Podcasts about environment canterbury

Would-be swimmers have been told to be vigilant about the quality of the water they're diving into this summer. Elaine Moriarty is the acting chief scientist at Environment Canterbury and spoke to Corin Dann.

Reaction to the proposed local government reform that could see Environment Canterbury scrapped, support for Kaikoura penguins and Hurunui Council backs improving access to a local beach golf course.

Christchurch City Council's been selected to act as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's the latest step in the Government plan to make New Zealand attractive for new operators. She says developers previously had to navigate up to 66 different councils, processes and responses. Willis says the aim is to boost competition in a sector dominated by Foodstuffs and Woolworths by letting new entrants deal with just one authority. Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told John MacDonald that the intention of having a one-stop shop regardless of the number of sites you're operating on is sound. She says that they've heard from businesses who operate across multiple sites that there's a real inconsistency across the local authorities, which can be incredibly painful to deal with. But, Watson says, whether or not this plan creates the right incentives is still yet to be seen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David discusses the decision by police to cancel controversial restructuring in Canterbury , progress in local election voting and Environment Canterbury's Ngai Tahu councillors reflect on their first term. David Hill is a Local Democracy Reporter with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party Oto spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the government's changes to sick leave laws with their planned overhaul of the Holidays Act 2003, as well as Environment Canterbury's decision to carry a motion declaring a nitrate emergency and the responses to the Greens petition calling on te reo Māori names to be restored to Wellington electorates And he spoke with Dr Ritesh Shah a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland about the number of countries announcing their recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly and why it might just be a symbolic gesture. Max spoke to Stephen Hoadley, a retired professor of international relations, to talk about the suspension and later reinstation of American Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel. And he spoke to Dr. Lucy Telfar-Barnard from the University of Otago, Wellington, to discuss the recent study released by the University of Otago that showed how firearm incidents are costing New Zealand $322 million per year.

