Turning tide on wetland loss is a problem shared

Saturday, 15 February 2025

Wetlands provide multiple benefits including sediment and nutrient capture, biodiversity gains, and slowing the flow of water through catchments, which reduces flooding during weather events, writes Nicol Horrell. (File photo)

Nicol Horrell is the chairperson of Environment Southland.

OPINION: With the school year now under way and optimistic new year’s resolutions and memories of a relaxing summer holiday break fading quickly, reality is sinking in.

Many of us are focusing on the must dos, prioritising what we can realistically achieve in the year ahead and just getting on with it.

Over the next few weeks, Environment Southland will reach a consensus on the priorities we can achieve in the run-up to local government elections in mid-October.

The Government has provided clear direction to regional councils to pause plan changes and focus on the essentials.

It was very encouraging to see the Tasman District Council on TVNZ 1 earlier this week incentivising the creation of small wetlands and how quickly they were seeing positive results. They are using permitted activity status (no consent required) to encourage the whole community to work together for a common goal.

Sometimes we think we are trying to solve difficult problems in isolation, so hearing about other regions using the philosophies that are close to my heart is uplifting.

Nicol Horrell: “Turning the tide on wetland loss in Southland is a priority for the regional council.” (File photo)

This is a great example of whole-community involvement and buy-in at subcatchment level, taking the community on a journey, recognising the cumulative effects of many small actions, and the power of bringing diverse groups of people together to achieve mutually agreed common goals.

One of the key recommendations we received from the Regional Forum to improve Southland’s water quality was to encourage a very significant increase in strategically placed wetlands.

We know wetlands provide multiple benefits including sediment and nutrient capture, biodiversity gains and slowing the flow of water through our catchments, which reduces flooding during weather events. Wetlands can be naturally occurring or constructed and include bogs, swamps, fens, shallow water and salt marshes.

Turning the tide on wetland loss in Southland is a priority for the regional council – wetland protection, restoration and creation. We have stepped up our work programme, including doing finer-scale wetland mapping, multi-agency research, developing resources for landowners, and providing additional funding support to the community for wetlands.

As part of this, the council, through the Long Term Plan process, provided $235,000 to Thriving Southland for projects such as wetland development. Other funding opportunities are outlined on our website.

Environment Southland councillors are preparing for a review of the region’s Coastal Plan. (File photo)

I’m looking forward to getting out and about in the Southland region with our councillors and staff supporting communities to create wetlands and increased riparian plantings.

I attended the official southern Waitangi Day celebration in Queenstown last week alongside iwi, other local government representatives and members of the public. It was an enjoyable and respectful celebration of New Zealand’s founding document.

Generally, there is an undercurrent of hurt and anger at the possibility of changes (the Treaty Principles Bill) to honouring an agreement that has survived 185 years, which made the day more divisive than unifying.

When the dust settles, let’s hope some good comes out of the debate. I think New Zealanders believe in equal rights for all of our people, with no second-class citizens, and that promises of the past should be honoured.

I was at the Waiau A&P Show last Saturday where we enjoyed conversations with people about what they value about Southland’s extensive coastline. It’s part of wider engagement across the region to understand people’s views as part of the work we need to do to prepare for a review of the region’s Coastal Plan, which is now quite dated.

The Coastal Plan is the “rule book” for how we manage the use, development and protection of our coast, which extends 12 nautical miles offshore from the beach.

This includes how we manage structures, disturbances, discharges, the taking of natural resources and protections for surf breaks, native marine biodiversity, taonga species, archaeological sites, sites of historic significance to Murihiku Southland iwi, areas with outstanding natural character, and areas popular for fishing, bird watching, swimming and walking. You can find out more on the Environment Southland website.

Our 3400km of coast is the longest of any region and we will be out at other community events this summer, keen to hear your stories and to get your views.