How are we tracking
Our Reporting Back hub has been updated and highlights the progress we have made on our work programmes.
Our Reporting Back hub is a new way we are presenting the progress we are making. The information is produced in year-to-date updates at the end of each three-month period.
The information reports on the work we have done to contribute to the priorities and levels of service set out in our Long-Term Plan, as well as highlighting the risks and issues for the portfolios.
The quarterly updates form the basis of our Annual Report, which will cover the full financial year from July 2022-June 2023. Work on our next Annual Report has started and it will be produced later this year.
Key achievements this quarter (January-March 2023)
Working with others to shape our region
The relationship we have with mana whenua is central to all we do. In our Reporting Back Hub, we report on the integrated planning framework we’re working on in partnership with Rūnanga.
Following a successful hui in March, Te Rōpū Tuia confirmed that the work programme will focus on delivering a Regional Policy Statement by 2024 along with targeted amendments to our Land and Water Regional Plan to give effect to the government’s Essential Freshwater package. This is the first major step towards achieving better management of natural and physical resources in Waitaha/Canterbury through an integrated planning framework.
We are working effectively with Ngāi Tahu, territorial authorities, communities and organisations to shape a thriving and resilient region together. We are continuing to see an increase in engagement with young people across Waitaha.
Our work includes supporting the Youth Rōpū, working in partnership to support Enviroschools across Waitaha, and providing educational support and resources to schools. Our staff supported young people to attend a youth summit on the Greater Christchurch Partnership Huihui Mai engagement and fed into public transport planning. Additional Enviroschools have also been welcomed to the programme, which continues to grow.
A paper was presented to Council’s Regional Leadership, Climate and Community Resilience Committee meeting in March and the committee resolved that two youth members would join the committee with full voting rights. These young people, Oscar Bloom and Alice Docking, were welcomed to the Committee in May.
Youth members Oscar Bloom (left), Alice Docking (right) with Deputy Chair Craig Pauling.
Reinstatement of nassella tussock monitoring programme
Our pest monitoring programme has been progressing well this quarter, with a particular focus on collecting data on plant species (spatial, numbers, and densities) when inspecting sites and re-instating the nassella tussock population trend monitoring programme after a year's hiatus.
We are continuing to assess identified high-risk invasive organisms and this quarter we have made good progress with our pest plant sale surveillance programme. We have now doubled (to approximately 350) the number of sales outlets that we are monitoring. We have also expanded the programme to monitor fetes, fairs, and roadside stalls.
Nassella tussock is an invasive grass that is spreading in Waitaha.
The Check, Clean, Dry surveillance programme we developed and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Primary Industries was completed at the end of January. This was a very successful programme and this year we had two advocates working with the community through the summer months. We have attended A&P shows across the region and produced stakeholder notices, 'biobites', and mailouts.
Public transport
While the driver shortage has impacted our services over the past year, the situation has continued to improve in recent months with newly recruited drivers becoming active on our network. Missed trips were 5.3% in March, a reduction from a high of 8.2% in October/November. Patronage continues to trend positively, despite these missed trips. March patronage reached 95% of pre-COVID levels.
We’re proud to say that Metro’s bus fleet is now 20% zero-emissions with the addition of 16 electric vehicles joining the fleet in December. Further purchases are to come for routes 17 and 28.
One of Metro's zero-emissions buses.
For more information and updates on the key areas of our work, check out our Reporting Back hub.