Environment Canterbury


Environment Canterbury, frequently abbreviated to ECan, is the promotional name for the Canterbury Regional Council. It is the regional council for Canterbury, the largest region in the South Island of New Zealand. It is part of New Zealand's structure of local government.

Geographic coverage and responsibilities

The area of its jurisdiction consists of all the river catchments on the east coast of the South Island from the Clarence River, north of Kaikōura, to the southern catchment boundary of the Waitaki River, in South Canterbury. The region includes the Canterbury Plains, north and south Canterbury, the major braided rivers of the South Island, the Mackenzie Basin and the Waitaki River.
The Canterbury Regional Council is responsible for a wide variety of functions including public passenger transport, regional biosecurity, river engineering, environmental monitoring and investigations, regional policy and planning and for considering applications for certain resource consents – land use consents, coastal permits, water permits, and discharge permits. Canterbury Regional Council has strategic responsibilities for air, water and transport.
Christchurch often has temperature inversions which trap pollutants causing air quality issues. ECan set up the Clean Heat Project in 2002 and it ran until 2011 to assist with cleaner burning home heating and extra home insulation.

History

The Canterbury Regional Council's predecessor was the Canterbury United Council that was formed in 1979, which was the first regional government body in New Zealand since the end of the provinces in 1876. However this united council was replaced by the current regional council in 1989 after local government reforms.

Offices

Environment Canterbury's main office is at 200 Tuam Street Christchurch in an environmentally friendly building designed and built to house the regional council's 500 Christchurch based staff. The old building was demolished in 2011 after the Canterbury earthquakes. All staff moved into the new building on 18 April 2016. ECan also has smaller offices in Timaru, Ashburton, and Kaikōura.

Governance

From its creation until May 2010, Canterbury Regional Council was governed by 14 elected councillors who were elected on a first-past-the-post basis from eight regional constituencies. The inaugural chairperson was Richard Johnson, who led the councillors from November 1989 until he retired at the 2004 local elections.

Councillors (2001–2004)

In the 2001 local elections, nine constituencies were used: North Canterbury, Christchurch North, Christchurch East, Christchurch South, Christchurch West, Selwyn-Banks Peninsula, Ashburton, South Canterbury, and Waitaki. The candidates from the Ashburton and Waitaki constituencies were declared elected without opposition. The 14 council members were:
  • Robert Johnston
  • Ross Little
  • Ian Robertson
  • Judy Waters
  • Richard Budd
  • Valerie Campbell
  • Kerry Burke
  • Diana Shand
  • Neil Cherry
  • Peter Yeoman
  • Richard Johnson
  • Angus McKay
  • Mark Oldfield
  • Bill Penno
  • Alec Neill
  • Nicky Wagner
Yeoman died in October 2002. Cherry resigned during the term and died in May 2003. Both were from the Christchurch West constituency and the by-election caused by Yeoman's death was held over so that both positions could be filled at the same time. The by-election was won by Alec Neill and Nicky Wagner in April 2003.

Councillors (2004–2007)

In the 2004 local elections, nine constituencies were used: North Canterbury, Christchurch North, Christchurch East, Christchurch South, Christchurch West, Banks Peninsula & Selwyn, Ashburton, South Canterbury, and Waitaki.
  • Kerry Burke
  • Robert Johnston
  • Mark Oldfield
  • Angus McKay
  • Bill Woods
  • Elizabeth Cunningham
  • Richard Budd
  • Judy Waters
  • Anne Carroll
  • Bob Kirk
  • Alec Neill
  • Nicky Wagner
  • Ross Little

    Councillors (2007–2010)

In the 2007 local elections, eight constituencies were used: North Canterbury, Christchurch North, Christchurch East, Christchurch South, Christchurch West, South Canterbury, Selwyn Banks Peninsula, and Rakaia. In Rakaia, incumbent councillor Angus McKay was returned without opposition. Four new regional councillors were elected on platforms promoting better management of water resources and opposition to the Central Plains Water scheme. The four were: David Sutherland and Rik Tindall, who stood as "Save Our Water" candidates, and independent candidates Jane Demeter and Eugenie Sage. The following members made up the regional council:
  • Kerry Burke
  • Angus McKay
  • Mark Oldfield
  • Bronwen Murray
  • Eugenie Sage
  • Ross Little
  • Jo Kane
  • Carole Evans
  • Jane Demeter
  • Pat Harrow
  • Alec Neill
  • David Sutherland
  • Rik Tindall
  • Bob Kirk
On 24 September 2009, Alec Neill became chairman after the previous chairman, Sir Kerry Burke, lost a motion of no confidence adopted eight votes for to six against from the other councillors. Burke remained a regional councillor Burke had been re-elected chairperson in October 2007. The councillors' vote was initially tied between Burke and Alec Neill. Burke had been an elected councillor since 1998 and was chairman from 2004.

