“The mixed governance plan means a majority of ECan councillors would be elected at the local body elections in October 2016, with four elected at large in Christchurch, one elected from North Canterbury for the districts of Kaikōura, Hurunui and Waimakariri, one elected from mid-Canterbury for the Selwyn and Ashburton districts, and one from South Canterbury representing the Timaru, Mackenzie, Waimate districts and the parts of Waikati north of the Waitaki River. The chair and deputy chair of the mixed model council will be elected post-October 2016 by the elected and appointed councillors. The mixed council will carry out a representation review in 2018 under the standard Local Government Act provisions to determine the make-up and wards of the fully elected council for 2019.”
Ref. beehive.govt.nz/release/environment-canterbury-transition-plan-announced
ECan rural votes will be weighted, for a nearer match to total urban votes:
Ref. beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Q&A-Government’s-decisions-on-Environment-Canterbury.pdf
Ref. dia.govt.nz/Resource-material-Our-Policy-Advice-Areas-Environment-Canterbury + SaveOurWater.org.nz/ecan-2016/
ECan wants polluted lakes exempted
“The government is currently consulting on its National Policy Statement for freshwater and has proposed that the national freshwater standards should include lakes and lagoons which periodically open to the sea. That would include Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth in Canterbury – which consistently rank as the most polluted in the country.” – 2.5.16
radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201799106/ecan-wants-polluted-lakes-exempted
Update 24/5/16
Sir Kerry Burke asks why Canterbury’s democracy was destroyed – 22/01/2013 stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/perspective/8205626/How-ECan-fell-to-the-irrigators
Effective lobbying and representation is needed to improve Canterbury public transport – 09/09/2014 stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10474271/Greens-rebuked-for-email-tactic
ECan commissioners to run as councillors? – 12 March 2016 stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/77767103/ecan-commissioners-to-run-as-councillors
ECan plan amounts to a ‘broken promise’ – 19 March 2015 stuff.co.nz/national/politics/67440125/ecan-plan-amounts-to-a-broken-promise
Protesters mark six years since Ecan councillors sacked – 1 May 2016 stuff.co.nz/the-press/79487032/protesters-mark-six-years-since-ecan-councillors-sacked
ECan moves closer to fully elected council – 5 May 2016 stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/79680828/ecan-moves-closer-to-fully-elected-council
Rivers advocate makes regional council bid – 22 May 2016 stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/80251041/Rivers-advocate-makes-regional-council-bid
Canterbury Regional Council critic stands for election, 23 May 2016 radionz.co.nz/news/regional/304554/canterbury-regional-council-critic-stands-for-election + see Glandovey.co.nz
If you are interested in campaigning for democratic change at ECan, let us know: Sustainable Canterbury – mauriroawaitaha.wordpress.com/contact/
Update 27/6/16
Three regional council candidates to focus on change, 19 June 2016
stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81225366/three-regional-council-candidates-to-focus-on-change
Millions of litres of water illegally taken: Is ECan doing enough? 20 June 2016
stuff.co.nz/business/farming/81191467/Millions-of-litres-of-water-illegally-taken-Is-ECan-doing-enough
Editorial: Do we have to wait for the new ECan council to enforce water rules?
stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/81237203/editorial-do-we-have-to-wait-for-the-new-ecan-council-to-enforce-water-rules & Just how healthy are North Canterbury’s rivers? stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/81306479/just-how-healthy-are-north-canterburys-rivers, 21 June 2016
By the numbers: ECan’s ‘relaxed’ monitoring regime leaves thousands unchecked, 27 June 2016 stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/81280545/by-the-numbers-ecans-relaxed-monitoring-regime-leaves-thousands-unchecked
Update 11/7/16
Next steps for freshwater, 20 February 2016 beehive.govt.nz/release/next-steps-freshwater
Ngai Tahu guaranteed two seats on Canterbury regional council, 23 February 2016 stuff.co.nz/national/politics/76928505/ngai-tahu-guaranteed-two-seats-on-canterbury-regional-council
Elation as Ashburton council backs out of controversial water bottling deal, 11 July 2016, stuff.co.nz/business/81873688/ashburton-council-backs-out-of-controversial-water-deal
ECAN to get tough with farmers who haven’t installed water meters, 11 July 2016 radionz.co.nz/news/national/308416/crackdown-on-farmers-with-no-water-meters
2016 Local Government Elections, how/where/when:
ecan.govt.nz/about-us/your-council/elections/…
Sustainable Canterbury 