Protecting ’s Rivers 60

Appendix 5: Water conservation orders (as at April 2011)

There are currently 16 water conservation orders (including one amendment) with applications to vary two existing orders under consideration.

Outstanding Water body (including %BUFPG Provisions and Protection characteristics Other considerations protected reaches) gazettal provided or features Pre RMA

Motu River 1984 Not stated in WCO. Permits maintenance of - River to be preserved From and including the Motu 4)JODMVEJOHCSJEHFT as far as possible in 'BMMTUPUIF4)CSJEHFBOEЯWF and for soil conservation its natural state. tributaries: Waitangirua Stream, and associated matters - Dams prohibited. Mangaotane Stream, Te Kahika permitted Stream, Mangatutara Stream and part of the Takaputahi River below its confluence with Whitikau Stream.

Rakaia River 1988 - Outstanding natural - Dams prohibited. Mainstem and tributaries of characteristic in the - Order establishes a minimum flow at both the and Wilber- form of a braided river. (which varies monthly) force Rivers upstream of the - Outstanding wildlife and caps allocation for abstraction Rakaia /Wilberforce conflu- habitat above and downstream of this. FODF JODMVEJOHUIF)BSQFS below the - Retain in their natural state the 3JWFS -BLF)FSPOBOEJUT Gorge. quantity and rate of flow of all natural inflowing streams, and Lake - Outstanding fisheries, water in the Rakaia River upstream of Coleridge/Whakamatua and and outstanding its confluence with the Wilberforce its tributary streams. recreational, angling, River, the , and all and jet boating tributaries of both the Rakaia and features. 8JMCFSGPSDF JODMVEJOHUIF)BSQFS River), the quantity and level of Lake )FSPO BOEUIFRVBOUJUZBOESBUFPG flow of natural water in the lake’s tributary streams. - Retain partially in their natural state (subject to replacement consents) the quantity and rate of flow of the wRakaia below its confluence with the Wilberforce River and Fighting )JMM 3BLBJB(PSHF  - Retain in their existing state the quantity and level of natural water in , and the quantity and rate of flow in the lake’s tributary TUSFBNTBOEUIFаPXCFUXFFOPG 'JHIUJOH)JMMSFDPSEFS 3BLJB(PSHF  and the sea - Sets water quality standards for receiving water and prohibits discharges which would breach these. Protecting New Zealand’s Rivers 61

Outstanding Water body (including %BUFPG Provisions and Protection characteristics Other considerations protected reaches) gazettal provided or features Lake Wairarapa 1989 - Outstanding wildlife - Continued operation of - No right to divert water from lake habitat, partly created the barrage gates at the or to grant water rights which by natural fluctuations lake outlet is permitted would “diminish significantly” of water levels, the wildlife habitat. particularly over the eastern shoreline.

Manganuioteao River 1989 - Outstanding wild and - Dams prohibited Mainstem and tributaries scenic characteristics. - Retain in their natural state the of the Manganuioteao, the - An outstanding quantity and rate of flow of the Mangaturuturu and Makatote wildlife habitat for Manganuioteao River upstream Rivers, and the Waimarino the blue duck/whio of its confluence with Waimarino and Orautoha Streams. (Hymenolaimus 4USFBNUIF.BLBUPUFBOE malacorhynchos). Mangaturuturu Rivers. - An outstanding - No takes to reduce the natural recreational fishery. flow by more than 5 % or reduce the following reaches below the minimum flow for the Manganuioteao River downstream of its confluence with Waimarino Stream, Waimarino and Orautoha Streams. - Sets water quality parameters and prohibits discharges which would not comply.

Lake Ellesmere 1990 - Outstanding wildlife - Sets lake levels for artificial habitat. opening and closing. - Prohibits any damming, stopbanking, polderisation or drainage of any part of the lake that is inconsistent with the lake opening and closing regime established in the Order except for research purposes and replacement consents and maintenance of existing drains and stopbanks.

