Climate and fresh water focus for regional councillors

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

Climate change and fresh water regulations loom as priorities for North Canterbury’s regional councillors.

Incumbent Environment Canterbury councillors Claire McKay and Grant Edge were re-elected in the North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke Constituency in Saturday’s election.

Both said working on the new integrated plan, which needed to be operative in 2024, would be the major issue of the next council term.

The new plan will integrate the government’s National Policy Statement on freshwater with the regional policy statement, the coastal environmental plan and the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan.

‘‘It’s critical that we involve the community in that discussion and partner with Ngāi Tahu as Mana Whenua,’’ McKay said.

She said a priority would be having discussions with councils around how to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

‘‘We’ve got to start talking now.

‘‘We can’t wait for something to happen and then in 10 years time think that we should have done something sooner.

‘‘We’ve got to have some alignment around who is going to pay and where we can live and work.’’

She said the recent flood events had shown the need to think about farming close to rivers and water ways.

Edge said climate change was top of the agenda and ‘‘how communities deal with storm events and flooding’’ in the future.

Urban development and transport were other priorities, particularly with planning related to meeting emissions targets.

‘‘For me one of the big issues will be taking a closer look at solutions for catchments around rivers and land use activity.

‘‘I think we can be a bit smarter about how we deal with those issues.’’

The 16 ECan councillors will be sworn in at the inaugural meeting on October 27, when the chairperson and deputy chairperson will be elected.

Two Ngāi Tahu councillors will be among those councillors, following the passing of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill in Parliament in August.

Edge said the inclusion of the Ngāi Tahu councillors with full voting rights was ‘‘a maturing of democracy’’ and a recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Ngāi Tahu appointees are Iaean Cranwell (Kāti Irakehu, Kāti Kurī, Kāti Makō) and Tutehounuku ‘‘Nuk’’ Korako (Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Wheke).

Cranwell has previously served as a government appointed ECan councillor and in the last term was a Tumu Taiao Mana Whenua expert.

Korako is a former National List MP.

■ Environment Canterbury North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke Constituency (two vacancies):
Claire McKay 12,232.
Grant Edge 10,524.
Shaun Lissington 8427.
Rachel Vaughan 8284.

■ Public interest journalism is funded by New Zealand on Air.