Explore the region's recreational waterbodies with new StoryMap

The StoryMap provides comprehensive information on each site/location - as shown in this photo (click to view larger) - including:

• facilities
• signage
• features
• accessibility (eg vehicle or pedestrian)
• links to summer recreation water quality results (where available), and
• a photo of the location.

All the sites are accessible to the public without the need for the landowner’s permission.

Hugh Canard, long-term tramper and kayaker, and community member on the Regional Water Management Committee said the StoryMap was a significant knowledge resource for better understanding and appreciating our freshwater resources.

"We love planning our trips in the outdoors, but knowing where the access points to the river are is often the biggest hurdle. This new layer of waterway access information will be a great resource for everyone – including families, schools, trampers, hunters, fishers, kayakers, rafters, and pack rafters. I am excited about the potential for every river user to learn more about and enjoy our region's amazing rivers and lakes. Our shared heritage is now available at your fingertips."

The data is available via:

• the StoryMap (click on the 'location' tab and zoom in to find information about a specific site, or type the location into the address bar). See also our video on using the tool.
  
• the New Zealand Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, online Walking Access Mapping System, and
• downloadable as raw data on Canterbury Maps. 

We are committed to providing this information in the context of responsible use and behaviour in the outdoors. The Walking Access Commission provides a checklist of access rights and responsibilities, which covers topics such as dogs, vehicles, fire-risk, caring for the environment and Māori land.

Broadly, it is about being responsible in relation to outdoor access, including by:

• taking responsibility for one's own actions
• following any reasonable advice offered
• being considerate and respecting the interests of other people
• caring for the environment
• seeking permission for access to private or Māori land
• earning and respecting the tikanga Māori so that behaviour does not cause cultural offence, and
• getting the correct permits for hunting and fishing.

There is also useful information on the Department of Conservation's site on:

• things to know before you go, and
• how to behave around wildlife.

The project has been underway for over 10 years. Some key milestones included:

• 1997 – The Coastal and River Environment Monitoring project started monitoring public access to the coastal marine area.
• 2011 – With the development of the CWMS, public access information was collected for Canterbury's significant rivers.
• 2019 – Data collection for public access lake and wetland information began.

Managing water quality and quantity is the statutory responsibility of regional councils, Fulton said.

In Canterbury, there is also the CWMS, which operates as a collaborative, community-led approach to addressing critical water management issues through non-statutory actions.

"Recreation and Amenity Opportunities is one of the 10 target areas in the CWMS. These activities provide health and social benefits, economic benefits, and cultural benefits to recreational users," she said.

For more, visit the Outdoor Access Code pages on the Walking Access website.

Note every effort is made to identify and verify public access points through site visits and checking the data using maps, plans and the digital cadastral database (DCDB). As such, the information on the StoryMap is only accurate to the time of the survey.

If you have any feedback on any aspect of the sites or would like more information about the project, please contact us via customer services or 0800 324 636.