In case you missed it... Dom talks with Mid-Canterbury farmer David Clark about his problems renewing his Farming Land Use Consent with Environment Canterbury, despite an A Grade Environmental Audit mark, what his options are and why it should be a concern for farming families across the country. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Federated Farmers has been quick to label Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a nitrate emergency as a 'political stunt'. ECan recently carried a motion to declare the emergency at yesterday's meeting. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prince of the Provinces has finally been crowned the NZ First Deputy Leader, and today he talks about Stuart Nash, Environment Canterbury declaring a “Nitrate Emergency”, and saving Yellow Eyed Penguins (but what about the dolphins, skinks, lizards and blind frogs?).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wonder if the person who called me a tofu-eating, sandal-wearing, treehugger yesterday will have a bit of a re-think when they see what I've got to say about Environment Canterbury declaring a nitrate emergency. I'm with Federated Farmers, which is saying it's nothing more than a political stunt. But it's not just that, it's a very naive political stunt. Because show me one of these so-called “emergency” declarations that have done any good. What about the Christchurch City Council's climate emergency? Is that still a thing? Or have they quietly pulled the plug on that one? The other thing that makes ECan's stunt particularly naive is that it's the outfit still dishing out consents for more dairy farming in Canterbury. There are about 950,000 dairy cows in Canterbury and ECan is currently considering applications for another 10,000. I'll come back to Federated Farmers because they're not the only ones who aren't happy about this emergency declaration – some ECan councillors themselves are brassed off, as well. So what happened yesterday is one of ECan's outgoing councillors put forward the motion to declare the emergency and for ECan to “take a leadership role to urgently address the issue of groundwater pollution impacting drinking water sources and supplies”. Vicky Southworth is the councillor who put forward the motion at what was her very last ECan meeting. It was her last meeting, and it was the council's last meeting before next month's elections. The vote was close —9 in favour, 7 against— and some of the councillors who voted against it were pretty angry at yesterday's meeting. Nick Ward is one of them. He said it was “grandstanding”. Another councillor, John Sunckell, said he's spent 15 years trying to reduce nitrates, and “I just feel really pissed off with this little political stunt”. They both said nitrates levels are expected to decline over time and that rural communities had worked hard and collaboratively over decades to lower nitrates, and that “emergency” was the wrong word to use. Federated Farmers agrees. It's slamming the move, with its vice-president Colin Hurst describing it as a “shameless political stunt that won't help anyone”. If Councillor Southworth was so concerned about the nitrates, she wouldn't be leaving. She'd be putting herself forward for re-election, just like outgoing chairperson Craig Pauling. He voted in favour of the nitrate emergency, but he's moving on as well. Again, if he's so worried about it, then he'd be trying to get elected again too. Instead, they can walk away feeling all virtuous, thinking they've done something positive and have made a difference. Do me a favour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustration from farmers over Environment Canterbury's decision to declare a nitrate emergency. It voted —nine to seven— for the declaration after groundwater testing found levels of the chemical increasing in the majority of monitored sites. Federated Farmers Vice President Colin Hurst told Mike Hosking solving this problem can take a number of years, but farmers have been working on it. He says ECan's put a wedge between farmers and council after yesterday's decision. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dom talks with Mid-Canterbury farmer David Clark about his problems renewing his Farming Land Use Consent with Environment Canterbury, despite an A Grade Environmental Audit mark, what his options are and why it should be a concern for farming families across the country. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Mid-Canterbury farmer David Clark about his problems renewing his Farming Land Use Consent with Environment Canterbury, despite an A Grade Environmental Audit mark, what his options are and why it should be a concern for farming families across the country... He talks with Craig Smith, Findex Wealth Management Partner, about the likely cash windfall for Fonterra shareholders following the sale of its global consumer business to Lactalis, why many farmers are rethinking their priorities in terms of how to spend this tax-free capital return and what it could mean for rural communities and the future dairy in NZ... And he talks with Julian Ashby, Beef+Lamb NZ GM of Insights and Strategic Planning, about the positive New Season Outlook for sheep and beef farmers, a return to profitability and the cost of afforestation. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Questions have been raised about where a Christchurch homeless community being booted out of a church carpark will go next. City Council's issued an abatement notice requiring Avonside's Holy Trinity Church carpark to stop being used as a campground by 5pm. An extension is possible if a new resource consent, allowing camping, is obtained. Labour's Christchurch East MP Reuben Davidson told John MacDonald the problem isn't the people, but the fact we don't have enough housing. He says we all have role to play in addressing homelessness. National's Vanessa Weenink told MacDonald there is a role for the city council to play, to potentially build more community housing and boarding houses. She says there needs to be a variety of options, as there's currently not enough choice nor housing stock. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would you say to a $40,000 pay rise? Yes please? If you're the chief executive of Environment Canterbury regional council, you would. It's been revealed that in the last financial year, Stefanie Rixecker's pay increased by 9.3 %, upping her salary by $40,000 to just under $480,000, making her the highest-paid regional council boss in the country. And this wasn't one of those decisions by the Independent Remuneration Authority, which sets the pay levels for politicians, which also gives politicians the excuse of saying they have no control over what they get paid. This decision was made by the elected council members. An increase that the chair of ECAN, Craig Pauling, is busy defending. He says the $40,000 pay increase is "appropriate and deserved". Appropriate and deserved because the chief executive is a respected leader and is running ECAN during a tricky time for local government. Craig Pauling says: “It is important to our council that we have a high-performing and respected chief executive at the helm, during this significant time of change for local government.” Time of change alright. Which is what the Government has been telling councils. And I imagine the noise from Wellington will get even louder when news of this pay increase makes it to the Beehive. The chair of the council can say all he likes about the chief executive being brilliant at her job and how she has a lot on her plate and how it's her job to lead ECAN through change and all that, but what he is missing, and what every one of those councillors who voted for this unfathomable pay increase is missing, is that a pay increase of just under 10% is la-la land stuff. On several fronts. The most obvious is what a $40,000 pay increase for the chief executive of a regional council looks like to the rest of us. Those of us who pay rates to ECAN. The other reason why this move is so wrong right now is because it looks to me like ECAN is explicitly ignoring the noises coming from the Government about local councils needing to cut their cloth. How can you have these kinds of expectations coming at you —as well as the likes of regional development minister Shane Jones declaring war on regional councils— yet still give your chief executive a huge pay increase? It shows just how out of touch our regional councillors are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions over Christchurch City Council planning to spend $200 thousand on a shuttle bus study. Environment Canterbury wants to stop the proposed resurrection of a free inner-city shuttle, saying 1800 bus movements each weekday is enough. A 2023 law change means ECan will get the final say. Mayor Phil Mauger admits he voted for the costly study. But he told John MacDonald ECan didn't mention anything until it was included in the annual plan. He says there's no use spending the money if it doesn't get the green light, so council should re-think the idea. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's been making it increasingly clear over time that it doesn't really give two-hoots about local democracy. But, in the last 24 hours, it's gone next level. First up, we've got housing minister Chris Bishop, who announced yesterday that he's going to be given special powers to ride roughshod over council plans if he doesn't like them. Essentially, if he thinks a council has a district plan that doesn't support economic growth and development, or won't do anything to create jobs, then he can come in over the top and say “nah nah nah, you're not doing that.” In fact, from what I've been reading, it seems any government minister is going to be able to modify or remove aspects of council plans that they don't agree with. Talk about big brother. But that's not all. Chris Bishop also got himself involved in a spat with the Christchurch City Council, saying that the council's failed attempt to push back on the Government's housing intensification rules was “nuts”. He's saying: “It is an inarguable, and sometimes uncomfortable, fact that local government has been one of the largest barriers to housing growth in New Zealand." Going on to say: “Christchurch City Council just outright defied its legal obligations.”Signing off with the accusation that the council was “nuts” if it thought it could get away with not doing what the Government wanted it to do. Now, even though I didn't have a problem with Chris Bishop declining the council's request for Christchurch to be treated as a special case and not have to go along with the Government's housing intensification policy, I think he needs to rein it in a bit. But this attack on local democracy doesn't stop with Chris Bishop. Shane Jones is at it, as well. Saying in a speech to local government leaders that regional councils have had their day and he wants to get rid of them. “What is the point of regional government?” That's what he said when he stood up at the lectern in Wellington last night. He seems to think that, with all the changes the Government is making to the Resource Management Act, we won't need regional councils anymore. Saying: “There is less and less of a justifiable purpose for maintaining regional government.” Which I do kind of get. Because I know a few people in local government and I have asked them recently where they see the likes of Environment Canterbury going if the Government is going to give the resource management act the heave-ho. Because that's what regional councils were set up to do in the first place. To implement the Resource Management Act. There have been a few add ons since then - like running bus services. And I've long been a fan of local government amalgamation. But for a government minister like Shane Jones to stand up and give a speech to local government people and tell them that he wants to ditrch regional councils - that is arrogant. Just like this plan to let ministers interfere in council plans if they don't like what they see. That's arrogant too. But it's more than just arrogance. It's an attack on local democracy. Which, apparently, is something the government values. When it suits, it would seem. Because, when he was announcing these new powers - which are going to be in force until all the changes to the Resource Management Act have gone through - he admitted it was a significant step. "But the RMA's devolution of ultimate power to local authorities just has not worked.” Which is code for saying: "Even though we say we're all into local decision-making, we're only into it when it suits Wellington". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Canterbury's submission to the water regulator says proposed wastewater treatment standards are far below what it demands currently.

