Statutory review of Environment Canterbury

The Ministry for the Environment and the Department of Internal Affairs conducted a statutory review of Environment Canterbury. The review began on 1 March 2014. The review is completed and Cabinet has agreed on final policy decisions.

About the review

Section 17A of the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2010 (ECan Act) provides the Minister of Local Government and the Minister for the Environment the power to review Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) governance structure, membership and enhanced resource management powers. 

The purpose of the ministerial review was to identify possible regional governance arrangements for Canterbury once the ECan Act expires in 2016.

The review covered:

  • governance and membership
  • powers and functions under Part 3 of the ECan Act
  • ECan’s role in earthquake recovery.

It considered the specific regional governance issues facing Canterbury, the progress made by the commissioners appointed by the Government in 2010 to govern ECan and future options for the governance of ECan.

Public consultation

In 2015, the Ministry for the Environment and Department of Internal Affairs sought feedback on a proposed mixed-model governance structure for ECan for after the 2016 local government elections. A discussion document was released on 18 March 2015 outlining the proposal.

Read Environment Canterbury Review: A discussion document

Submissions closed at 5.00pm 1 May 2015.

The consultation findings were summarised and provided to the Associate Minister for Local Government and the Minister for the Environment to support Government decision-making about the way forward for ECan.

Read Summary of submissions on Environment Canterbury Review: A discussion document

Read all submissions:

Final policy decisions

On 22 June 2015, Cabinet agreed to establish a mixed-model governance structure of seven elected and up to six appointed councillors for ECan for the 2016-2019 local government term. Cabinet also agreed to ECan retaining limited appeal rights powers in relation to freshwater plans and policies for the 2016-2019 local government term.

Read the Ministers' announcement on the Beehive website [Beehive website]

Read Environment Canterbury Review policy settings for future governance arrangements July 2015

Background to the review

  • In 2010, the Government appointed commissioners to govern ECan following significant issues with the council’s performance.
  • The commissioners were given additional RMA powers to advance the region’s water management strategy.
  • The commissioners were originally tasked with governing ECan until the 2013 local authority elections.
  • In March 2013, Parliament amended the Act to extend commissioner-led governance to the 2016 local authority elections.
  • The extension has enabled the commissioners to continue to work on freshwater issues, finalise RMA plans, and to provide stable and effective regional leadership throughout the earthquake recovery work.

Find out more

Appointment of commissioners

The Environment Canterbury (ECan) commissioners were appointed under the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Act 2010 (ECan Act), which was passed by Parliament on 1 April 2010.

The commissioners were:

  • Dame Margaret Bazley (Chair)
  • Hon. David Caygill (Deputy Chair)
  • David Bedford
  • Tom Lambie
  • Professor Peter Skelton
  • Rex Williams.

The Minister for the Environment wrote to Dame Margaret Bazley setting out the outcomes and goals [PDF, 168 KB] for the Environment Canterbury commissioners. It is the commissioners' responsibility to determine how best to achieve these outcomes and goals.

The commissioners must also comply with the Terms of Reference [Beehive website, PDF 26 KB].

The ECan Act provides for new elections when the commissioners have completed their task but no later than the 2016 local authority elections.

A new bill will be introduced to the House this year to establish a mixed-model governance structure for ECan for the 2016-2019 local government term. The bill, if enacted, will mean that the commissioners' terms will expire following the 2016 local body elections.

Ministers' media releases

Environment Canterbury transition plan announced July 2015 [Beehive website]
Contains link to the Government’s announcement to introduce a mixed-model governance structure as a transition measure.

Feedback sought on ECan's future governance March 2015 [Beehive website]
Contains link to the Government’s announcement of the proposal to introduce a mixed-model governance structure.

Environment Canterbury Commissioners to stay September 2012 [Beehive website]
Contains links to questions and answers on the commissioners' extended term until the 2016 local authority elections.

Environment Canterbury Commissioners appointed April 2010 [Beehive website]
Contains biographies of the commissioners and links to the Terms of Reference of 22 April 2010 and questions and answers on the commissioners.

Commissioners needed to fix Canterbury water March 2010 [Beehive website]