Local projects and priorities

Whakaora Te Waihora is an ecological and cultural restoration programme for Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere — an internationally significant wetland and tribal taonga.  It is governed by the Te Waihora Co-Governance Group, which includes Ngāi Tahu, Environment Canterbury, Selwyn District Council and Christchurch City Council.

The programme’s vision is to restore and rejuvenate the mana, mauri and ecosystem health of Te Waihora and its catchment.

Read more about Whakaora Te Waihora.

The Waikirikiri/Selwyn Near River Recharge project is a multi-million dollar scheme to enhance cultural, environmental and recreational values in the region.

It involves discharging clean Rakaia River water into the groundwater system near the Waikirikiri/Selwyn River during dry periods. This recharges aquifers and supports downstream flow in the Waikirikiri and Hororata rivers.

Read more about the Near River Recharge project.

Establishing aquatic habitats and augmenting stream flow in the Selwyn water zone.

Read more about the Broadacres Target Stream Augmentation project.

An intensive weed control project in Rakaia Gorge will help protect the area’s rare and precious native plants and trees.

It’s being carried out over four years, and has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of landowners and several agencies.

Sycamore and cherry as two of the priority weeds in the catchment, and cotoneaster and wilding conifers are also a focus.

Read more about the weed control project in Rakaia Gorge.

Hororata biodiversity corridor

More than a dozen areas of native vegetation including wetlands have been protected and restored in the Hororata catchment, creating biodiversity “stepping stones” from the top of the catchment.

Biodiversity plantouts

Te Ara Kākāriki, with support from many other organisations, plants large areas in natives to establish a green network from the foothills across the Plains to Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

Springheads and wetlands

Protection and rehabilitation of some wetlands and springheads are underway so nutrients can be removed, enhancing native vegetation and protecting special species like mudfish.

Drains

There are over 370 kilometres of drains in the catchment, which play an essential drainage role and provide habitat for fish, as well as being a valued resource for mahinga kai.

The CAREX project led by the University of Canterbury has demonstrated ways to manage drains that increase biodiversity, and reduce nutrients and nuisance aquatic plants while still fulfilling drainage function.

Silverstream catchment

Silverstream joins the Selwyn River/ Waimakariri just above Coes Ford and is a major source of microbial contaminants at this swimming site. Environment Canterbury is working with landowners to identify and manage the streams and drains in the lower catchment, reducing run-off of sediment and microbial contaminants.