Fresh Water Management Forum

About

New Zealand is at a critical juncture in its efforts to create sustainable and integrated fresh water management. With the recent release of the acclaimed Land and Water Forum Report, the anticipated issuing of a National Policy Statement and a series of high impact developments at both regional and national levels, there has never been a more important time for this comprehensive event.

2nd Annual Fresh Water Management Forum is a bringing together all the major stakeholders in New Zealand’s fresh water debate. With an engaging and thought provoking programme, it provides the ideal platform to discuss and hammer out the major issues affecting NZ’s fresh water management.

Attendees will have a real opportunity to interact with speakers and engage in the programme. Five expert panel discussions will cover water management’s thorniest issues. Alastair Bisley, Chair of the Land and Water Forum, facilitates a unique coming together of some of the Forum’s key players, to evaluate the collaborative governance process five months down the line, and discuss its possible application to other problematic areas.

Gain valuable insights from Commissioner David Caygill during his presentation on role of the Environment Canterbury Commission, and examine the fundamental issues of water tradability with an international speaker Mike Young of the University of Adelaide. Tukoroirangi Morgan and Jacinta Ruru shed light on the amplified role of Maori in NZ fresh water ownership and management, and Jason Holland of the Ministry for the Environment provides a Breakdown of the new water metering regulation.

The 2nd Annual Fresh Water Management Forum is a unique up-to-the-minute sector driven event. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to mix and network with key stakeholders, and ensure you are up to date with the latest developments in the sector.

Agenda

Agenda: Day 1

8.30

Registration & Coffee

9.00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Doug Marsh, Professional Director, Management Resources Ltd

9.05

Keynote Address: The expectations and role of the Environment Canterbury Commission

In May 2010 the running of Environment Canterbury was transferred to the Environment Canterbury Commission. The Commission is charged with the task of making urgent improvements in fresh water management around quality, water allocation and opportunities for water storage. In this session, Commissioner David Caygill discusses the major challenges faced by the Commission, the long term water management vision for the Canterbury region, the importance of its success and possible adoption country wide.

Hon. David Caygill, Deputy Chair, Environment Canterbury

9.40

Addressing National guidance for fresh water management

An amended National Policy Statement (NPS) for water management has been proposed. Under the Resource Management Act (RMA), it will offer further National guidance to local authorities when planning and implementing fresh water management strategies.
• Matters of National significance under the NPS
• Relationship between NPS and RMA
• What are the key areas of guidance?
• Update on Environmental Protection Agency

Maree Baker, Partner - Resource Management, Anderson Lloyd Lawyers

10.30

Morning tea

10.50

Panel Discussion: National and regional approaches to fresh water management

The past year has seen a shift in the management of fresh water from a purely regional responsibility, to more national involvement. This panel discussion looks at the pros and cons associated with centralised and regional approaches.
• Is there a need for more guidance at a national level?
• Can one size fit all when it comes to fresh water management?
• Which decisions are best addressed at national and regional levels?

Dr. Russel Norman, MP and Co-leader, Green Party
Graeme Martin, CEO, Otago Regional Council
Greg Carlyon, Group Manager Regional Planning & Regulatory, Horizons Regional Council
Maree Baker, Partner - Resource Management, Anderson Lloyd Lawyers
Brendon Burns, MP for Christchurch Central, Labour Spokesman for Water

11.50

Panel Discussion: The landmark Land and Water Forum – process evaluation and assessing future application

The Land and Water Forum was established last year to address the complex and often conflicting interest in New Zealand’s fresh water management. The collaborative governance process brought together all the principal stakeholders and offers a potential model for future use.
• Background to Land and Water Forum and Forum mandate
• Major outcomes and recommendations
• Developments and ongoing concerns
• Process evaluation and possible future application

Facilitated by Alastair Bisley, Chairman, Land and Water Forum
Guy Salmon, Executive Director, Ecologic Foundation
Dr. Clive Howard Williams, Chief Scientist Fresh water and Coasts, NIWA
Simon Tucker, General Manager, Policy & Advocacy
Bruce Waters, General Manager Public Affairs & Policy, Mighty River Power
Dean Stebbing, CEO, Ngati Tuwharetoa Fisheries Charitable Trust

12.50

Lunch

1.50

International Address: Examining the fundamental issues of water tradability

Australia, with its developed water trading system, offers some real insights into the realities of water trading, and the possible outcomes of a New Zealand water trading system.
• Scenario analysis of different trading models
• Would extending water consents facilitate water trading?
• Should owners of water receive rents for the commercial use of water?
• Who is likely to profit from the different water trading models?
• What is the impact of water trading on end users?

Prof. Mike Young, Executive Director Environment Institute
The University of Adelaide

2.35

Panel Discussion: The allocation of New Zealand’s fresh water - who should have priority and why?

Access to water is vital for ensuring the continued economic development of New Zealand, however, the growth of urban centers, environmental concerns and the protection of water for cultural and social purposes, makes water prioritisation an issue of increased debate.
• Implications of water allocation on future economic growth
• Issues with the current water allocation system
• Water consents and impact of proposed changes
• Water efficiency and strategies for reducing demand

Andrew Curtis, Chief Executive, Irrigation NZ
Peter Clough, Senior Economist, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research
Bruce Waters, General Manager Public Affairs & Policy, Mighty River Power

3.35

Afternoon tea

3.50

Canterbury Water Management Strategy: Turning policy into reality

This session builds on Bryan Jenkins’ presentation at Conferenz’s inaugural Fresh Water Management conference in February 2010, where the background and overall water management strategy for the Canterbury region were discussed.
• Technical aspects of strategy implementation
• Establishment of Zone and Regional Committees
• Creation of water management action programme at local level
• Opportunities created by the moratorium in the Hurunui catchment
• Community and stakeholder input in decision making process

Dr. Bryan Jenkins, CEO, Environment Canterbury

4.30

Ministerial Address: Examination of New Zealand’s fresh water management reform and strategic future direction

Since June 2011, major changes have been initiated at a Government level to address New Zealand’s fresh water management. In this session, the Minister will give a breakdown of the initiatives implemented thus far and an indication of where future policy is headed.