Ahuriri River 1990 - Outstanding wildlife - Allows consent - Prohibits dams in waters covered by Ahuriri River and mapped habitat applications for the Order. Any dam outside protected tributaries from its source to - Outstanding fisheries. maintenance of roads, waters must not affect flow regime its entry into , - Outstanding angling bridges, pylons and for waters protected by the Order. associated ponds, tarns and amenity. public utilities, soil - Quantity and level of water in all lagoons part of Omarama conservation, flood lakes, ponds, tarns, lagoons and Stream protection and erosion streams (other than Omarama control work research Stream) to be retained in their and emergency sewage natural state. discharges. - Establishes a minimum flow regime for Ahuriri River and Omarama Stream and prohibits any takes that are inconsistent with this. - Establishes broad water quality standards and prohibits discharges that would breach these beyond the mixing zone. Protecting New Zealand’s Rivers 62

Grey River 1991 - Incised Gorge - Allows consent - The waters of and Ahaura River downstream with its meandering applications for road, the Blue Grey River must be retained PG)BNFST'MBU pattern is an bridge and pylon in their natural state. Blue Grey River , its tributaries outstanding natural maintenance and soil - Prohibits any water permits for hydro and Lake Christabel characteristic. conservation and flood generation, any dam on the Ahaura - Outstanding scenic protection works. 3JWFSVQTUSFBNPG)BNFST'MBU BOE features, particularly any dam downstream of the Ahaura Ahaura Gorge and Gorge which would affect flows or Lake Christabel water levels in the Gorge. - Any water right granted for mining or other purposes in the Gorge must not detract from outstanding characteristics and features.

Under the RMA

Rangitikei River 1993 - Upper Rangitikei River - Allows granting of - Prohibits dams on the upper and - from its confluence with have outstanding consent applications middle river. Makahikatoa Stream to wild and scenic for road, bridge and - Establishes broad water quality .BOHBSFSF#SJEHF DIBSBDUFSJTUJDTBOE maintenance and soil standards which any discharges - the Whakaurekau River - outstanding recreational, conservation and flood must comply with after reasonable BOEJUTUSJCVUBSJFTBOEUIF fisheries, and wildlife protection works. mixing and named habitat features. - Provides for existing use - Quantity and rate of flow in the tributaries - Middle Rangitikei River rights and replacement upper river must be retained in has outstanding scenic consents their natural state DIBSBDUFSJTUJDTBOE - Rate of flow of middle river must outstanding recreational not be reduced by more than 5 % and fisheries features. of natural flow

Kawarau River 1997 Outstanding amenity and - Allows granting of consent - Schedule 2 lists the specific - Schedule 1 lists waters intrinsic values meriting applications and regional prohibitions and restrictions on to be preserved in their preservation in natural rules for maintenance the exercise of regional council’s natural state and Schedule 2 state as contributing to: or protection of network powers in section 30 (1) RMA to protected waters, and their - people’s appreciation of utility operation, grant consents or make regional outstanding characteristics. pleasantness of waters. maintenance of soil rules for specific waters. - Schedule 1 includes: - aesthetic coherence conservation or river - Prohibits damming. protection works, roads, - Part Dart River mainstem and - cultural and recreational - Requires maintenance of fish - bridges and pylons, some of its tributaries, attributes passage, specified water quality - Route Burn and its tributaries, research into restoration classifications. - biological and genetic and enhancement, and - Part Rees River mainstem diversity of ecosystems - Requires braided character and some of its tributaries replacement consents for - essential characteristics of rivers such as the Dart and Greenstone River mainstem existing lawful uses. that determine the Rees to be maintained. including Lake McKellar and - Operation of Clyde power ecosystem’s integrity, station and changes )ZESPFMFDUSJDHFOFSBUJPO its tributaries. only allowed on Nevis River if form, functioning and in levels - Part Caples River mainstem, resilience restrictions complied with e.g. Lochnagar and Lake Creek. unaffected Outstanding any dam sustains flows which - Schedule 2 includes: characteristics as allow kayaking in Nevis Gorge. - to control gates - habitat for terrestrial and aquatic organisms - Nevis River mainstem - Shotover River mainstem -as a fishery - Part Dart and Rees Rivers - for wild scenic, and - Lake Wakataipu natural characteristics - Lochy River - for scientific value - Von River - for recreational and - Diamond Lake and Reid Lake historical purposes - Nevis wetland on Roading - significant in acccordance Lion Creek XJUIUJLBOHB.ÜPSJ Protecting New Zealand’s Rivers 63

