Living Lake Symposium 2013

The 2013 Living Lake Symposium was held at Lincoln University on November 7 & 8. Thanks to all the presenters and to everyone who attended for making another successful and thought provoking event.

The programme, with a brief outline of each presentation, can be downloaded here.

Day 1 – Measure to manage………

Day 1 covered the state of the lake and environs and a full report, which was released at the symposium, can be downloaded from our State of the Lake project page.

Attendees were welcomed by Te Taumutu Runanga and Craig Pauling. Craig’s address can be read here.

Thanks to Jacqui Dean (MP for Waitaki) who also added words of welcome, standing in for the Hon. Amy Adams who was unable to make it on the day.

Day 1 was chaired by Jenny Webster-Brown of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Research.  The presentations are below.

Keynote address – Clive Howard-Williams (NIWA)

Introducing the symposium and the State of the Lake and Environs report – Ken Hughey (Lincoln University/Waihora Ellesmere Trust) & Ken Taylor (Environment Canterbury

Governance & management – David Perenara O’Connell (Environment Canterbury

Current lake level management – Dan Harrison (Environment Canterbury

Land cover and land use – Kirsty Johnston/Ian Brown (Environment Canterbury

Economy – Ross Cullen (Lincoln University), presented by Ken Hughey (Lincoln University/Waihora Ellesmere Trust)

Recreation – Ken Hughey (Lincoln University/Waihora Ellesmere Trust)

Fish & Game’s involvement in the Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere catchment – Emily Moore (Fish & Game NZ (North Canterbury))

Water – surface water, ground water – Tim Davie (Environment Canterbury)

Ground water fauna – Graham Fenwick (NIWA)

Lake margin vegetation – Philip Grove (Environment Canterbury)

Lake wildlife:

Native Fish and Fisheries –  Hamish Rennie (Lincoln University/Waihora Ellesmere Trust)

Canterbury mudfish – Anita Spencer (Department of Conservation)

Cultural health – Gail Tipa (Ngai Tahu)

Day 2 – Managing what we measure…..

Our keynote speaker, Andy Bruere, gave us an insight into how issues are being addressed elsewhere and then we looked at the range of initiatives and research underway in the Te Waihora catchment.

Day 2 was chaired by Ian (Whit) Whitehouse, Environment Canterbury. The presentations are below.

Introduction to Day 2 and recap of Day 1 – Ken Hughey, (Lincoln University/Waihora Ellesmere Trust) & Ken Taylor, (Environment Canterbury)

Managing the Rotorua Lakes – Andy Bruere (Environment Bay of Plenty)

CWMS ZIP and Selwyn-Waihora sub regional section of the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan –  Pat McEvedy & other zone committee members

Community Initiatives

Te Ara Kakariki, Canterbury Plantout – Brooke Turner (TAK)

Waihora Ellesmere Trust, Sustainable Drain Management Project – Brett Painter (WET)

Te Waihora Management Board, Restoration Programme –  Andy Spanton (Ngai Tahu)

Catchment Initiatives involving the primary sector

Fonterra/DOC Partnership, Sustainable Dairying Within Healthy Ecosystems – Richard Suggate (Department of Conservation)

Synlait – Leading With PrideTM – David Williams (Synlait)

DairyNZ, Sustainable Dairying Water Accord – Shirley Hayward (DairyNZ)

Central Plains Water Enhancement Scheme – Susan Goodfellow (CPW)

Regional and District Council programmes

Environment Canterbury, Immediate Steps/Biodiversity projects – Jo Abbott (Environment Canterbury)

Selwyn District Council, Selwyn Natural Environment Fund and other programmes – Andrew Mactier (SDC)

Christchurch City Council programmes –  Paul Devlin (CCC)

Central Govt/local/Ngai Tahu partnership

Whakaora Te Waihora overview – Amanda Ward (WTW

Whakaora Te Waihora research –  Tim Davie (Environment Canterbury, WTW science team leader)

Other management and research

Universities – current and recent research  (Canterbury & Lincoln) – Jenny Webster-Brown (Waterways Centre)

DOC willow research & control–  James Griffiths

Willow Control at Te Waihora –  Robin Smith, Craig Alexander (Department of Conservation)

Take home messages – Jenny Webster-Brown (Waterways Centre)

Thanks to Kelvin Coe, Mayor of Selwyn District and Donald Couch, Environment Canterbury Commissioners, for their final words, and to Te Taumutu Runanga for bringing the symposium to a close.