I hope Environment Canterbury isn't bothering listening to Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey. He's not impressed that the regional council is going to spend money doing a business case for a rail passenger service between Rangiora, Christchurch, and Rolleston. Matt Doocey says it's nothing more than a pie-in-the-sky idea and, given we're in a cost-of-living crisis, he says ECAN should stick to its knitting and focus on getting costs down and reducing rates. But what Matt Doocey should be doing —instead of criticising ECAN— is praising it for showing some initiative. He should be praising it for showing that it's prepared to do the kind of big sky, big picture thinking that local government hasn't been doing, and which we've been saying it should be doing. I think Doocey isn't reading the room, and I suspect that there will be a lot of excitement about ECAN pushing this rail idea. What's more, ECAN has put some money aside for a possible rail project. Plus, it's talking about not just limiting this rail passenger idea to Rangiora, Christchurch, and Rolleston. It's saying that, once up and running, the service could be extended to places like Amberley, Ashburton, Timaru, and even further south into Otago and Southland. I'm loving the idea. I'm also loving the fact that ECAN is prepared to put some skin in the game. To spend some money and find out once-and-for-all how much of a goer this could be. ECAN is onto something because if there's a common complaint about how the earthquake rebuild played out, it would be the fact that, despite all the talk that Christchurch was going to be the most modern city in the country, it's not. Because we've just stuck to the same old, same old when it comes to things like transport. And local government has to carry some of the blame for that. But now, ECAN wants to make good on that. What this comes down to for me is this: what do expect of local government? Do we just expect it to stick to its knitting and do the basic boring stuff? Or do we expect our councils to be the big picture thinkers? If you're like me and you want to see councils doing the big picture stuff, then you'll agree that we've lost the ability to think big. Mark my words, there'll be no shortage of people running in the local body elections later this year banging-on about sticking to the basics. Whereas ECAN is showing that it's thinking about the future, which is exactly the kind of thing I want to see not just from ECAN, but all our councils. Tell that to Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey, though. He's saying today: ‘Rather than coming up with pie in the sky motions, ECAN should focus on reducing rates which have rapidly increased - putting more pressure on ratepayers in a cost-of-living crisis.'' Compare that to the likes of ECAN councillor Joe Davies who is saying we can't wait 20 or 30 years, and we need a solution in the next five to ten years. He says: ‘There's a corridor already in place so there would be significantly lower set-up costs and this is an opportunity to link Rangiora and Rolleston to the city.'' So he sees opportunity. Matt Doocey sees obstacles. ECAN sees opportunity and is doing something about it, which is the approach I want to see a lot more of from our local councils. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David discusses the latest events in North Canterbury including updates in Kaikoura's annual plan, Environment Canterbury is boosting bus services and raising fares, and the restored Soldiers' Block in Hanmer Springs was officially opened on Anzac Day.

