Christchurch-West Melton Zone Committee Milestone for CWMS

The members of the Christchurch-West Melton Zone Committee have been announced meaning all ten zone committees are now operational under the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).

The Christchurch-West Melton Zone Committee features six community members as well as three Rūnanga representatives and two from council.

The community members are Ann Winstanley, Deidre Francis, Hugh Thorpe, Ian Fox, Jon Harding, and Robert Wynn-Williams. The Rūnanga appointees are Herena Stone (Rāpaki), Arapata Reuben (Tūāhuriri) and Craig Pauling (Taumutu). The three council representatives are Environment Canterbury Commissioner Rex Williams, Selwyn District Councillor Debra Hasson and Christchurch City Councillor Sally Buck.

Rex Williams says the formation of the last zone committee is an important milestone for the CWMS.

“It is satisfying to have the final zone committee formed and it shows the people of Christchurch and West Melton are ready for the hard work of managing the area’s water resource.

“The existing zone committees provide an excellent footprint for others to follow and show how effective collaboration and engagement can be. The goal of each zone committee is to deliver water management strategies that enable present and future generations the greatest social and economic benefits and we are confident we have a pool of capable people who can achieve this.

“I know I can speak on behalf of all committee members when I say we are looking forward to coming up to speed with the major issues affecting water management in the area and making a positive difference,” he said.

Committee members are appointed for a three year term, after which a new committee will be formed. The committee will operate as a joint committee of Environment Canterbury, Christchurch City Council and the Selwyn District Council.

Councillor Sally Buck 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 Christchurch-West Melton 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,” she 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.

The Christchurch-West Melton water management zone committee will meet for the first time at its official launch on 7 October.

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


Media invitation to Christchurch - West Melton Zone Committee Launch

Media is invited to attend the Powhiri and official launch at Rehua Marae on Friday 7 October 2011.

Those wishing to attend should be on-site by 5:15 to be welcomed on to the marae.

The launch will conclude at 6:30pm.


Christchurch-West Melton Zone Committee member profiles

Community appointees

Ann Winstanley
Ann lives in Beckenham and is a Senior Scientist / Sociologist with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research. Ann has specialised in participatory decision-making in case study settings, working with a wide range of community groups and councils around managing natural resources in New Zealand. Ann has a background in nursing and has research interests including community drinking water supplies and the health impacts of water management and urban design decisions.

Deidre Francis
Deidre Francis moved to West Melton in January 2011 and comes from a farming background, having grown up on a family farm in North Otago. She is a Resource Management Planner by profession, with 14 years experience working for Environment Southland. Before moving to Canterbury, Deidre was a member of the Otatara Community Group and Otatara Landcare Group.

Hugh Thorpe
Hugh is a private consultant with 34 years experience in groundwater. Earlier in his career he was involved with hydropower design, tertiary teaching and administering government policy. He has also worked on water resources aid projects in Thailand. Hugh is a certified Hearings Commissioner for Resource Management Act applications.

Ian Fox
Ian is currently President of the White Water Canoe Club based in Christchurch, and frequently kayaks on the Waimakariri River and other waterways. Ian has been a Tustee of the Tekapo White Water Trust since 2009 and a River Safety Team Leader for the Coast to Coast since 2003. Ian has taken a close interest in the working of the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee as a community observer.

Jon Harding
Jon is an Associate Professor of Freshwater Ecology at the University of Canterbury. He has more than 20 years experience with freshwater issues including the effects of land use activities on the biodiversity and health of freshwater ecosystems. Jon was a member of the Board of Inquiry on the National Policy Statement of Freshwater Management and is currently on the Royal Society Biological & Life Sciences Advisory Panel and the Department of Conservation Freshwater Invertebrate Threatened Species Advisory Group. Jon lives in Russley. Jon has authored and edited four books on freshwater ecology and has worked for many years on Christchurch streams.

Robert Wynn-Williams
Robert has been a Trustee of Christchurch Little River Rail Trail since 2007 and lives on Shands Road. Robert is a professional agriculturalist and agronomist and a former farm consultant. He is a Fellow and Life Member of the Agronomy Society of New Zealand and has sat on a number of industry advisory committees. Robert was a member of the Lincoln University Council for a number of years, is a keen angler, and is currently a small scale truffle farmer.


Rūnanga appointees

Herena Stone (Rāpaki)
Herena Stone, of Kāti Wheke, Kāi Tahu, has lived and worked in the Christchurch-West Melton zone for most of her life and currently is an Executive member of her Rūnaka, a company Director and also a Trustee for several land Trusts. Her previous work experience includes nursing and midwifery, community development, health management and most recently legal practice.

Arapata Reuben (Tūāhuriri)
Arapata has strong historical family ties with Christchurch waterways. His great-great-great grandfather Te Muru was a Kaitiaki (guardian) for the Heathcote / Opawaho River. Arapata and his family, who live in Tuahiwi, still have a deep sense of belonging with the natural environment and its ability to nourish whānau. Arapata is currently employed with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu as the Kāiarahi Whakapapa in the Whakapapa Unit.

Craig Pauling (Te Taumutu)
Craig lives in Halswell with is three tamariki, Mihiroa, Meihana and Tainui and wife Janyne. Craig is passionate about the protection and restoration of native flora and fauna and has been involved in a number of ecological restoration projects in Canterbury. He is a founding Trustee of the Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway Canterbury Trust and represents the six Mid-Canterbury Rūnanga on the CWMS Regional Committee. Craig has worked for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu for more than 10 years as an Environmental Advisor and also represents Te Taumutu Rūnanga on the Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere Management Board.


Council Appointees

Rex Williams (Environment Canterbury)
Rex Williams is the Chancellor of Canterbury University, chair of H W Richardson Group and an Environment Canterbury Commissioner. He was the Managing Director of Holcim Cement (New Zealand) until 2007 and has more than 30 years experience in senior management positions. He has served on a number of boards and is recognised for his business acumen and governance skills.

Rex was a key founder of the environmental lobby group the Water Rights Trust, which was formed in 2002 to address increasing concern about poor water management and deteriorating water quality in Canterbury. He is also a keen recreational angler and enjoys a number of outdoor sports.

Cr Sally Buck (Christchurch City Council)
Sally Buck has been a City Councillor and Community Board member since 1998. Sally Chairs the Regional Joint Landfill Committee , the Regional Waste Minimisation

Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. She also initiated the sustainability and climate change working party. Sally serves on the regulatory and planning committee, funding committees, sister city committees, creative communities committee and is also the council representative on the Transwaste Board, the Christchurch Agency for Energy and various other organisations.

Sally is a strong advocate for waste minimisation, sustainability, greening businesses and protecting the aquifer water supply for Christchurch and Canterbury. She is a qualified RMA commissioner, has a teaching degree and a masters degree in education. She has worked in a variety of jobs including teaching advocacy, employment consultancy and event management.

Cr Debra Hasson (Selwyn District Council)
Debra Hasson has been elected a Selwyn District Councillor for the past 16 years. She has a background in agricultural science and environmental and resource planning. Debra is a qualified resource management hearing commissioner and volunteers her time at Community Law Canterbury. She lives on a rural property in Springston and coordinates a local water improvement group.