Outstanding Water body (including %BUFPG Provisions and Protection characteristics Other considerations protected reaches) gazettal provided or features

Mataura River 1997 - Outstanding fisheries - Allows granting of - Establishes minimum flow - from source to sea and - Outstanding angling consent applications regimes for and tributaries upstream of amenity features and regional rules for Waikaia Rivers which must not be confluence with Otamita fisheries and wildlife breached. Stream habitat research, roads, - Prohibits granting of consent - Waikaia River and tributaries bridges, pylons and applications and regional rules other public utilities, - Otamita Stream which would contravene the soil conservation Order. - Mimihau Stream and and river protection and their - Prohibits dams on the Mataura activities, and and Waikaia Rivers. tributaries stockwater reservoirs. - Sets water quality standards for protected waters and prohibits discharges which do not comply after reasonable mixing. Standards differ depending on the reach.

Buller River 2001 - Outstanding - Allows granting of - Quality, quantity, level and rate of - Schedule 1 lists waters to be (amended recreational consent applications flow of Schedule 1 waters are to maintained in their natural 2008) characteristics and regional rules for CFSFUBJOFEJOUIFJSOBUVSBMTUBUF state including Travers, - Outstanding wild and minor water uses by Schedule 2 waters to be protected Sabine and D’Urville Rivers, scenic characteristics DOC for conservation in accordance with conditions in Lakes Constance, Rotoiti - Outstanding fisheries or management. the Order. and Rotoroa and Daniells, wildlife habitat features - Allows granting of - Schedules 2 and 3 set out Deepdale, Ohikanui, - Outstanding scientific consents for fisheries restrictions and prohibitions Blackwater, Ohikati, Gowan values and wildlife habitat which apply to specific reaches and Mangles rivers and part research, hydrological and water bodies. Owen, Matakitaki, Glenroy, and water quality - Prohibits damming in specified Maruia rivers. investigations, roads, waters - Schedule 2 list protected bridges and network - Regional council cannot grant waters including utility operation and soil resource consents or make and Gowan, Mangles, Tutaki, conservation and river rules which would not maintain Owen and Fyfe rivers and protection works. the channel cross section, Mole Stream. - Allows replacement meandering pattern and braided - Schedule 3 – Lakes Rahui, consents for Maruia character. Maori and Matiri and Matiri Springs Thermal Resort - Limits alternations in natural flow River in Schedule 2 rivers to 5% - 15 %. - The schedules also identify - Establishes flow regime for relevant outstanding Gowan River. characteristics or features. - Requires resource consents and regional plans to maintain lake levels in Lakes Rahui, Maori and Matiri within their natural range. - Requires maintenance of fish passage. - Sets water quality standards including limits on turbidity/ suspended solids for Schedule 2 and 3 protected waters. Protecting New Zealand’s Rivers 64

Motueka River 2004 - Outstanding - Allows applications - Quality, quantity, level and rate of - Schedule 1 lists waters to recreational for water permits flow of Schedule 1 waters are to be retained in their natural characteristics for management of CFSFUBJOFEJOUIFJSOBUVSBMTUBUF state eg North and South - Outstanding fisheries conservation land, Schedule 2 and 3 waters are to Branches of Wangapeka and wildlife habitat roads, bridges, pylons be protected in accordance with River, upper Motueka above features and other public utilities, provisions in the Order. Gorge) and Schedule 2 - Outstanding scientific soil conservation and - Prohibits dams, including waters to be protected and values river protection works, structures which prevent brown fisheries and wildlife their relevant outstanding - Outstanding wild and trout passage habitat research, characteristics or features. scenic characteristics - Establishes minimum flow regimes hydrological and water - Schedule 3 list waters (e.g Part of the Motueka and restrictions on alternations of quality investigations, to be protected for their and Wangapeka Rivers river flows and form for Schedule 2 and release of contribution to outstanding contain or contribute and 3 rivers water from water features. to an outstanding - Requirement to maintain fish augmentation brown trout habitat passage schemes in catchment and fishery, nationally - Sets water quality standards outstanding habitat including limits on turbidity/ for blue ducks/whio, suspended solids for protected waters in a karst system waters and prohibits discharges that demonstrate which do not comply after outstanding qualities, reasonable mixing. provide specific scientific and recreational values and have wild, scenic and recreational characteristics)

