23/06/2006
- The Rangitata River in South Canterbury is now
protected by a Water Conservation Order, Environment
Minister David Benson-Pope announced today.
“The Conservation Order identifies
the outstanding characteristics of the Rangitata
River, and lists the waters that are to be retained
in their natural state,” said Mr Benson-Pope.
“The Order also sets out constraints
on damming, alteration of river flow and form,
maintenance of fish passage, and alteration of
water quality that apply to other parts of the
river.
“The scope of the Water Conservation
Order also recognises the economic value of the
river, and provides for some existing uses, including
the Rangitata Diversion Race,” said Mr Benson-Pope.
The Rangitata River runs from
the Southern Alps to the east coast, north of
Temuka, and is one of the major river systems
in South Canterbury.
The Order ends a process begun
by Fish and Game New Zealand in December 1999
to protect the Rangitata’s outstanding values.
The river has special importance
for Ngai Tahu, and they supported Fish and Game’s
application for the Water Conservation Order.
A special tribunal was appointed
in October 2000 to consider 1,100 written submissions.
It held hearings in 2001 and released its report
in October 2002. The Tribunal’s recommendation
to grant a Water Conservation Order was then subject
to further submissions at the Environment Court.
In September last year, the
Environment Court released its final report recommending
a Water Conservation Order on the Rangitata River.
The Order will take effect from
late July.
