Wagner Nicky: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Wagner Nicky: Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 28 February 2013. Volume:687;Page:8359. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central) 
: 
 I rise to speak to the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill. We have been hearing a lot of heated debate over this bill. There is no doubt that in an ideal world installing commissioners in the place of the elected Canterbury Regional Council would be unnecessary but back in 2010 the council was struggling to perform its duties effectively. It was bogged down with the enormous challenges of managing water in Canterbury and it had lost the confidence of the people of Canterbury and that was no good for the environment and it was no good for the people of Canterbury. It was interesting that back in 2010 when submitters submitted on the original bill they were deeply concerned about the dangers of having commissioners. They were very fearful about Environment Canterbury’s role going forward and they forecast all sorts of dire consequences. As we hear those submitters once again now in 2013 they are mostly respectful and pleased with the work that the commissioners have done. They do not like the loss of democracy but they know that the commissioners have done a good job. 
They are particularly appreciative of the progress made with the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and for those of you who do not know this is a really exciting new collaborative process that has changed the way that people think about managing water in Canterbury. The local zone committees have worked very long and hard and have put a lot of time and energy into finding new solutions to ensure the outcomes of both water quantity and water quality. The first step of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy is almost complete and we are now looking at stage two which is a cohesive land and water plan that is under way with the ultimate aim of developing a statutory framework. It is true that things have taken a bit longer than expected but that is not surprising considering the lives of everybody in Canterbury have been both disrupted and diverted by the Canterbury earthquakes and so has Environment Canterbury’s. But progress is absolutely being made; it is just that the commissioners need a little bit longer to finalise their work. 
 The commissioners have also spent a lot of time repairing and strengthening relationships with stakeholders across Canterbury and that has meant new partnerships are being developed to the benefit of the environment. There is a really interesting and exciting new partnership initiative around the cleaning up of Lake Te Waihora—Lake Ellesmere—that sees central government Environment Canterbury and Ngai Tahu working hand in hand to restore that waterway. This bill also provides for a ministerial review. This has to be done by 1 March 2014. It will look at the membership of Environment Canterbury the governance structure the powers and the functions. I think that is going to be a very important step forward. 
So I would like to take the time to thank the commissioners for their work. I look forward to the completion of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy I look forward to the improved status and the clean-up of Lake Te Waihora and of course I look forward to the results of the ministerial review. I commend this bill to the House.