Mohaka River 2004 - Outstanding trout - Allows granting of - Prohibits dams unless less than 3 - Mohaka River and its fishery in the upper water permits and m. high, on a tributary and they tributaries from headwaters river, Outstanding regional rules for do not detract from outstanding UP5F)PF(PSHF scenic characteristics gravel extraction, characteristics or features. JO.PLPOVJBOE5F)PF roads, bridges, river - Water permits and regional Gorges crossings, pylons and rules for other purposes must - Outstanding amenity for other public utilities, not detract from outstanding water based recreation and soil conservation characteristics and features. and river protection provided do not detract from outstanding characteristics Protecting New Zealand’s Rivers 65

Outstanding Water body (including %BUFPG Provisions and Protection characteristics Other considerations protected reaches) gazettal provided or features

Rangitata River 2006 - Outstanding amenity and - Allows granting of - Prohibits damming in Schedule 1 - Schedule 1 lists waters to intrinsic values including consent applications and 2 waters. be retained in their natural outstanding salmon and regional rules for - Prohibits damming in Schedule state and their relevant fishery minor water uses by 3 waters which would materially outstanding characteristics - Outstanding recreational DOC for conservation alter sediment flow or reduce or features. It includes Clyde values – upper river for management. bird habitat. BOE)BWFMPDL3JWFSTBOE jet boating, rafting, and - Allows granting of - Establishes a detailed flow all their tributaries, and DBOPFJOHHPSHFBOE consent applications management regime which their relevant outstanding lower river – kayaking for fisheries and wildlife establishes minimum flows for characteristics or features. and rafting habitat research, the Sept/May and May/ - Schedule 2 lists waters to - Outstanding habitat for hydrological or water September, requires 1:1 sharing be protected in accordance terrestrial and aquatic quality investigations, between the river and water with provisions in the Order organisms including roads, bridges, pylons abstraction above an initial and their outstanding outstanding native bird and network utility allocation band, caps allocation. characteristics. It includes habitat in upper river operations, soil - Restricts takes from hydraulically the whole of Rangitata above gorge, outstanding conservation and river connected groundwater which mainstem below Clyde/ habitat for black fronted protection activities, would affect tributary flows in )BWFMPDLDPOаVFODF  terns – lower river gravel extraction which lower river does not materially tributaries - Brabazon CFMPX"SVOEFMCSJEHF - Requires maintenance of fish alter channel cross Fan, Black Mountain outstanding habitat for passage and fish passage on section, meandering Stream , Deep Creek, Deep macro-invertebrates – any intakes Stream, Ealing Springs and whole river pattern or braided river - Restrictions to ensure the McKinnons Creek. characteristics. - Outstanding wild, maintenance of water quality. - Schedule 3 lists waters scenic and other natural - Allows granting of - Establishes water quality to be protected for their characteristics - upper replacement consents standards and for Schedule 2 contribution to outstanding river and gorge for Rangitata Diversion and 3 waters and prohibits features, and the features to Race. - Outstanding scientific granting of consents or regional be maintained – Rangitata and ecological values as rules which do not comply River and all its tributaries a braided river system after reasonable mixing. CFMPX$MZEF)BWFMPDL and confluence and hydraulically - Outstanding historical, connected groundwater in spiritual and cultural lower catchment characteristics - Outstanding significance in accordance with UJLBOHB.ÜPSJ

Oreti River 2008 - Outstanding habitat - Allows granting of - Prohibits dams on , - Oreti mainstem for brown trout consent applications Weydon Burn and Windley - Weydon Burn and Windley - Outstanding angling for roads, bridges, River and tributaries River, and other tributaries amenity and network utility - Requires maintenance of fish VQTUSFBNPG-JODPMO)JMM - Outstanding habitat operations, soil passage conservation and river - Schedule 2 lists waters for black billed gulls - Prohibits discharges which protection works, to be protected for their - Outstanding reduce water quality outside fisheries and wildlife contribution to outstanding significance in a reasonable mixing zone. habitat research , features includes accordance with protection of human hydraulically connected UJLBOHB.ÜPSJ or animal health groundwater