1. Freshwater Futures Update Rangitāiki River Forum 21 March 2017

2. Regional Policy Statement Change 3
Freshwater Futures

3. Rangitāiki and Kaituna-Pongakawa-Waitahanui WMAs
We are here

4. Objective setting process
In-river values
Preferred state
Use values
Draft Objectives
Management options
Draft plan change

5. Rangitāiki – Resource Management Issues
Increasing demand while water is over-allocated
Nitrogen increasing in upper catchment - land use intensification risk
Nutrient enrichment and sediment in dam lakes, some spots not suitable for swimming
Lower Rangitāiki River and lowlands heavily modified
Indigenous fish and eels heavily impacted
Simon says: “Please move slide on national stuff to the end with the other slide. I would like the focus on the other slides please on steps we’re taking.”
Nitrogen increasing
NOF A band in rivers but rising
Eutrophic/Supertrophic TLI in HEP dam lakes
Rate of rise – sources, lag times, groundwater interactions
The Matahina and Aniwaniwa HEP Dam Lakes are “human made” receiving water bodies in the Rangitāiki River. Nutrient enrichment, algal/macrophyte growth and sedimentation is having an effect on dam operations, ecological health and recreational values.
Increasing demand while water is over-allocated
land use intensification/change in land use in the mid-upper catchment
surface and ground water is fully allocated above the Matahina Dam
flow regime heavily dependent on hydro-electricity operations
potential effect on saline wedge in the Rangitāiki Plain
Indigenous fish and eels heavily impacted
by structural changes, loss of habitat, obstacles to passage, harvesting, water quality and changes to flow regime
Nutrient enrichment and sediment in dam lakes
Nitrogen increasing in upper catchment - land use intensification risk
Some spots not suitable for swimming
Lower Rangitāiki River and lowlands heavily modified
for farming, flood protection and hydro-electricity operations

6. 2. Water Management Areas
NPS-FM Implementation
1. Region-wide change
Effect change now to address immediate problems
Water Quantity focus
2. Water Management Areas
Community-based discussions
Water quantity and quality
Limits developed with tangata whenua & community
Explain linkage / difference between the two Stages
The Region-wide change
plan change 9 the key points I’m thinking of communicating are:
Plan change 9 is region wide and is a “hold the line and fix current operational issues” plan change
Reinforces existing limits uniformly around the region, anticipating PC12 will take a more tailored sub region approach
PC 9 was notified in Oct 2016 and submissions have now closed
Key topics are
Anticipates development of subsequent plan changes in WMA’s
Reinforce/set limits to allocation of water
Acknowledge need to phase out over allocation once WMA limits set and avoid creating new over allocation
Enhanced efficiency and metering requirements
Enhanced transfer provisions
Fix existing unauthorised dairy shed takes
Recognise importance of municipal takes
Continue with provisions relating to HEP schemes, consistent with NPSREG
Taking account of tangata whenua values, matauranga Māori, iwi and hapū RMP
Unauthorised taking especially by dairy farmers
Reduction in groundwater PA volume for small properties
Need to explore water storage and MAR where water shortage is a problem
Publication of report “Assessment of water availability and estimates of current allocation levels report, October 2016” provides clarity to water users about opportunities
In Rangitāiki this means
Water above the HEP dams most of the year is fully allocated to existing users, but some room for sharing out of season water for irrigators
Some dairy farmers need to get resource consent for existing unauthorised takes
Most dairy farmers will need 2 water meters – for dairy shed use and for stock drinking water
Plan change 12 will have limited scope above the dam from a quantity perspective because of the constraints existing allocations impose

7. Recent Changes – Clean Water
NPS-FM Amendments
Freshwater Fund $100M
Stock Exclusion