Water: The Lifeblood of New Zealand
The Allocation of Freshwater
Hosted by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
in partnership with the
Ministry for the Environment
This conference was brought together by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry for the Environment. Its purpose was to present papers on recent research and technical studies conducted over the last three years in the area of fresh water allocation.
Water is valued by New Zealanders for many reasons
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economic – for irrigation and industry
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environmental – maintaining ecosystems that rely on streams and ground water
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health – for water supply and safe swimming
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cultural – mahinga kai and mauri
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recreation – for fishing, boating and canoeing
Demand for water for all purposes is increasing. This, in turn, is leading to increasing public debate on the uses that water is put to, and how much is available for different purposes. The conference presented overviews of these differing perspectives, and possible ways of meeting multiple demands.
The conference considered issues of strategic water use, large scale irrigation developments, the economics of efficient water use, and the importance of instream values. Speakers presented the views of regional councils, industry, scientists and stakeholders.
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Tuesday, 23 July
8.30am Registration
9.00am Introduction Murray Sherwin, Director General, MAF
9.05am Opening Hon Jim Sutton, Minister of Agriculture
Session 1 Theme: Strategic Water Issues Chair: Murray Sherwin, Director General, MAF
9.30am Water and Agriculture – Strategic Overview
William Smith, The University of Auckland
10.00am Planning for Water Use Bob Zuur, Ministry for the Environment
10.30am Morning Tea
Session 2
11.00am Towards Wider Strategic Planning for Water – Canterbury
Strategic Water Study John Bright, Lincoln Environmental
11.30am Towards Wider Strategic Planning for Water – Integrated
Catchment Study – Motueka Andrew Fenemor, Tasman District Council
Theme: The Economics of Water Allocation Chair: Michael Jebson, Director Sustainable Resource Use, MAF Policy
12.00
Economic Efficiency in Water Allocation
Geoff Butcher, Butcher Partners
12.30 pm Lunch
Session 3
1.30pm The Economics of Water Use
Simon Harris, Harris Consulting
2.00pm Water Markets
Murray
Doak, MAF, Christchurch
2.30pm Regional Councils: Issues and Options for Freshwater
Management Richard Keys, Marlborough District Council ii
3.00pm Afternoon Tea
Session 4 Theme: Irrigation Development Issues Chair: Alan Walker, Director, Policy Information and Regions, MAF
3.30pm Resource Reliability Christina Robb, Ministry of the Environment
3.50pm Governance, Funding, Planning, Design and Socio-economic
Benefits of Large Scale Irrigation Schemes Nick Brown and Terry Heiler, Consultants
4.40pm Case Study: Barrhill/Chertsey Scheme Phil McKendry, Chair, Barrhill/Chertsey Irrigation Limited
5.00–6.30pm Drinks and Light Refreshments
Wednesday, 24 July
9.00am Introduction Lindsay Gow, Deputy CE, Ministry for the Environment
9.05am Opening Hon Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment
Session 1 Theme: Quantification and Management of Environmental Values Chair: Lindsay Gow, Deputy CE, Ministry for the Environment
9.30am Overview of Instream and Aquifer Issues Barry Biggs, NIWA
10.00am Valuation of Instream Issues
Geoff Kerr, Lincoln University
10.30am Morning Tea
Session 2
11.00am Developments in Understanding Instream Needs for Native Fish Richard
Allibone, DoC
11.30am Classifying Rivers for Management Ton Snelder, NIWA
12.00 noon Integrated Monitoring of Water Resources Nigel
Ironside, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
12.30pm Lunch
Session 3 Theme: Water Users Chair: Bob Zuur, Manager Land and Water Group, Ministry for the Environment
1.30pm Panel Presentations
1. The NZIA Irrigation: Standards, and education, Chair of NZIA
2. Recreation Users: Bryce Johnson, CEO, Fish and Game Council of New Zealand
3. Conservation/Biodiversity Interests: Lindsay Chadderton, DoC
4. A Farmers View, North Island: Hugh Ritchie, Hawke’s Bay
5. A Farmers View, South Island: Murray Taggart, Canterbury
6. Electricity, Water and Irrigation: Meridian Energy
2.30pm Panel Discussion
3.00pm Afternoon Tea
Session 4 Final Session Chair: Alan Walker, Director Policy Information and regions, MAF
3.30pm Summing up
4.00pm Concludes
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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