North Canterbury News: November 24, 2022

Creek water quality improving
By DAVID HILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
RURAL LIFE
North Canterbury News, November 24, 2022
29
QUALITY FENCING
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Kaikōura’s familiar stream is now a
space enjoyed by all, says Kaikōura
Zone Committee chairperson Ted
Howard.
The Waikōau /Lyell Creek catchment
has seen major improvements in water
quality, biodiversity and mahinga kai
values over the past 60 to 70 years
through community action.
The creek flows from springs, fed via
groundwater from the alpine braided
Kowhai River, and meanders across the
pastoral landscape and lifestyle blocks
of the Kaikōura Flats and into the town.
The zone committee made it apriority
to improve the water quality of Lyell
Creek in 2012.
‘‘It is agreat place for the community,’’
Mr Howard says.
‘‘Birds, fish and insects can thrive in
it, and it provides away for locals to
connect with their natural environment.
‘‘It wasn’t always like this, so it is great
to be able to look back on decades of past
actions and see how over time, people
and place has been connected, with
outstanding outcomes to improving such
acentral water way.’’
But more needs to be done and
keeping the community connected to the
stream is one of the keys to keep
improving water quality, he says.
In 2017, the post­quake Kaikōura
Plains Recovery Project carried out a
stream walk along Lyell Creek and its
connected drains, to collect information
on the health of the catchment.
The survey led to two reports being
compiled by the National Institute of
Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA).
The stream walk approach is now
being used as atemplate for other
catchment projects in Kaikōura.
Astormwater filtering system and
Pitching in ..
Students from Kaikōura’s St Joseph's School help out with planting.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY
some cultural artwork has also been
established at the public reserve by
State Highway 1, to raise awareness of
stormwater impacts on the creek, and
the cultural importance of the area.
Planting has also been apriority for
the zone committee.
‘‘This reserve is shaping up to be a
rich outdoor classroom, and aplace of
quiet contemplation, for people to
connect with the awa and continue
traditions of mahinga kai,’’ Environment
Canterbury land management and
biodiversity advisor Heath Melville
says.
‘‘Over the last 10 or so years there’s
been ongoing weed control, numerous
community stream and beach clean ups
and educational opportunities in the
lower Lyell area.’’
Dairy Awards closing soon
North Canterbury dairy industry
workers and owners have until
December 5, 2022 to enter the New
Zealand Dairy Industry Awards 2023.
Whether you are an up­and­coming
dairy farmer, or looking to boost your
career in dairy management, then you
should consider entering the awards.
More information can be found at at
dairyindustryawards.co.nz
NZDI general manager Robin
Congdon said all the regional
committees came together for a
conference earlier to learn how to
deliver the 48 regional events and
numerous judging days.
‘‘The conference was abusy few
days, ensuring everyone knows what’s
required to deliver the dynamic
programme and bring them up to
speed on this year’s changes made to
the Share Farmer category judging
process,’’ he said.
For North Canterbury entrants in
the Canterbury/North Otago regional
dairy trainee of the year ­skills day,
dairy manager of the year and share
farmer of the year, the preliminary
judging will take place next year
during the week of February 14 to 16 .
The regional finals will be held at
the end of February and the overall
winners field day will be April 12.
More information is available at
dairyindustryawards.co.nz/regions,
and on regional facebook pages.
Entries for all categories will be
accepted online at
dairyindustryawards.co.nz until
December 5.
Concept plans have been developed
for the public reserve next to the
Kaikōura I­Site, while input from Te
Rūnanga oKaikōura has led to agreater
emphasis on mahinga kai and rewilding.
Public interest journalism is funded
by New Zealand on Air.
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