Winding its way from mountains to sea, through farmland and urban areas, the Ashburton River/Hakatere is at the heart of the Ashburton region. Now a new minimum flow condition on the river’s water users will help realise the community’s aspiration for a healthier awa.

As of 1 July 2023, 74 consents to take water that either directly or indirectly affect flow in the Ashburton River/Hakatere have a new minimum flow condition attached. Water users will not be permitted to take water when flow is less than six cumecs at State Highway 1. Some have additional minimum flow conditions for other measurement points upstream.

A process years in the making

Under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy, the Ashburton Water Zone Committee was tasked with overseeing the development of a Zone Implementation Programme (ZIP) – essentially, a plan for meeting the community’s freshwater goals.