforts. The announcement, made by Minister Shane Jones today, will see nine priority projects identified in our 30-year infrastructure programme accelerated, with new co-funding drawn from the second tranche of…
Hay bale grazing a game-changer for Hororata dairy farm Four years into switching from conventional winter cropping to hay bale grazing, Deane Parker and Melissa Scarlett are seeing transformational results. The couple are operating a 200-hectare irrigated dairy farm in Hororata, central Canterbury. Aside from buying in their high-quality hay, they are self-contained with 360…
‘WOPPers’ wipe out 4500 pests in two years around Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour The Whaka-Ora Pest Project (WOPP), run by Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ), protects native wildlife by targeting pests like rats, possums, stoats, and hedgehogs around Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour. Lily Duval is a WOPPer. That may sound like an insult, but it’s a good…
Glenavy workshop to show benefits of soil moisture monitoring A workshop in Glenavy in South Canterbury this month will provide farmers with useful tips on how to get the most out of soil moisture monitoring tools, to make farming easier and more environmentally efficient. Source link
Extra funding boosts wilding pine control in the Mackenzie Basin Work to control wilding pines in the Mackenzie Basin is ramping up with an extra $2 million in government funding that recognises the serious threat these pest trees pose to the region. This investment will support efforts to protect South Canterbury’s unique landscapes, native biodiversity,…
Progress election results released Progress election results for Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) have been released. Deputy Electoral Officer and General Manager Governance Lisa Goodman said there were still some votes to be counted before the final result could be released. “Special votes and some ordinary votes cast close to the deadline on Saturday morning…
Help protect Canterbury’s braided river birds this spring Nesting is underway for some of Canterbury’s special braided river birds and people can do their bit for nature by helping to keep them safe. Source link
Restoring wetlands for a healthier future A Timaru wetland restoration workshop has sparked new enthusiasm for protecting Waitaha Canterbury’s waterways, improving water quality, and restoring native habitats. Over two days, farmers, ecologists, and land managers came together to learn practical ways to bring wetlands back to life — and make them work for both the…
From winter woolies to summer pyjamas: free heat pump transforms a Rangiora home When Rangiora first-home buyer Courtney Mitchell moved into her 66-square-metre home earlier this year, she had to borrow a heater to stay warm. The home did have a wood burner but compliance had expired six years earlier. What she didn’t expect was…
Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai wins top honour for conservation excellence The Whakaora Te Waikēkēwai project, a flagship initiative of the Te Waihora Co-Governance Group, has been awarded the prestigious Te Waka o Aoraki trophy at the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board awards — the highest accolade recognising outstanding conservation efforts in the Waitaha Canterbury region. Source link
Soil moisture monitoring workshop: Get it working for you Come along to our “Set For Spring” sessions to learn how to choose and calibrate the right soil moisture monitoring system for your Farm Environment Plan (FEP) auditing process. Event details Date: Monday 20 October 2025 Time: 10am to 12pm with a BBQ lunch provided Location:…
Playing with fire: the cost of ignoring outdoor burning rules We’re urging North Canterbury residents to take greater care with outdoor burning after a sharp rise in complaints over the past few weeks. Outdoor burning rules exist to protect our air and our community. Reports have highlighted a number of problems, including people burning materials…
Hay bale grazing: Wintering with less mud More Waitaha Canterbury farmers have been experimenting with hay bale grazing this past winter in a bid to minimise pugging and retain soil nutrients and structure. The practice has been endorsed by Bioeconomy Science Institute (formerly AgResearch) soil scientist, Ross Monaghan, who led the Soil Armour study finding…
Be a smart irrigator this season Before the irrigation season arrives, it’s important to make sure your irrigation equipment is operating efficiently. It may also be a requirement of your consent to show you have done this during your Farm Environment Plan audit. Source link
Funding backs restoration and conservation in Hurunui Six environmental initiatives, including projects to keep nesting birds safe, control the spread of invasive weeds and pests, and enhance biodiversity, will benefit from a share of $50,000 in funding. Source link
From our Chair: We’re requesting a review of National Air Quality Standards Earlier this week, I wrote to the Minister for the Environment, requesting a review of the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality as part of central government’s work programme on resource management. The letter is as follows: Source link
That’s a wrap – the last Council meeting of the triennium The Council meeting on Wednesday 17 September was the last of the 2022/2025 triennium. It was a very full session requiring no less than two resolutions to extend the meeting. There were four Notices of Motion for the Council to consider and a busy…