July 1st 2026

While much of the current public debate has focused on another attempt to wrest control of Lyttelton Port Company from its public owners, Environment Canterbury has quietly moved to entrench freshwater management practices that many would argue have contributed to the decline of one of our region’s most precious resources.

Last week, ECan voted 11–5 to notify Proposed Plan Change 8. The Press reported the decision under the headline: “ECan moves to close water bottling loophole with new rules.”

That headline suggests the council is acting to protect Cantabrians by ensuring bottling companies cannot use existing consents without obtaining fresh approval.

Yet it was the same regional council that previously argued there was nothing unlawful about Cloud Ocean using water permits originally granted for a wool scouring plant and a freezing works in Belfast.

The Supreme Court unanimously rejected that position. It held that the “take” and the “use” of water must be considered together under the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan. The Court warned against allowing historic water allocations to be effectively “banked” and later paired with new uses without proper environmental assessment.

ECan now says it wants to ensure that cannot happen again. However, Proposed Plan Change 8 would allow many existing consent holders to change the use of their water permits without requiring a new allocation.

That doesn’t create new water. It doesn’t improve equity. It doesn’t provide opportunities for young farmers, community water supplies or future generations. It simply changes the rules for those who already hold the resource.

And perhaps the easiest way to divert attention from that fundamental policy shift is to package it together with largely uncontroversial wetland provisions.

Greg Byrnes