Commissioners (2010–2016)

In March 2010, following an investigation and report by Wyatt Creech, the National Government sacked the Environment Canterbury councillors and replaced them with commissioners:
The commissioners held their first public meeting on 6 May 2010. The National Government initially promised a return to elected councillors with the local elections in October 2013. In September 2012, this was revised for commissioners to stay until the October 2016 local elections. Donald Couch resigned in April 2015 as he was to move to Canada and in August 2015, he was replaced by Elizabeth Cunningham.
In March 2014, a statutory review in ECan was begun, and the National Government released a public discussion document in March 2015 outlining a proposal for the regional council's future, with a stated preference for a mixed model of seven elected members and six members appointed by the Government. Nick Smith, as Minister for the Environment, stated that "it may be appropriate to consider these options beyond 2019". Louise Upston, as Associate Minister for Local Government, justified the mixed model as it "could provide the necessary stability for Canterbury from 2016". Former district councillor and now member of parliament Sage criticised the government backdown as denying Cantabrians the right to make their own decisions. Artist Sam Mahon, who is a strong opponent of the sacking of the councillors, gave his opinion as the proposal presenting "just status quo, that gives the perception of democracy".
Smith confirmed the mixed model in July 2015, with seven councillors to be elected in 2016 alongside six appointed commissioners, with a return to a fully elected council in 2019.

Mixed governance body (2016–2019)

For the 2016 local elections, the government allowed seven members to be elected with six appointed commissioners. For the local elections, there were four constituencies: Christchurch, North Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury, and South Canterbury. Peter Scott was declared elected unopposed for South Canterbury. Two of the existing commissioners retired, with Bedford, Caygill, Cunningham, Lambie and Skelton reappointed. Iaean Cranwell was a new commissioner, with him and Cunningham appointed on the recommendation of Ngāi Tahu. Bedford became chairman but resigned in 2017 due to ill health. Steve Lowndes, who was initially deputy chairman, was elected as chairman in November 2017, with Peter Scott his deputy.
The councillors and commissioners for the 2016 to 2019 period were as follows:
  • David Bedford
  • Steve Lowndes
  • Peter Scott
  • David Caygill
  • Iaean Cranwell
  • Rod Cullinane
  • Elizabeth Cunningham
  • Thomas Lambie
  • Claire McKay
  • Lan Pham
  • Cynthia Roberts
  • Peter Skelton
  • John Sunckell

    Councillors (2019–2022)

The composition of the board following the 2019 local elections was:
  • Jenny Hughey – Christchurch North East, The People's Choice
  • Peter Scott – South Canterbury, Independent
  • Ian Mackenzie – Mid-Canterbury, Independent
  • John Sunckell – Mid-Canterbury, Independent
  • Elizabeth McKenzie – South Canterbury, Independent
  • Vicky Southworth – Christchurch South, Independent for Positive Change
  • Phil Clearwater – Christchurch South, The People's Choice-Labour
  • Claire McKay – North Canterbury, Independent
  • Grant Edge – North Canterbury, Independent
  • Megan Hands – Christchurch West, Independent
  • Craig Pauling – Christchurch West, The People's Choice
  • Tane Apanui – Christchurch North East, Rail and Water
  • Lan Pham – Christchurch Central, The Common Good-Independent
  • Nicole Marshall – Christchurch Central, Labour-The People's Choice

    Councillors (2022–2025)

The current composition of the board following the 2022 local elections is:
NameAffiliation Regional constituency
Grant EdgeIndependentNorth Canterbury/Ōpukepuke
Claire McKayIndependentNorth Canterbury/Ōpukepuke
Greg ByrnesIndependentChristchurch Central/Ōhoko
Genevieve RobinsonIndependentChristchurch Central/Ōhoko
Joe DaviesThe People's Choice – LabourChristchurch North East/Ōrei
David EastIndependentChristchurch North East/Ōrei
Paul DietscheGet Things DoneChristchurch South/Ōwhanga
Vicky SouthworthIndependentChristchurch South/Ōwhanga
Craig PaulingThe People's ChoiceChristchurch West/Ōpuna
Deon SwiggsIndependentChristchurch West/Ōpuna
Ian MackenzieIndependentMid Canterbury/Ōpākihi
John SunckellIndependentMid Canterbury/Ōpākihi
Peter ScottIndependentSouth Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi
Nick WardIndependentSouth Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi

On 3 May 2024, Cr Peter Scott stepped down from his position Environment Canterbury's chair after admitting he was illegally irrigating part of his South Canterbury farm during a Newstalk ZB radio interview. Environment Canterbury commissioned an independent investigation into Scott's activities. Cr Craig Pauling became acting chair following Scott's resignation. Scott resumed his role as chair in July, but stepped down again in September after it was revealed he had exceeded the speed limit 678 times in his council-provided car since January.