Five years ago the Government removed the elected members of Environment Canterbury and replaced them with Commissioners. In 2010 Environment Minister, Nick Smith, sacked the elected councillors in deference to rural interests as the councillors wanted to protect the environment.
As a result, Environment Canterbury (ECan) lost all democratic representation. This loss of democracy sparked anger and demonstrations at the time. Environment Minister Nick Smith claims ECan Commissioners have made “huge progress” but ECan’s own recent evaluation of lakes and rivers in Canterbury shows water quality continues to deteriorate.
Article here, Christchurch City Council labels Government’s Environment Canterbury plan ‘arrogant’
Make a Submission to regain a democratically elected ECan here
submissions closed 19th Nov
recent articles:-
* Transition to democratically-elected ECan under way
* Democratic ECan ‘carries too many risks’ says Nick Smith
* Editorial: Return to ECan democracy good, but but election gap too long
* How ECan fell to the irrigators
click here to read more and protest