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Farmer thankful for soil conservation support Support from Environment Canterbury’s Soil Conservation and Revegetation (SCAR) Programme has enabled a North Canterbury farmer to address erosion issues on his farm. The SCAR Programme aims to reduce the amount of sediment washed into waterways by stabilising eroding land with poplar and willow poles. The roots from the…
New elevation mapping gives fresh insights into parts of Waitaha Waitaha/Canterbury can now be viewed in 3D thanks to new data from a ground-breaking aerial laser survey of the region. The entire coastline from Waiau-toa/Clarence River to Waimate was captured between January and December 2020 as part of the NZ National Elevation Programme — a collaboration…
Student’s solution to microplastics just came naturally A Christchurch high school student believes a simple wool filter could go a long way in stopping microplastics from entering our waterways – and she has evidence to back up her theory. Millie Palmer (winner) and finalist Holly Fraser with judge Jon Hickford, and Councillors Greg Byrne and…
Highlights a reason to celebrate as Annual Report is adopted We have released our adopted Annual Report for the financial year 2021/22. Chair Peter Scott said it was only when you got the chance to read something like the Annual Report and take a minute to stop and reflect that you realise what has been…
Report an environmental incident on Snap, Send, Solve Have you spotted a pit of rubbish on fire? Seen a sizeable sheen of oil in a stream? Noticed chemicals spilt on the roadside? Report it so we can sort it! If an environmental incident seems time critical, call our incident hotline on 0800 765 588 (24…
Water quality results at Lyttelton Harbour – what’s the story? Long-term grades for Corsair Bay, Diamond Harbour Beach, Rāpaki Bay and Purau Bay changed to poor prior to this summer. This is understandably concerning for Cantabrians who love to swim at these summer hot spots. From November to March, we monitor more than 100 popular…
Do you want strong biosecurity outcomes? Then we want to hear from you. If you want to be a champion for biosecurity outcomes and create lasting change in your community, we want to hear from you. There is still time for community members to apply for on one of four Biosecurity Advisory Groups, with applications…
Protecting braided river birds pays off in North Canterbury The community got a first-hand look at how black-fronted terns and black-billed gulls are being protected in North Canterbury. Presentations at the rugby club before the river visit Around 40 people attended the braided river birds field day in Culverden in late November, which was organised…
Watch out for rising river and lake levels when camping this summer If you’re heading off camping to the southern lakes and rivers, keep up-to-date with weather conditions, especially if you’re choosing a spot close to water. With recent heavy rain and flooding events across Canterbury campers should be hyper-vigilant of the high river and lake levels,…
Ōtūwharekai/Ashburton Lakes pop-up event announced A public information day focusing on the water quality and health of the Ōtūwharekai/Ashburton Lakes will be supported by the Ashburton Water Zone Committee. Event details When: Saturday 25 February 2023, 11am-2pm Where: On the waterfront at Te-Puna-a-Taka/Lake Clearwater, Mount Darchiac Dr The event will help share the work underway to…
Seaweek Poetry Competition 2023 Celebrating connection with the sea | Toi Moana ~ Toi Tangata Seaweek 2023 runs from Saturday 4 March to Sunday 12 March. The theme for Seaweek highlights the holistic element of our relationship with the nature world: healthy seas – healthy people. We need healthy and sustainable seas to sustain the…
Waitaha students leading the way in sustainability Enviroschool students across Waitaha recently celebrated their sustainability journeys at Burnside Primary School as part of the annual Enviro-leaders Hui. About 70 students in year 7 and 8 took part in the day’s activities this term, including a tour of Burnside Primary’s many initiatives, followed by other Enviroschools…
Driving real change: 20% of Metro’s bus fleet now zero-emission The streets of Greater Christchurch are a little quieter, and a lot greener, with 16 new electric buses rolling out onto our roads from this week. The new vehicles join a further 28 electric vehicles added to the fleet in the last two years, which…
Waimakariri Water Zone Committee’s final field trip and plans for 2023 Waimakariri Water Zone Committee chair Michael Blackwell Waimakariri Water Zone Committee chair Michael Blackwell talks about the committee’s recent visit to Tūhaitara coastal park, why nitrates are important and the committee’s plans for 2023. We were lucky enough to have Te Kōhaka o Tūhaitara…
Waitaki lakes’ water quality results shared A detailed summary of water quality in the lakes was shared with the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee meeting in December. The Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee received a water quality update and new groundwater research from our science team at its December meeting The committee, who met in…
