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Our Environment and Conservation

Description

NameOur Environment and ConservationDescriptionThe Selwyn District is large, diverse and ecologically significant. It takes in a swathe of the eastern central South Island, from island-like Banks Peninsula and the unique Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, across the great Canterbury Plains, and through the foothills to the crest of the Main Divide. The district includes significant conservation parks such as Arthur's Pass National Park, Craigieburn Forest Park and Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park.

We have 16 ecological districts which range from the mountains to the sea. The flat plains give way to foothills and rising mountains cloaked with mountain beech/tawhai. The district is bounded by two significant braided rivers: the Waimakariri River in the north and the Rakaia River in the south. A major river within the district is the Waikirikiri/Selwyn River which begins its journey between the foothills and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and crosses the Canterbury Plains to enter Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.

There are many projects happening on private and public land throughout our district. They aim to protect and restore remaining areas of indigenous biodiversity, and develop new native planting sites. Peter Joyce and Annabel Menzies-Joyce have transformed their private land into Tai Tapu Sculpture Garden (TSG), which displays art and is an important native regeneration project. The couple started with a bare hectare of land, and since autumn 2010 have planted over 8000 native trees and shrubs.

Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area has some of the rarest and most endangered plants in Canterbury. This area has special significance to Ngāi Tahu, and they are working with the Department of Conservation on a project to restore the native flora.

Te Waihora Co-Governance is the korowai of kaitiakitanga over Te Waihora and its catchment. Ngāi Tahu and Environment Canterbury are involved with the Whakaora Te Waihora programme, an extensive ecological and cultural restoration programme for Te Waihora. Te Taumutu Rūnanga and Warewa Rūnanga are leading Project Tāwhaki at Kaitōrete Spit. You can find out more about this joint venture in this collection.

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