Ki uta ki tai (mountains to the sea) management of water
Land and water form a complex, interconnected environment which must be sustainably managed in a holistic way (ki uta ki tai, from the mountains to the sea) to provide for the many values supported by our environment.
Land and water are taonga to Ngāi Tahu. The life-giving and life-sustaining properties of water are intrinsically linked to spiritual, cultural, economic, environmental and social well-being, as well as the survival and identity of Ngāi Tahu whānui.
Land uses and development, over time, have put pressure on fresh and coastal water resources, resulting in a measurable decline in both quantity, quality and ecological health in the region.
Within each catchment or area, the severity of the impact of each stressor depends on:
- the geographic location (e.g., high country, lowland or coastal)
- the biophysical characteristics of various freshwater and marine ecosystem types (e.g. lakes, rivers, estuaries, harbours and rocky reefs)
- the intensity of land uses and activities.
Most aquatic ecosystems are impacted to some degree by human-induced stress.
Mahinga kai
Mahinga kai is about the value of natural resources that sustain life, including the life of people. It is important to manage and protect these resources, in the same way that ancestors have done before us.
For Ngāi Tahu, it is critical to manage these resources to allow people to continue gathering kai (food) and resources in the way the ancestors did, and about mana and manaakitanga - the ability to welcome and host visitors by providing bountiful produce, as a demonstration of hospitality and respect. These things are the essence of kaitiakitanga or guardianship.
This practice remains a foundation of Ngāi Tahu values today, although it has become increasingly difficult as sites, species, and habitats are lost, degraded, or compromised.
Climate change
Climate change is expected to exacerbate both water quality and quantity issues and have a significant effect on the marine environment.
Waitaha is expected to be subject to more severe drought and flooding which could affect the availability and demand of water for human uses. Climate change will also impact the quality of water. In particular, it is likely we will see more frequent marine heatwaves and increased temperatures in some surface water bodies which can drive loss of habitat and ecosystem health.
Find out more about the likely impacts of climate change on Waitaha.
National and regional policies for managing water in Waitaha
The management of water is complex because there are many competing values that all need to be upheld. It is governed by several national and regional policy frameworks.
Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
The purpose of the Resource Management Act (RMA) is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. This is described as managing the use, development, and protection of natural and physical resources in a way, or at a rate, which enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being while safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems.
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 (NPS-FM)
The (NPS-FM) includes directions on how freshwater should be managed by Local Government. It includes a hierarchy of obligations for freshwater planning frameworks:
- The health and well-being of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems is the top priority
- The health needs of people (including drinking water) are secondary
- The ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being, now and in the future, is tertiary.
The NPS-FM requires councils to manage freshwater in a way that gives effect to Te Mana o te Wai, identifies the fundamental importance of water and recognises that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health and well-being of the wider environment. It also requires that councils:
- develop long-term visions for freshwater in their regions and include them in a regional policy statement
- actively involve tangata whenua in freshwater management
- adopt an integrated approach, ki uta ki tai, as required by Te Mana o te Wai
- implement the National Objectives Framework (NOF).
New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 2010 (NZCPS)
The NZCPS requires the regional council to give effect to it by setting objectives and policies to preserve and safeguard the coastal environment while recognising social, cultural, recreational and historic values.
The NZCPS sets out seven objectives and 29 policies which cover:
- the form, function and resilience of the coastal environment
- natural character, features and landscapes
- the role of tangata whenua and the principles of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi
- public open space and recreational opportunities
- coastal hazards and climate change
- the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural wellbeing through subdivision, use and development within appropriate limits
- ensuring management of the coastal environment recognises New Zealand/Aotearoa's international obligations regarding the coastal environment.
Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CRPS)
The Canterbury Regional Policy Statement (CPRS) provides the direction for managing freshwater and coastal water resources in Waitaha, reflecting the priorities set out by the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS).
It requires the establishment of environmental flow and water allocation regimes to manage water quantity and implements minimum water quality standards and classes, which are then required to be maintained or enhanced.
Chapter 8 of the CRPS addresses issues related to activities in the coastal environment, including the appropriate occupation and use of the coastal marine area. It recognises that the coastal environment has a high concentration of culturally significant sites and that it is highly vulnerable to natural processes such as climate change.