The Canterbury Regional Council is being criticised for its management of Lake Ellesmere, with residents frustrated the lake was not opened to the sea before last week's storm. Environment Canterbury's director of science Tim Davie spoke to Alexa Cook.

Canterbury is bracing for heavy snow, strong winds and even more rain. Environment Canterbury general manager of hazards Leigh Griffiths spoke to Alexa Cook.

Here's how I would sum up the Government's changes to the free speech rules for universities. It wants more Posie Parkers and less posey political statements. Which I've got no problem with - but I don't think it should stop at universities. I think the Government also needs to look at other public entities, such as local councils, which actually seem to be making more posey political statements than universities. Because, if the Government doesn't want universities taking positions on things like the war in Gaza because - whatever position they take - won't reflect the views of all staff and students, then the same could apply to local councils, couldn't it? If a council boycotts Israel, for example, there's no way everyone who works for these councils or who pays rates to these councils will agree, is there? Let me come back to that. But the gist of all this is that the Government wants two changes to the way universities deal with free speech. For starters: It wants them to stop being so antsy about having guest speakers coming onto campus who might upset a few people with their views. Which has seen some universities pull the plug on certain events. Massey University, for example, stopped Don Brash from giving a speech there once because of what one person described as his "separatist and supremacist rhetoric". A more recent example is Victoria University cancelling a freedom of speech debate this year because of concerns it would turn into a cesspit of hate speech. So the Government wants no more of that. Because it thinks universities are places where all sorts of ideas and thoughts should be shared and debated. And I agree with that. So that's what I mean when I say it wants more Posie Parker. The other change it's making to the regulations that universities operate under, is to stop them taking positions on matters that don'tdirectly relate to their core business of research and teaching. Now this is not something that is going to impact academics who enjoy what's known as academic freedom - which pretty much means they can think and say what they want. Although some academics have questioned that in recent years, saying that they don't feel as free to think and say what they want as they used to. But, essentially, what the Government wants to stop is universities - as institutions - taking a view or a stance on international issues, for example. Some of our universities have been under pressure to condemn Israel for what's going on in Gaza and the Occupied Territories. But, as far as I'm aware, none of them have given-in to that pressure. The closest example I could find here in New Zealand is an announcement three months ago by Victoria University's fundraising arm - the Victoria University Foundation - that it would be getting rid of its Israeli government bonds and its shares in companies listed in Israel. So maybe this is a pre-emptive move by the Government, as much as anything. And it says the reason it's doing this, is that if a university takes a stand on something - it doesn't reflect the views of all staff and students, and that is unfair. So, if that's the motivation, then I reckon the Government needs to come down just as hard on other public entities. Public entities which, at the moment, seem to be going harder on this thing than any of our universities. And I'm thinking, specifically, about local councils around the country which have been more than happy to pile-in on Israel this year, with decisions to boycott companies which operate in Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Christchurch City Council has done it. Environment Canterbury regional council has done it. And Nelson City Council's done it. They're the ones I'm aware of. There might be others. But, if we apply the argument the Government's using to stop universities taking positions on global issues - because they won't necessarily represent the views of all staff and students - then the same can be said of these local councils, can't it? In Nelson, for example, after the council there voted to go with a boycott - there were some pretty fired-up locals. The mayor Nick Smith, who voted against it, got a whole lot of abuse too. And who says everyone working at these councils agrees with the position their employers have taken? They won't. And who says everyone paying rates to these councils agrees with their anti-Israel positions? They don't. Which is why I think the Government should be telling councils not to take political positions on issues outside their core business, just like it's telling the universities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Canterbury votes to delay notifying the Canterbury Regional Policy Statement, Kaikoura considers world heritage status bid, Amberley's proposed new cricket ground is approved, despite opposition, and we have updates on school building projects in North Canterbury.

