Environment Canterbury Commissioners Appointed

Press Release: beehive.govt.nz 22 April 2010

Nick Smith, Rodney Hide

"The Government has selected experienced and capable commissioners with first-class public service, governance, judicial and business skills. We have ensured a balance of agricultural, environmental and electricity expertise to match the challenges facing Environment Canterbury. We have endeavoured to maximise the number of Commissioners from Canterbury and ensured representation from both North and South Canterbury communities," Dr Smith and Mr Hide said.

The Commissioners are: Dame Margaret Bazley (Chair), Hon. David Caygill (Deputy Chair), David Bedford, Donald Couch, Tom Lambie, Professor Peter Skelton, Rex Williams.

"A key concern of Government has been the lack of a resource management plan for water in Canterbury and that is why completing a plan has been made an urgent priority in the terms of reference," Dr Smith said.

Mr Hide said: "The Commissioners are also required to improve relations with Canterbury's 10 territorial councils, to build on the work of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and to meet all the statutory obligations of the Resource Management and Local Government Acts to consult with the Canterbury community. These measures will improve the performance of Environment Canterbury leading in to the 2013 Local Government elections."

Dr Smith said: "The Government's objective is to see an urgent improvement in freshwater management around water quality, water allocation and opportunities for water storage."