About the CWP | Community Waterways Partnership

The partnership serves a dual purpose: it supports the individual work of our partners and fosters collective action to enhance the restoration of our waterways.

Our focus

We strive to achieve four core goals.

Protect our wai

Reduce stormwater pollution and enhance the holistic health of our waterways.

Stronger together

Establish and maintain a supportive and collaborative partnership.

Community empowerment

Engage, educate and encourage the community to connect with and protect our waterways.

Amplify change

Advocate for resources and rules to improve our waterways.

Charter

Our Charter, now signed by more than 55 groups, is a shared statement of intent to work towards our waterways outcomes.

View our Charter

Action Plan

The Action Plan sets out our shared goals and practical actions to achieve the desired outcomes in our Charter.

View our Action Plan

What it means to be a partner

The CWP encourages active partnership and a reciprocal relationship from each partner, as individual capacity allows.

See what it means to be a partner

Steering group

Georgina St John-Ives – Chair

Christchurch City Council

Georgina facilitates the Community Waterways Partnership, bringing a collaborative, action-focused approach to improving water quality and supporting healthy waterways across Ōtautahi.

Dr Roslyn Kerr - Deputy Chair

Christchurch City Council

Provides a connection point between the Council Parks Unit and the Community Waterways Partnership. Inspired by the work of the many volunteer groups who work in parks and on the waterways, and keen to support them.

Eilish Maddock

Christchurch City Council

Eilish works on continuously improving the quality of Ōtautahi’s stormwater and water supply networks, with a background in environmental science and communications.

Arapata Reuben

Ngā Tahu Whakapapa Manager

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Ngāi Tahu/Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga

Macolm Long – Secretary

Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network

Determined to make a positive difference to the health of the river. Enthusiastically retired from a long career in educational administration and teaching, and enjoying the advent of e-bikes.

Hayley Guglietta - AvON spokesperson

Ōtākaro Avon Network

Passionate advocate for biodiversity improvements across the whole city with a particular focus on the Avon Ōtakaro River catchment as it is her tūrangawaewae.

Thomas Jansen (TJ) – Agency representative

Environment Canterbury

Provides a connection point between ECan and the Community Waterways Partnership. Works to help enable the outcomes that our wonderful community groups are striving to achieve.

Jessica Halsey – Private sector representative

EOS Ecology

Provides support to catchment and community groups across Canterbury, delivering freshwater education, facilitation, and relationship-building that strengthen environmental understanding, monitoring capability, and collaborative action.