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An application for a Water Conservation Order was lodged today by Fish & Game and the New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association.

Photog Hugh Canard , “Worth protecting - Kayakers enjoy an quiet stretch of the upper Hurunui.”

The application is mostly focused on the Upper Hurunui River and lakes which are presently unaffected by dams or water takes. The application would maintain the natural condition of these waters.

“Fish & Game consider the Upper Hurunui River and lakes to be an outstanding natural environment” said Fish & Game North Canterbury Environment Officer, Jason Holland. “We believe a Water Conservation Order for the Hurunui River and lakes is both appropriate and very necessary to protect this environment for future generations.”

Mr Holland added: “In addition to being an outstanding trout fishery and kayaking river, the Hurunui River and lakes also support outstanding native biodiversity and cultural values. The Department of Conservation, iwi groups and Forest and Bird have expressed their support for a Water Conservation Order, with Forest & Bird also providing research towards the application.”

“The WCO is a valuable tool for ensuring the protection of exceptional waterways, “ said Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive of Fish & Game New Zealand, “and gives the protected waterways similar status to a national park. The wide support given to this application underlines the value accorded to the upper Hurunui by the New Zealand community.”

Mr Holland explained that the application would have little effect on existing irrigators. “All irrigation occurs from the lower river. We recognise that this is very important to the community too. We have crafted an application that will have minimal impact on existing irrigators, whilst protecting the contribution of the lower river to the values upstream.”

Mr Holland also added that the application does not restrict further abstraction from the lower river, nor would it rule out water storage.

“We are not seeking to stop further abstraction for irrigation or for hydroelectricity. The application is in fact silent about how much water should be taken from the lower river or what the minimum flows should be” said Mr Holland. “Also, many options for water storage are still available, including on-farm storage and dams on lower tributaries.”

Photog Chappy Chapman, “Worth protecting - An 11 lb brown trout caught in the South Branch of the Hurunui

“We are very mindful of the needs of primary industry. Our application leaves open the potential for further abstraction, but in a way that does not degrade nationally outstanding values.”

The full application is available here.