Summary of Stakeholder (CWMOS) Content February 2009
PHYSICAL NATURE/FORM OF RIVERS
Overview:
1) The theme covers ‘the physical nature/form/character of water bodies and water
systems’ (to include all non-biotic aspects of all water bodies – rivers, streams, lakes,
coastal areas, wetlands, aquifers etc – and of all water processes – climatic and
geomorphological functions, flushing, rain/snow, clouds, waves etc)
2) Stakeholders maintained a persistent focus on ecosystems, and the holistic,
interconnected nature of biodiversity and non-biotic habitat, water quality, flows,
levels, natural non-biotic processes etc
3) This theme is closely related to environmental flows/levels as stakeholders have
generally perceived these two concepts to be intimately interconnected.
Stakeholder Sub-themes:
1) geophysical structure of types of water bodies:
a) braids and islands and fluctuating course for alpine rivers
b) smaller rivers
c) glaciers
d) lowland streams
e) lake beds, shores, beaches
f) coastal estuaries, lagoons, wetlands
g) groundwater systems
h) associated aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
i) artificial water bodies (man made, eg. hydro-lakes/canals, storage
ponds/infrastructure etc)
j) specifically identified water bodies
2) natural functions of types of water bodies:
a) shaping the land (including beyond present water courses etc)
b) providing habitat for species, often very specific (islands, side streams,
beaches, pools) and often variable for adults, juveniles, spawning, migrations
etc
c) regulating salinity/salt water levels and encroachment
d) sediment supply and transport
e) coastal erosion and drift currents
f) flow magnitude and variability – supporting ecosystems
g) flooding/flushing functions
h) dilution of contaminants
i) implications for climate change?
3) natural functions of water systems:
a) weather patterns – rain, snow, hail, clouds
b) atmospheric moisture
c) groundwater ecosystem regulation and recharge
d) surface water ecosystem regulation and recharge
e) implications for climate change?
4) aesthetic/landscape values:
a) cloud formations
b) creating reflections and other lighting effects
c) moving water – waves, water falls, tides, flowing rivers
Page 1 of 4
d)
e)
f)
g)
sensory impacts (not just visual – sounds, smells, feel, taste etc)
natural ecosystems and environments
contoured landscapes/built
variety of landscapes – dry-land, wetland, aquatic, terrestrial, natural, rural,
urban etc
5) obstruction/destruction of natural character:
a) storage infrastructure
b) diversion infrastructure
c) surface water abstractions
d) ground water abstractions
e) urban sprawl/housing developments
f) rural sprawl/land use intensification
g) contamination/pollution
h) loss of indigenous habitat/ecosystems
6) protective/restorative measures:
a) prohibition/limitations on infrastructure
b) prohibition/limitations on abstractions
c) prohibitions/limitations on use/discharge of contaminants
d) community/catchment management groups
e) volunteer community groups (schools, businesses, charities etc)
f) property owners/managers
g) working bees
h) clean ups
i) plantings
j) research, monitoring programmes – implementation of findings
k) obtaining political/regulatory/legal protection – Water Conservation Orders,
Protected Natural Areas, World Heritage Areas etc
7) habitat/ecosystem management:
a) environmental flows/levels – magnitude and variability
b) water temperatures
c) water quality, especially sediment and nutrient levels; also removal of weeds,
algae
d) non-biotic regulating processes, eg. flushing flows, rainfall, soil moisture recharge
e) natural ecosystems associated with water bodies/systems on public land
f) natural ecosystems associated with water bodies/systems on private land
8) educational measures and initiatives:
a) enviroschools and other secondary and tertiary initiatives
b) education of the wider community, including the adult community (rural and
urban)
c) education of abstractive/instream ‘developers’
d) research into related areas
e) distribution of information on related areas
9) on-farm stream/riparian management initiatives:
a) restoration of the Queen’s Chain, return of riparian margins (5m set back?)