After saying just the other week that I don't agree with central Government taking over local councils when things go pear-shaped, I've changed my tune. Slightly. And I've got an idea to run past you. First, though, can you imagine what it must feel like being a mayor and getting the phone call from the Beehive saying ‘you're doing a pretty cruddy job so we're sending someone in to sort you out'? It happened in Christchurch a few years back when the Government-of-the-day wasn't happy with the time it was taking the council to process consent applications. It happened more recently in Christchurch too when there was all that kerfuffle over housing intensifications laws. And then way before all of that, of course, there was the time that the government didn't like the way Environment Canterbury was doing things and so stepped-in, gave all the councillors the boot, and put commissioners in to run the place. And, yesterday, it was Wellington mayor Tory Whanau's turn to get the phone call. Which was hardly surprising and, from the coverage I've seen, she seems to have been relatively gracious about it all. But there was one thing she was adamant about - she's not going to resign, after what is clearly a vote of no confidence from the Government. The thing is, though, when you have no other option and you've got the Local Government Minister on the other end of the line spelling out what's going to happen, you're hardly going to make a clown of yourself and start chaining yourself to the front of the building in protest or locking the doors so the Minister's enforcer can't get in the place. Because we know, don't we, from experience that when a Government sends someone into a council, that person is there to enforce what the Government-of-the-day wants. It was the enforcer who was sent to Christchurch to sort out the council over the consenting and the housing density stuff. And it was the enforcer who was sent-in to sort out Environment Canterbury back in the day. But I don't think it needs to be this way. Because, when you get a Government intervening like it has here in Canterbury in the past, and the way it is in Wellington now, it does make a mockery of local Government, doesn't it? So I reckon the solution is to identify problems or issues before they become a crisis. Which councils themselves are never going to do. Because everyone likes to think they're on top of things and you're never going to get a council putting its hand up and saying‘ we're a bit of a basket case, we've cocked things up here'. Which is why we need another set of eyes and ears involved. And we already have a model here in New Zealand that I think could easily be replicated in local Government. We have the Education Review Office which sends out inspectors to keep an eye on what's happening in schools to make sure they're doing what they should be doing. And I reckon the same thing should happen with local councils. So, instead of the Crown observer only being sent-in when things are hitting the fan, the Government should have a team of observers who would go around all councils on a regular basis. Do you think all that strife at the Gore council between the mayor and the chief executive might have been avoided or might have been sorted out sooner if there was more of an external microscope being run over the place? I do. Do you think we might be more reassured that the councillors around the council table are actually the ones making the decisions and not the council staff, if someone from outside was doing a regular check on things? I do. Do you think the shambles we're seeing now in Wellington might have been avoided if we had this kind of external observation going on? I do. So the way I'd see it running would be very similar to the way school inspectors do their job. There'd be a checklist or a criteria that councils could be assessed against. So at school, for example, the inspectors might go in and see how well the kids are going with reading or maths. The council inspectors or observers could go in and check how well council meetings are being run; how much independent decision-making is going on around the council table; how they're going with their 10-year budgets - which has been the big sticking point for Wellington. And then, if they found that a council wasn't up to scratch, the government could decide whether to give councils a few tips or whether it needed to go full noise and send someone in to bang heads together. But, even if they did send someone in to get things under control, it would be at a point where the councils had already been called-out, been given the opportunity to fix things, and retained some sense of self-direction or self-management. Because, the way things are at the moment, it's no action, no action, no action and then - bang - the Government going all knee-jerk on it and sending the Crown observer in. There's got to be a better way. And I think doing regular council inspections or assessments would be that better way. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Canterbury chair Peter Scott has resumed his role after an independent investigation in his farming practices. Also David talks to Kathryn about the scrapping of some school building projects and there are more culture wars against cycleways by the Christchurch Mayor. David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent

