About us
The Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) has been developed over the past six years to address the issues around water in Canterbury.
These issues include the declining health of both surface water and groundwater, an ongoing loss of cultural value and recreational opportunities, as well as the declining availability and reliability of water for agricultural and energy users.
The CWMS establishes a collaborative framework for sustainably addressing these issues to enable present and future generations to gain the greatest social, economic, recreational and cultural benefits from Canterbury’s water resources.
Overall leadership of the CWMS lies with the Canterbury Mayoral Forum.
The Mayoral Forum
The Mayoral Forum is made up of the mayors, supported by the chief executives, of all Canterbury councils. The Forum’s role in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy is to represent the full Canterbury region as steward of the strategy.
Under its Charter the Canterbury Mayoral Forum can co-opt others to work on specific projects. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy Steering Group is an example of this.
Click here for a list of Mayoral Forum members »
The Steering Group
Appointed by and reporting to the Mayoral Forum, the Steering Group is made up of representatives from local government, environmental, farming, industry, tangata whenua and recreational interests. The purpose of this group is to provide expertise and advice to the Mayoral Forum.
Click here for a list of Steering Group Members »
Water Executive
The Water Executive - a directorate of Environment Canterbury - manages the zone and regional implementation programmes on a day-to-day basis.
In particular its role is to provide professional support to the zone and regional committees; implement biodiversity protection and repair activities; liaise with tangata whenua in relation to kaitiakitanga responsibilities; liaise with irrigators on the management of surface and groundwater flows; work with water infrastructure developers to jointly develop resource consent applications; work with the agricultural sector to look at land-use practices and efficiencies; develop a charging regime; work with recreational users; and to broker new water consents and reviews/renewals of existing water consents.
Click here for further information »
Others involved
A number of other key organisations and people are involved in the Canterbury Water Management Strategy programme.