Freshwater Working Groups
Council has established freshwater working groups as a means to share information and work with the community in setting freshwater objectives and limits as required by the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (2014). This page is intended to support our freshwater working groups and provide information for those wishing to be kept informed of the process.
National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
Central government's "National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management” (NPS-FM) sets up a new direction for the management of freshwater resources in New Zealand. Freshwater quality (what is in the water) in Nelson needs to be maintained and enhanced. For freshwater quantity (how much), there needs to be an improvement in the way we use and allocate water.
The NPS-FM sets out objectives and policies that direct Council to manage water in a sustainable way, while providing for economic growth within set water quantity and quality limits.
Freshwater Management Units
The NPS-FM requires us to identify freshwater management units (FMUs) which are groups of water bodies that are similar, both physically and/or socially (e.g. who uses them and for what). We have identified five FMUs in our region, being Whangamoa, Wakapuaka, Maitai, Stoke and Roding. Each of these FMUs vary in land uses, water quality and quantity issues, and our options for future sustainable management.
Freshwater Working Groups
In 2015, we established three freshwater working groups which cover North Nelson (Whangamoa/Wakapuaka), Maitai and Stoke FMU areas. The purpose of these groups is to share knowledge and work together through the planning process to help inform the setting of freshwater objectives and limits as prescribed in the NPS-FM.
Our groups are set up as working and advisory groups, providing opportunities to foster conversations and relationships and to share learnings and skill development between members and Council. They are not governance or decision-making groups.
Our group membership includes representatives from iwi, catchment residents and landowners, government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community groups, the scientific community, forestry companies, the farming community, water users, and businesses.
For more information on our freshwater working groups or if you would like to become involved, please contact nelson.plan@ncc.govt.nz.
Useful Information and Reports
Report | Author | Date | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
Water Quality in NZ: Understanding the Science | PCE (Parliamentary Commission for Environment) | 2012 | |
Managing water quality – examining the 2014 national policy statement | PCE (Parliamentary Commission for Environment) | 2015 | Managing water quality: Examining the 2014 National Policy Statement |
Water quality in New Zealand – land use and nutrient pollution | PCE (Parliamentary Commission for Environment) | 2015 | |
Distribution and spawning of freshwater fish within the waterways administered by the NCC | Fish & Wildlife Services | 2014 | Distribution and spawning of freshwater fish within the waterways administered by the NCC |
Aquatic Sites of Significance | The Catalyst Group | 2015 | Draft RPS Research and Technical Documents: |
Roding and Maitai River Users Survey | Greenaway | 2015 | Roding and Maitai Rivers User Survey - 2015 |
2014 SOE Freshwater Results | NCC | 2015 | |
Stoke Streams Rescue – final project report | NCC | 2013 | |
Maitai River Municipal Supply Aquatic Ecology – Summary of Environmental Effects | Cawthron Institute | 2016 | |
Planning 101 presentation | NCC | 2016 | |
2016 NZ Stormwater Conference Paper – Iconic Urban Waterway and Stormwater Channel: Reviving the Maitai River | NCC/Friends of the Maitai | 2016 | |
Applying Low Impact (Water Sensitive) Design in Nelson Tasman | Landcare Research & Morphum Environmental Ltd | June 2016 | |
A framework for setting minimum flows and allocation limits presentation | Joe Hay (Cawthron) | 15 December 2016 | |
Nelson Freshwater Quality: An Analysis of State and Issues | The Catalyst Group | 2015 |
