Abstract
The planning and management of freshwater resources is crucial in intensively farmed areas, particularly where rainfall is erratic and there can be serious shortages for both irrigation and livestock. The Canterbury region on the eastern side of New Zealand’s South Island is one of the country’s most important agricultural areas, which in the last two decades has experienced widespread conversions to dairy farming alongside periods of drought. Concerns about water quality and disputes over water resources were key factors in the formulation of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS), a collaborative approach to freshwater management. Such approaches are an increasingly popular response to dealing with complex resource management issues. This thesis focuses on the implementation of the CWMS in the Hurunui- Waiau Zone in north Canterbury. Drawing upon detailed field-based research among a range of stakeholders with different values and interests the complexity of freshwater management was revealed. While some significant progress has been made, there are some concerns about the effectiveness of the collaborative approach. The thesis concludes with a number of recommendations for the ongoing implementation of the CWMS. The research also has wider relevance across the Canterbury region and in other areas which are attempting to address freshwater management issues.