Media release
18 December 2015

Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee appoints community members

Three community members have been appointed to the Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee (OTOP), one of ten committees in Canterbury responsible for delivering the community’s goals for water.

Community memberships are refreshed annually to ensure a wide range of views are reflected. Hamish McFarlane and Ivon Hurst are new appointments to the committee.

Hamish owns a cropping and horticultural operation and has strong ties with water interest groups and local Rūnanga. Ivon has been a farmer in the area all his working life and has been actively involved in community and agricultural groups.

Hamish and Ivon replace Chair Dermott O’Sullivan and Tony Howey who have both stepped down from the committee. The other community members are Mark Webb, John Talbot, Kylee Galbraith, Ad Sintenie, and James Pearse. John Henry and Mandy Home are the representatives from Arowhenua rūnanga.

Christina Robb, Programme Manager Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), said the selection process focussed on finding people who can see others’ points of views and work collaboratively to find solutions for water issues.

“The CWMS is an innovative approach to managing fresh water. It’s about finding the best ways to restore our environment and provide for viable farming and communities throughout the region.

“We were pleased with the quality of the applicants and we’re sure the committee has a good balance of community representatives who are passionate about making a positive difference to local water management.

“The appointment of Hamish and Ivon by the selection panel recognises the value that Dermott and Tony bought to the committee through their links to the rural community. Both Hamish and Ivon are well known in the community and have already been involved in local zone–led initiatives.

“Each zone committee is focused on local actions to deliver the goals of the CWMS by encouraging good management practices from all land users and improving natural values while allowing for a reliable and safe water supply,” she said.

Recently the OTOP Zone Committee has been supporting catchment groups to understand issues in their catchment and working with Environment Canterbury to identify options to bring alpine water into the zone to address the lack of reliable water to deliver CWMS targets.

The committee will continue this work next year and begin discussions with the community on environmental limits for all catchments in the zone and progress its programme to manage the health of Washdyke/Waitarakao lagoon and its catchments.

The Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora Zone Committee is a joint committee of Environment Canterbury and the Timaru and Mackenzie district councils. Each zone committee has four to seven community members, an Environment Canterbury Commissioner, Councillors from the relevant District Council/s, and representatives from Ngāi Tahu Rūnanga.

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