Water Management in Canterbury

Water is significant to the Canterbury region both in terms of high and on-going irrigation demand, and, the implications of water extraction and use on the sustainability of its rivers, aquifers and aquatic ecology. There was a need for a paradigm shift in the approach to water management as the RMA processes were found to be inadequate to manage resources at sustainability limits. Strategic studies evolved from a technical investigation of future demand with a focus on additional water storage to a collaborative process for the development on an integrated water management strategy – the Canterbury Water Management Strategy . The implementation of the strategy is still in progress. The strategy is based on ten target areas identified by the community engagement process as the main uses and benefits of water in the Canterbury region. A collaborative governance framework has been established for developing implementation programmes for ten water management zones and for the region.