Minister Nick Smith

5.15

End of day one & networking drinks

Agenda: Day 2

9.00

Opening remarks from the Chair

Doug Marsh, Director, Management Resources Ltd

9.05

Māori ownership of New Zealand’s fresh water and where the discussion has progressed in the past 12 months

The reform of fresh water management opens up the issue to ownership for real debate, and provides an opportunity for policy makers to ensure Māori rights and interests are included in any future fresh water management strategies
• Current legal stance on water property ownership within New Zealand – are Māori customary rights contestable?
• Taking into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
• Are RMA provisions sufficient in regard to kaitiakitanga?
• The Land and Water Forum - where the issue of ownership is heading?
• How do Māori interests impact on the management of fresh water resources?

Jacinta Ruru, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago

9.45

Case Study: The Waikato Deed of Settlement and the implication for future Māori/Crown co-management of fresh water resources

The agreement reached between Iwi and the Crown, in respect of the Waitato River, was the first of its kind to come into effect. The Deed provides $210 million for the restoration and protection of the river and creates and important precedent for the co-management of resources with Māori.
• Negotiation process and parameters
• Key features of the Deed
• The Waitako River enhanced model and possible future application

Tukoroirangi Morgan, Chair - Governance Board, Tainui Group Holdings Limited

10.25

Morning tea

10.45

The important role science and research plays in the development of any sustainable fresh water management strategy

The management of natural resources is often discussed from a political and economic point a view, without enough actual understanding of the resource and its interaction with the environment. For any water management plan to truly resolve the issues surrounding water quality, quantity, allocation and priority, continual scientific research is essential.
• Increasing our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems
• Defining thresholds and pathways for restoration
• Nutrients and their effect on water quality
• Working with end-users to improve technological learning processes

Dr. Clive Howard Williams, Chief Scientist Fresh water and Coasts, NIWA
Member NZ Freshwater Sciences Society (NZFSS)

11.30

Breakdown of the new water metering regulation

In an effort to achieve accurate and consistent water measurement, new water metering regulation comes into effect on 10 November 2010. The regulations require water users taking 5 litres/second or more to measure and report their water take. By 2016, the regulations will increase the percentage of water allocated by resource consent that is metered from around 31% up to 98%.
• Minimum requirements for the installation and operation of water measuring and recording devices
• Transfer of data to regional authorities
• Implications for new and existing consent holders

Jason Holland, Senior Analyst, Ministry for the Environment

12.15

Lunch

1.15

Tapping into the potential of community irrigation schemes

The government recently introduced changes to the community irrigation fund designed to remove some of the stumbling blocks to the community schemes. It will also widen the criteria of the fund to cover technical design work and training. This session will examine the current application of community irrigation schemes and their future potential.
• Impact to changes to the Community Irrigation Fund
• The need to up-skill those in governance roles
• Potential for larger infrastructure schemes

Andrew Curtis, Chief Executive, Irrigation NZ

2.00

Panel Discussion: The funding of water enhancement schemes

While everyone agrees that water enhancement is needed to increase the efficiency of fresh water delivery, the issue of where the capital for these schemes should come from and the possible implications for water-users is still up for debate.
• Risks and funding constraints associated with water enhancement schemes
• Project financing and its application to water irrigation schemes
• The advantages and disadvantages to the Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) model of funding

Facilitated by Geoff Henley, Executive Director, Network PR
Steven Proctor, Executive Director PIP Fund, H.R.L Morrison & Co
Adrian Wimmers, Head of Infrastructure & Projects Group, KPMG
Karl Nicholson, Director Specialised Lending, ANZ
Stuart Ford, Agricultural Economist, The AgriBusiness Group

2.50

Afternoon tea

3.05

Provisions for water quality under the Resource Management Act and the direction of future national guidance

The new regulation on ecological flows, and the promise of greater guidance from central government regarding acceptable levels of water quality, puts water quality firmly back on the agenda. This session looks at the RMA water quality provisions from a technical prospective and provides insights into how the provisions will affect the setting of water quality limits at regional levels.
• Overview of current water quality regulation
• Areas of contention and national intervention
• Breakdown of proposed water quality provisions
• Impact of Land and Water Forum report on water quality regulation

Paul Beverley, Partner, Buddle Findlay

3.50

Panel Discussion: The vital role agriculture must play in improving the quality of New Zealand’s fresh water

The agricultural industry has a responsibility to reduce the impact of farms on water quality and ensure its use for fish, drinking by livestock, and swimming. This session discusses the role agriculture must play in improving NZ’s fresh water quality.
• Should control of non-point source discharges continue to be industry led?
• Is water quality regulation an issue for central government or regional councils?
• Successes and failures of voluntary partnership initiatives
• Uptake of the sustainable farming fund
• How can the agricultural community address the issue of water quality?
• The business case for good water quality management

Guy Salmon, Executive Director, Ecologic Foundation
Graeme Fleming, Chief Executive, Lake Taupo Protection Trust
Simon Tucker, General Manager Policy & Advocacy, Dairy NZ
Lachlan McKenzie, Dairy Chairperson, Federated Farmers
Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive, Fish & Game NZ

4.40

Closing remarks from the Chair and end of conference

Sponsors/Partners

Interested in sponsorship?

There are some exclusive opportunities to promote your company, and its products and services, at this leading event. Contact the sponsorship team below to request a prospectus or discuss the options, or view more about event sponsorship.