Kaikoura Water Management Zone Committee announced

The Kaikōura water management zone committee will meet for the first time at its official launch on 15 July at the Fyffe Country Lodge.

The committee is the eighth to begin addressing local water issues using the goals and methods developed via the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

Community members Ted Howard, Matt Hoggard, Ron Mackle, Tony Blunt, Derrick Millton and Sarah Beardmore were appointed to the committee following a thorough selection process.

The zone committee also includes Kaikōura Mayor Winston Gray, Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Bedford and Runanga appointee Gina Solomon.

Winston Gray says much care was taken to ensure the best combination of people, skills, interests and expertise was chosen to ensure the collective strength of the committee.

“The role of the committee is to develop a water management implementation programme for the Kaikōura zone to give effect to the fundamental principles and targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.”

“Despite coming from varied backgrounds and having different interests, each member has the experience, desire and collaborative skills required to achieve this and ensure the area’s water resources are managed in the best interests of the community, he said.

Applicants were assessed on skills, expertise, and experience as well as their ability to work together to develop water management solutions that deliver economic, social, cultural and environmental outcomes.

Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Bedford said the establishment of the Kaikōura Zone Committee represents another important step in the implementation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.

“It is satisfying to have the eighth zone committee formed and it shows the people of Canterbury are ready for the hard work of managing our water resource following significant and wide-ranging stakeholder input over the years.

“We are confident we have a pool of capable people who, together with the other committee members, will develop a broad water management programme for the area with skill and urgency,” he said.

The Kaikōura Zone Committee operates as a joint committee of the Kaikōura District Council and Environment Canterbury. Committee meetings are open to the public.

Agendas and minutes will be posted on each council's website and on the www.canterburywater.org.nz website.

Kaikōura Zone Committee member profiles

Tony Blunt
Tony is a sixth generation resident of the Kaikōura District and the third generation to farm his Inland Road property on the Kahutara River. He has also worked on farms in Australia, Canada and Scotland. Tony is a member of the Kaikōura A&P Show committee and has also been on the organising committee of the Young Farmer contest.

Ted Howard
Ted is a self-employed consultant with an environmental science background. He lives in Kaikōura and is a member of Te Korowai, a committee member of Kaikōura Forest and Bird and President of the local Lions and Kaikōura Boating Clubs. Ted was also a Kaikōura District Councillor from 2001-2004.

Ron Mackle
Ron has been involved in dairy farming all his life and continues to farm in partnership with family. He has been a Director and Chairman of the Kaikōura Dairy Company for many years. Ron has chaired the Lyall Creek Streamcare Group and the Lyall Creek Water Users Group, and in the past been Chairman of various Community Groups.

Derrick Milton
Derrick has owned a 1511 ha beef and sheep farm in the Clarence Valley for more than 25 years. His property is partly irrigated from the Clarence River. He also owns and operates a Lime Quarry, Waipapa Limestone Co Limited, at Clarence Bridge. Derrick is a founding member of a local community land care group called ECCO, a member of Marlborough Federated Farmers and a member of the Kaikōura Pest management Liaison Committee.

Sarah Beardmore
Sarah, a school teacher, has lived beside the Clarence River for 14 years and is a keen river user – her brother runs Clarence River Rafting. Sarah is very active in her local community and has chaired the Woodbank School Board of Trustees for almost six years. As well as holding teaching qualifications, Sarah has also studied towards a Masters of Social Work.

Matt Hoggard
Matt is strongly involved in the outdoors around Kaikōura and is passionate about local natural landscapes. As a district planner for Kaikōura District Council Matt has experience with resource consent applications. He is also treasurer for the Kaikōura Land Search and Rescue.

Gina Solomon
Gina Solomon was raised in Oaro and now lives in Peketa, Kaikōura. She is of Ngāi Tahu, Ngati Kuri descent and also affiliates to Ngati Apa, Ngati Kuia, e Atiawa, Ngati Koata, Rangitane and Ngati Toa nga iwi.

Gina was the Secretary for Te Runanga o Kaikōura for 12 years has been involved with many Runanga businesses since 1994, working mainly in the areas of education and the environment.

She is also a Runanga and Ngāi Tahu representative for many organisations and boards including the Nelson/Marlborough Conservation Board and Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura, Kaikoura Coastal Marine Guardians.

David Bedford
David Bedford moved to Canterbury in 2005 following a corporate career in Australia and New Zealand.

He now owns a small vineyard in North Canterbury which he manages with his wife and son. David is also an Environment Canterbury Commissioner and the Chair of Enterprise North Canterbury.

David has extensive experience in senior management, including human resources and change management.

His most recent corporate role was as Chief Operating Officer for AAPT, Telecom's business in Australia, between 2000 and 2003.

Winston Gray
Winston Gray was elected Mayor of Kaikōura in 2010.

Born and raised in Kaikōura, Mayor Gray is a keen outdoor enthusiast and has four adult children with wife Mary. He began his working life as a shearer and continued his rural career as a sheep and beef farmer before moving into Real Estate.

Mayor Gray has been President of the Kaikōura A & P Association, Chairperson of the Charwell and Kaikōura High School Boards and Kaikōura Community Aquatic Trust and President of the Kaikōura Rugby Club. He is currently a committee member of the Rugby Club.