Project protecting native habitat at Kaiapoi The sweeping wetland surrounding the Kaiapoi River before it meets the Waimakariri is home to īnanga/whitebait and rare, native manu/birds like the matuku-hūrepo/Australasian bittern. Over the last 15 years, the wetland has been steadily invaded by pest plants that threaten the fish habitat. Now, a project led by us…
New and familiar faces round the table for Northern water zone committees Canterbury’s nine water zone committees have undergone a refresh, giving keen community members the chance to join. Water zone committees develop actions and tactics to deliver on the 10 targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) in their zone. They are joint committees of…
Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee welcomes two new members The Christchurch West Melton Water Zone Committee is pleased to introduce its newest members, Clare Piper and Cailin Richardson Hall. Annabelle Hasselman was also reappointed to the committee. Water zone committees are made up of people with a wide range of interests in water, who…
Love our Lakes – Keep the Waitaki Lakes clean If you’re planning a trip to the Waitaki lakes do your bit to protect the environment and the māuri (life force) of the water. Love our lakes: bring your own waste-free picnic With the summer holidays fast approaching, the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee is letting visitors to the Waitaki lakes…
New committee structure to oversee regional council work The Canterbury Regional Council has agreed to its committee structure for the next three years, setting in place the governance oversight and reporting for Environment Canterbury’s work. Chair Peter Scott said the aim was to match the new committee structure to the organisation’s workstream portfolios as closely…
Environment Canterbury welcomes extension of half-price fares Environment Canterbury welcomes the Government’s extension of half-price public transport fares until 31 March 2023. The half-price fare extension will apply to all of Canterbury’s public transport services which are currently receiving the discount. Metro’s new fare structure is scheduled to be implemented once the 50% fares initiative…
Can I swim here? Check the water quality before you get in We monitor over 100 sites around Canterbury for water quality Waitaha/Canterbury has some stunning swim spots to cool off during hot summer days, but it’s important to be aware of water quality issues and how to stay informed. Before heading to the beach, river…
Farmers encouraged to adopt proven methods for reducing nitrogen loss Environment Canterbury is recommending several cost-effective and efficient practices farmers can adopt to reduce nitrogen loss. Changes in land use in our region have put pressure on our environment. Canterbury’s surface water is strongly connected to groundwater, so what we do on the land affects…
Environment Canterbury welcomes announcement of agreement for bus drivers Environment Canterbury welcomes the announcement of an upcoming sector agreement for bus drivers by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Minister of Immigration Michael Wood. Chair of the regional council (Environment Canterbury) Peter Scott said the bus driver shortage had impacted services across the country, including…
Biodiversity wins funding across the region Vital protection and restoration projects targeting Canterbury’s indigenous biodiversity and environmental health are getting further support as funding has been allocated for the coming year. The total funding allocated to targeted biodiversity projects for 2023 is just over $1.1M and covers a broad range of focus areas; including braided…
Resource consent processing changes – what’s the story? The Court of Appeal’s decision on how we consider resource consent applications for water ‘take’ and ‘use’ has far-reaching implications for how we manage Canterbury’s water. “When it [direction change] comes through the courts, it can be a short, sharp shock – and that can be difficult…
‘Tis the season…to not get stranded It’s that time of year when swarms of Cantabrians take to our rivers and lakes for fishing, swimming, four-wheel driving, camping, and exploring. But the time of year we lovingly call the ‘silly season’ is also when some silly summer weather patterns can catch people off guard and leave…
Funding sees increased planting across Waimakariri Native hotspots across Waimakariri are receiving 7,000 plants to increase biodiversity, mahinga kai, water quality and community connection outcomes. The plants are being provided by us, with Waimakariri District Council coordinating the planting which is being carried out by their staff and community. Increased native planting will support continued…
Restoration mahi underway at Te Kopi-O-Te Ōpihi/Burkes Pass A weedy stretch of the Ōpihi River will be transformed at Te Kopi-O-Te Ōpihi/Burkes Pass, allowing people to enjoy nature and learn about the history of the area as an important place for gathering kai and resources. The long-term project is underway with support from the Ōrāri…
BioBlitz at Muriwai o Whata Join Environment Canterbury, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Te Taumutu Rūnanga to celebrate the biodiversity of wetlands with a BioBlitz at Muriwai o Whata/Coopers Lagoon, a special place of cultural and natural significance. Source link