Canterbury's regional council is putting in new procedures to manage a backlog of consent applications. In the last six months of last year, Environment Canterbury were penalised more than a million dollars due to processing delays. But since December, 75 percent of applications have been completed within the legal time frame of 20 working days. Chair Peter Scott says they're ensuring there's a clearer path to prevent a backlog. "There's also legislation change that has changed in the last 6 years, so every time the Government puts a new piece of legislation- that affects our consenting." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A Mid Canterbury dry stock farmer who is none too pleased with Environment Canterbury and its communications failures over the fish strandings, and subsequent death, of thousands of fish in the Greenstreet Creek, a tributary of the Ashburton River. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deon Swiggs updates Nights on the fire and reflects on the last big fire almost exactly seven years ago.

David is in Kaikoura today where an old go-kart track south of the town is attracting petrolheads from around the South Island, causing trouble and upsetting residents. Environment Canterbury is in town as part of the "Pick a Path" summit, David explains the initiative. And he talks to Kathryn about some local tourism ventures. Local Democracy Reporter David Hill is with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora

In a world, where increasingly the battle for renewables is being dented if not lost, how wise is it to find a solar farm idea near Lake Tekapo has been rejected because of the environment?  You want to 'save the environment' but you can't because of the environment?  As Rishi Sunak opens more oil fields because renewables can't cover the gaps, as EV manufacturers pull back investment because demand falls, as many countries don't know what to do about the increased power demand if more people do buy EVs, as the Australians increasingly worry about what they will actually do about power production, given they don't have hydro like we do and as we still haven't answered whether we want to spend $16 billion-plus on Onslow as a bucket for dry years, it seems increasingly pointless coming up with ideas that may work at scale and yet they are turned down to protect the very thing we are trying to protect.  The Tekapo idea was an 88-megawatt plan over 113 hectares. It would have serviced about 13,000 homes.  Now, it may be this project specifically was a bridge too far and in general, it could have worked, but so much of this is open to interpretation and dare we suggest an astonishingly large amount of nimbyism.  The problem, according to Environment Canterbury, was the risk of "permanent and irreversible loss of threatened land environments". What does that actually mean?  It would also "potentially impact indigenous flora and fauna". Potentially? Well, would it or would it not have?  Isn't there "potentially" indigenous flora and fauna everywhere you go in this country? Just what bit of New Zealand are we looking for?  The toxic waste dump where nothing has grown for 1,000 years?  The renewables game is fraught. On one hand, you have the Government looking at Onslow, a project so big it scares off investors in other ideas, and when investors do have other ideas the authorities look for reasons not to do it.  We don't like nuclear. Solar, at scale, needs to avoid mountain, daisies and snails apparently. Wind is a partial solution but is far from the sole answer. And we are a mile behind in offshore wave generation.  So shall we stick with Indonesian coal?  We either want to sort this or we want to find excuses.  How many times do the folks behind the Tekapo solar project and ideas like it, need to be rejected before they say "why would we bother?" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A resource consent application for a large solar farm planned for the Mackenzie Basin has been rejected, on ecological grounds. Andrew and Karen Simpson, of Balmoral Station, near Lake Tekapo, want to build and operate an 88-megawatt solar farm on 113 hectares which would produce enough electricity to power up to 13,000 homes. An Environment Canterbury hearing was held in Christchurch in August, and the three Commissioners' decision has just been made public - refusing the consent. They say the development risked permanent and irreversible loss of threatened land environments, and would potentially impact indigenous flora and fauna species. The decision has been welcomed by the Environmental Defence Society, which opposed the application because it threatened indigenous biodiversity.But what does this mean for the country's pathway towards decarbonising the energy sector? Kathryn speaks with Gary Taylor, EDS Chair and Roger Sutton, CEO of Electricity Ashburton, which supported the application.