into public ownership - access
b) regeneration/restoration of indigenous plantings/habitats etc
c) fencing and exclusion of stock to protect water quality
d) planting of filter species to protect water quality
e) planting of shade species to regulate water temperatures
10) recreational/social/tourism enjoyment:
a) landscape, aesthetic and sensory stimulation
Page 2 of 4
b)
c)
d)
e)
natural ecosystems and environments
realisation of the 100% pure promise
sense of identity, locality, pride
nurturing of all species for contribution to aesthetic surrounds, ambience etc
11) cultural sanctity/natural character:
a) preservation/restoration of mauri of water through absence of obstructions,
diversions, mixing and contamination of waters
b) preservation/restoration of indigenous species and ecosystems
c) continuation of role of cultural guardianship/kaitiakitanga
d) preservation of associated pakeha/maori heritage and history
e) cultural and social identity
f) spiritual and mental health and wellbeing
12) infrastructure and governance:
a) creation/adoption of national and regional policy
b) water conservation orders
c) natural heritage orders and status
Recurring Stakeholder Perspectives:
1) many stakeholders’ primary concern was with the current over-allocation of
Canterbury water to abstractive uses, at cost to the natural character of water bodies
and systems. A very significant number of stakeholders are most interested in how to
decrease abstractive water allocations in order to enable natural water bodies and
systems to renew and regenerate themselves.
2) this is partly because it is widely acknowledged that all water bodies/systems serve a
natural, regulatory function of some kind (particularly geomorphological and climatic
functions)
3) the multiple functions served by water bodies and water systems are also widely
noted as essential to the maintenance of all ecosystems and species
4) it is further accepted that the physical nature of certain species’ habitat, often
dependent on adequate environmental flows/levels, is fundamental to their survival;
for example isolated the braids/islands in braided river beds, the presence of viable
nesting sites on lake shores, or the safety and seclusion of side-streams and pools in
larger river systems
5) most stakeholders feel that natural water bodies/systems will provide the best flow
regulation – a minority of stakeholders feel that this could be best achieved through
the creation of storage infrastructure and through artificial flow management.
6) as with biodiversity, there is a very strong and widespread sentiment that full
preservation of the status quo is a minimum threshold, and that no further detrimental
impacts on the natural form and character of Canterbury’s water bodies and water
systems should be permissible in light of the losses which have already occurred and
the sacrifices already made in favour of human
developments/obstructions/diversions/abstractions etc
7) there is therefore a widespread, majority resistance to the creation of any on-site
infrastructure as this is perceived to irreversibly and irreparably damage the natural
physical and character of water bodies and systems from an environmental, aesthetic
and landscape perspective . There is a similarly widespread resistance to (any, or
any further) abstractions from surface and groundwater bodies.
Page 3 of 4
8) there is also, therefore, a very strong stakeholder emphasis on the restoration,
reinstatement and enhancement of existing ‘remnants’ and of currently degraded or
depleted water bodies and/or systems.
9) the role of community groups and property owners/managers in carrying out
protective and restorative works is acknowledged to be significant, and there is wideranging stakeholder support for land owners/managers who are willing to engage in
such activities (possibly by way of mandatory offsets to counter other development
activities). This is particularly so in the case of riparian management initiatives – there
is even some strong sentiment that these margins should be wholly owned and
managed by a responsible public
10) there is a strong awareness of climate and climate change and possible associated
risks, and a corresponding desire to take a precautionary approach (precautionary
principle)
11) the presence of thriving natural ecosystems, supported by adequate environmental
flows/levels, is essential to the preservation of the cultural integrity of the Canterbury
environment
12) the presence of thriving natural ecosystems, supported by adequate environmental
flows/levels, is essential to human enjoyment of natural areas and experiences
(social, cultural)
13) the aesthetic/landscape/sensory elements of water bodies’ natural character,
supported by adequate environmental flows/levels, are essential to certain forms of
human social or recreational enjoyment
14) the aesthetic/landscape/sensory elements of water bodies’ natural character,
supported by adequate environmental flows/levels, are essential to the effective
marketing of Canterbury/NZ as desirable tourism destinations
Page 4 of 4