The Regional Forum have today presented their report Achieving the Community’s Aspirations for Freshwater to Environment Southland (ES) and Te Ao Mārama. 

Forum chair Fiona Smith says the group proud of the result, which provides a new approach for how Southlanders view and relate to freshwater. 

“The forum focused on the hauora [healthy resilience] and mana [respect] of our land and water for generations to come," says Smith.

“The gap between where we should be and where we are now means focused collective action is required. Now is the time to make these things happen.”

“Now it’s over to Environment Southland and Te Ao Marama Inc to lead the region into a better future with freshwater that we can become proud of.”

In developing their recommendations, the Regional Forum has paid particular attention to partnership approaches and integrated catchment management, the role of wetlands, repurposing land for greater ecological benefit, and industrial and urban water management. 

The forum has also considered how their package of advice aligns with climate change and biodiversity outcomes.

ES chairman Nicol Horrell said the completion of the report is a significant milestone in meeting freshwater challenges, together as a region.

“As a council, we want to thank the forum members for their commitment and dedication over the last three years.”

“This is one of the most significant pieces of work we have supported. In establishing the forum, it was critical that the members came from a broad cross-section of our community to bring their individual experiences and ideas together to find Southland solutions to our freshwater issues.”

“The forum has put in the mahi, and they believe their report provides Murihiku Southland with a strong basis to develop Southland-specific solutions that will achieve the improvement we all want for freshwater.”

“Through a number of workshops, we have been kept updated on their progress, and I’m impressed with the scope and scale of their recommendations,” says Horrell. 

Te Ao Mārama chair Evelyn Cook described the report as a taoka for the region.

“The Board acknowledges the significant commitment of the Regional Forum in identifying a package of recommendations that have the potential to provide for te hauora o te wai, te taiao and te takata within a generation, and therefore give effect to Te Mana o te Wai.” 

The Regional Forum is a community-based group that was established in 2019 to consider and provide advice to ES and Te Ao Mārama on how to achieve the community’s aspirations for freshwater.

They say Southland’s freshwater challenges include extensive loss of wetlands impacting on biodiversity and hydrology; an excess of sediment, pathogens and nutrient inputs in some rivers, lakes and estuaries – some putting human health at risk, and issues with river flows affecting water quality.

In formation of their report, the forum has had access to the best available science, information from stakeholder organisations as well as presentations and conversations with many in the community. 

They have considered a range of possible methods to address the scale of change required over a generation.

ES and Te Ao Mārama will now assess the recommendations that will inform the plan change to the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan, and the next Long-term Plan.

The plan change is expected to be notified in late 2023, and ES say they will seek feedback as it is developed.

For more information and to read the Regional Forum’s report, visit https://waterandland.es.govt.nz/regional-forum