Environment Canterbury's worried swells may delay the rescue of a fishing boat beached off the coast of Canterbury's Shell Bay. The vessel, which ran aground on Sunday, had about 10,000 litres of diesel and 400 litres of hydraulic oil onboard. Images show the vessel on rocks, spilling oil near an endangered penguin colony. Environment Canterbury Commander Emma Parr says crews are battling two metre swells and king tides - which are forecast to worsen. "We are concerned for those wildlife, they are high risk and sensitive. We're preparing for an oiled wildlife response." LISTEN ABOVE LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Canterbury concedes an oil spill near a marine reserve is not able to be contained. The 25-metre long Austro Carina crashed into the rocks and ran aground at Canterbury's Shell Bay on the eastern side of the peninsula on Sunday night.The four crew made it to shore and had to be winched out by helicopter. It is estimated 10,000 litres of diesel and 400 litres of hydraulic fluid is on the grounded ship. Aerial observations are set to get underway to work out the extent of the situation, but weather is limiting a containment operation. The spill is close to the Akaroa Marine Reserve and the area is home to protected species like the korora/little blue penguin and the upokohue/Hector's dolphins among several others. Kathryn speaks with Andy Thompson, DoC's Mahaanui operations manager and Shireen Helps owner and founder of Pohatu Penguins, a wildlife tour company on Banks Peninsula.

Swimmers enjoying Canterbury's open water this summer should check before they dive, or they might risk getting sick. Environment Canterbury says the number of popular lakes, rivers and beaches graded unsuitable for swimming has risen from twenty-one last year to twenty-five this year. Water Quality Science team leader Shirley Hayward says human faecal bacteria making its way into the water is hard to control and poses a threat to public health. Hayward spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An open letter to electoral candidates across the motu is urging prospective policy makers to think beyond the needs of the capital. The letter references the need to recognise the role of regional councils, prioritise climate resilience and biodiversity, and invest in public transport planning outside of major cities. Environment Canterbury chair Peter Scott spoke to Corin Dann.

Frustration is building in Canterbury over election policies that "fail" to address regional issues. Environment Canterbury's chair Peter Scott has sent an open letter urging election candidates to think beyond Auckland and Wellington. The letter outlines four areas his council wants prioritised; including flood resilience and adaptation to climate change. Scott told Mike Hosking that he's becoming increasingly annoyed trying to influence decision makers in Wellington, despite Canterbury being the largest region in the country. He says if election policies continue to ignore Canterbury, the region could go bankrupt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyttleton locals will have a chance to voice their frustrations tonight on how cruise ships are disrupting their community. Environment Canterbury says when the ships are in port bus services struggle to keep up with the added demand from tourists - especially routes in and out of Lyttelton. Tourism groups along with the port company and the Cruise Association will come together to hear out residents and pitch some solutions. Loren Heaphy from the city's council's economic development agency ChristchrchNZ will also be there. Heaphy spoke to Corin Dann.

David talks to Kathryn about the North Canterbury Mayors reaction to the Future of Local Government report, Rangiora High School's curriculum review and the Oxford Area School Observatory installing a meteor camera and progresses dark sky reserve plans. Also he has recently been to Kaikoura looking at Environment Canterbury's pest control and wetland restoration projects, housing developments and the town's own version of the popular Christchurch Brick Show.

