Lobby the Government to save our WCO Process

Since 1991 the Resource Management Act, through Water Conservation Orders, has provided a robust mechanism for ensuring that nationally important waterways have been protected with regard to their ecological, scenic, scientific, recreational, cultural, historical, spiritual and environmental attributes, while still recognising their ability to provide for economic activity in their local area. Water Conservation Orders are like National Parks – to ensure that we protect our outstanding river amenities.

Recently, with the passing of the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Bill, the Government has fundamentally undermined Water Conservation Orders in Canterbury. The Act means that the nationally outstanding Hurunui River will not receive the level of protection it deserves, and unfortunately opens the door for those interested in irrigation to destroy the river. It also weakens the protection for rivers which are already protected by Water Conservation Orders such as the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers.

I have three main concerns with regard to this Act, in particular Subpart 3 – Water Conservation Orders, which:

1. Alters the ranking of the criteria by which a Water Conservation Order in Canterbury is assessed. Under the previous criteria in the Resource Management Act, the overriding criteria by which a Water Conservation Order was considered was:
   1. outstanding amenity or intrinsic values which are afforded by waters in their natural state:
   2. where waters are no longer in their natural state, the amenity or intrinsic values of those waters which in themselves warrant protection because they are considered outstanding.
   The new Act fundamentally changes this by making these criteria subject to the provisions of Part 2 of the RMA, whereby matters such as the efficient use and development of natural and physical resources must be considered on an almost equal footing with the principles of protecting the waterway in question.
2. Removes all but limited rights of appeal on points of law, and seems to remove the right of cross-examination of evidence. This means that incorrect or misleading evidence cannot be challenged or tested except on points of law.
3. Renders the existing recommendation from the Minister's own Special Tribunal on the Hurunui River Water Conservation Order null and void. The granting of this Order by the Special Tribunal was the result of thousands of hours, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, of expenditure by interested parties and individuals. The Hurunui River had met the tests required under the RMA to award it a Water Conservation Order.

I ask that:

1. You introduce a Bill to Parliament at the next sitting which repeals Part 3 of the Environment Canterbury Act so that the Water Conservation Order legislation returns to that of the Resource Management Act.
2. You lobby your fellow MPs to support the repealing of Part 3 of the Environment Canterbury Act.

I am an active recreator in New Zealand's rivers and lakes, which are sacrosanct to my way of being as a New Zealander.

I ask that, in the interests of New Zealanders like me who enjoy our waterways, and for the future of New Zealand’s environment, you take positive steps to repeal Part 3 of this Act.

Any personal comments will be automatically inserted here.

Yours sincerely,

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