Waikato Regional Council’s flood protection assets help prevent 127,542 hectares of
land from being flooded, helping ensure safe communities and productive farmland.
Our pest control work helps ensure our native forests and other special places aren’t
devastated by plant and animal pests, such as possums. This also helps ensure the
productivity of farmland.
Our integrated catchment management zone committees are local forums whereby
council staff and partners discuss issues with the zone’s community representatives
face to face.
We encourage all people with an interest in keeping their communities safe, healthy
and vibrant to consider getting involved with these zone committees.
Here’s some information on what’s involved and the type of people we’re looking for.
Help make a difference to your community by getting involved in catchment
management.
Besides flood protection and pest control, Waikato Regional Council works across a wide
range of activities aimed at boosting economic growth, protecting the environment and
helping the community be healthy.
We carry out this work around the waterways and land of individual areas (or catchments) in
a method known as integrated catchment management (or ICM) – that is we try to manage
this wide range of issues in an integrated way.
Within our region there are eight ICM zones (see map at end of document). Each is overseen
by a catchment liaison zone subcommittee, which brings together council staff, other
agencies, iwi and local community representatives. Appointments to the subcommittees are
made every three years.
Subcommittees give advice to the council on the range of activities associated with
integrated catchment management programmes within each zone.
These activities include:
 Stopbank management, pumpstation management
 Biodiversity and natural heritage operations
 Biosecurity operations
 Flood control programmes, land drainage programmes
 Harbour and catchment management
 Natural hazard management and community safety activities
 River systems management, soil conservation and land management programmes,
and
 Promotion of collaboration between agencies and communities and exploring
opportunities for improving catchment management.
Subcommittees meet three to four times a year, with usually one event being a field
inspection to look at specific work undertaken on the ground. Community representatives
are eligible for a meeting attendance fee and traveling expenses. These rates are currently
$225 per day meeting attendance fee ($275 for the chair), and 77 cents per kilometre
traveling expenses.
Meeting topics involve consideration of integrated catchment management strategies and
programmes in the zone. Recommendations received from the subcommittees are sent to
the council’s ICM committee for consideration.
We want nominations for community representatives on each subcommittee. Here are some
of the characteristics we’re after:









A desire to influence decisions about activities the regional council carries out in their
community to protect and enhance waterways, coastal and wetland areas, improve
biodiversity, control plant and animal pests, and reduce the risk of floods.
Seeking an opportunity to gain committee experience and to strengthen their
understanding of governance through a community service opportunity.
Available to attend meetings on a regular basis.
A strong connection with groups and networks in their local community.
Recognises the value of the work undertaken by the regional council.
Good communication skills and willing to be an advocate for the work the integrated
catchment management programme carries out.
Is prepared to work with other committee representatives – industry, iwi, and territorial
authorities – to increase awareness of the work the integrated catchment
management programme carries out.
Able to see local issues in their wider and regional perspective
Have an appreciation of the role of iwi in river and catchment management and an
understanding of the importance of partnerships and collaboration with various
agencies and stakeholders.
The role of a community representative is an advisory one to the subcommittee and council
using the knowledge obtained from their involvement within local community groups and
networks. The role of a constituent councillor is that of representing their constituent
members and the governance of Waikato Regional Council.
Once nominations close at 4pm on 30 April 2014, those nominated will be considered by a
council panel which will compile a shortlist and recommend appointments to the full council.
The nomination process is outlined below:
Process
Timing
Confirm landowner appointment process
Advise process to subcommittee
February 2014
Feb/March 2014
Call for landowner nominations/public notification
March 2014
Deadline for receiving nomination information
30 April 2014
Recommendation of landowner representatives to Integrated June 2014
Catchment Management Committee
Consideration of nominations/confirmation by Council
June 2014
Notification of confirmed representatives to Integrated Catchment June 2014
Management Committee and all nominees
First Liaison subcommittee meetings under new membership
August 2014
2014 Meeting dates
Indicative subcommittee meeting dates for 2014








Lake Taupo – 18 February, 29 April, 7 August, 4 November
Central Waikato – 19 February, 23 May, 20 August, 28 October
Coromandel – 20 February, 1 May, 21 August, 6 November
West Coast – 21 February, 2 May, 22 August, 5 November
Waihou-Piako – 4 March, 20 May, 3 September, 12 November
Waipa – 5 March, 21 May, 2 September, 11 November
Lower Waikato – 6 March, 22 May, 29 August, 13 November
Upper Waikato – 7 March, 9 May, 8 August, 31 October
For further information on terms of reference and a nomination form for the subcommittee
click on this link:
http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Council/About-us/Our-council/Catchment-liaisonsubcommittees/
The catchment liaison zone subcommittees are looking for the following numbers of
representatives in each zone:
Lake Taupo
6
Upper Waikato
8
Waipa
8
West Coast
7
Central
4
Coromandel
6
Waihou Piako
8
Lower Waikato
8
Role Outline
Waikato Regional Council
Catchment liaison zone subcommittee
Community and agency representatives
Key Roles:





To participate, contribute and be engaged in the issues put to the subcommittee.
Present to the subcommittee the views of the community at large or the interest group
or agency that the member represents.
To advise Council on matters brought before the subcommittee and for which
feedback or support is sought by Council.
To act as a conduit to the community through their networks, respective agency or
stakeholder groups.
To assist in communicating to the wider community across the relevant zone and
interests.
Responsibilities:

To attend scheduled subcommittee meetings and workshops.

To maintain networks within the zone community through membership of community
groups, agency contacts etc.

To actively participate and provide input to subcommittee meetings

To raise relevant integrated catchment management issues at the meetings or
through communication with the subcommittee chair or zone manager.

To act as a conduit for community views on integrated catchment management
issues.
Other expectations:

To participate in other zone related meetings upon invitation, as appropriate.

To advocate subcommittee decisions with the public as the need arises.

To provide Member Reports to the subcommittee from time to time as appropriate.

To provide an apology to the subcommittee chair or zone manager, when unavailable
to attend a meeting.
Catchment liaison zone subcommittee
boundaries