Environment Canterbury says ratepayers are bearing the brunt of having to put on extra public transport, to get cruise passengers from Lyttelton to Christchurch. Chairman Peter Scott says it could cost the council $500,000 to accommodate passengers next season. He says that could balloon to $1 million and they can't impose that on ratepayers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local developer is looking to reshape Ashburton's triangle, the historic retail centre of the town. Robert Grice owns a number of buildings on Victoria Street that require earthquake strengthening and he wants to redevelop the existing shops into a new mixed use hospitality precinct named The Ash. Jonathan also discusses an attempt to add quarter of a million dollars to ECan's annual plan budget which has been labelled a "slap in the face" by Environment Canterbury councillor Ian Mackenzie. And a hold-up of plumbing parts and red tape at the border means the Staveley Ice Rink won't be open to skaters and curlers until at least mid-June. Local Democracy Reporter - Mid Canterbury c from the Ashburton Guardian

Wallabies are hopping closer to one of our most precious national parks. Have we got the tools to stop them in their tracks?

With the help of a cultural land advisor, North Canterbury farmer John Faulkner is creating a diverse mahinga kai - Māori food gathering site - on his riverside property.

There are major efforts underway to keep a bunch of Australian invaders from stepping foot - or paw - in one of our national parks. Wallabies were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800 for hunting and private zoos that adapted well and took off in great numbers. They're considered a pest because they can destroy productive farmland and native forests...and although mostly found in South Canterbury, they've been creeping closer to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Joining Kathryn to talk about the ongoing work to contain them under the National Wallaby Eradication Programme, is Sophia White, Biosecurity NZ's team manager of pest management programmes. And to talk about what's happening in that crucial South Canterbury area, Brent Glentworth - biosecurity team leader Environment Canterbury. If you want to report a wallaby sighting, you can do so here.

David looks at a legal case being brought against Environment Canterbury over the way it's handled water take limits on the Rakaia River, following the leaking of a draft report from within the regional council itself which suggested a water conservation order was being breached. He'll also look at staffing issues within the Christchurch City Council - including the continued absence of two senior managers.

There are hundreds of drawings on limestone rock, some of which could be up to 1000 years old, in South Canterbury. Peter Evans believes it was his grandfather who discovered the ancient drawings on cliffs that overlook his Pareora Gorge sheep and beef farm.

Back in the 1950s, a group of wallabies turned up at Wainui Station... and never left. Before farmer Walter Cameron was allowed to use poison on the pesky marsupials, a hired gun was killing up to 3,500 a year.

A cute detection dog called Toby is helping an Otago pest control team track down wily wallabies crossing the Waitaki River.  The  Aussie imports are escaping South Canterbury's Wallaby Containment Area in search of greener pastures.

More people have been forced to evacuate in Canterbury overnight because of flooding and slips. Civil Defence says a few residents in the Waimakiriri district left their homes because of surface water damage. and in Christchurch, four households were evacuated in Lyttelton and Redcliffs because of slips. In Selwyn, high waters in the Selwyn River forced a number of precautionary evacuations overnight. It's the second evacuation near Selwyn River this month. Environment Canterbury rivers manager Leigh Griffiths spoke to Corin Dann.

A state of emergency has been declared in part of Timaru, where people were evacuated from homes at risk of flooding last night. The declaration covers the Pleasant Point-Temuka ward, where damage to flood banks on the south side of the Opihi River put homes and lives in danger. About 15 people at Pleasant Point were evacuated. Environment Canterbury rivers manager Leigh Griffiths told Morning Report they need to assess the stopbank this morning and make repairs.

Consents granted to two companies allowing them to extract up to 8.8 billion litres of water each year from Christchurch aquifers have been quashed in the Court of Appeal. Environment Canterbury granted the consents in 2017, to companies Cloud Ocean Water, and Rapaki Natural Resources. After a long, drawn out court fight, Aotearoa Water Action won their appeal, with the court saying the consents were not lawfully granted. The consents were originally granted for a wool scour and freezing works, but the regional council allowed them to be rolled over to a water bottling plant. AWA spokesperson Peter Richardson has been celebrating the win. He spoke to Susie Ferguson.