Lack of regulations hamper councils
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A lack of regulation makes it difficult for councils to manage their weed spraying programmes, Environment Canterbury (ECan) science director Dr Tim Davie says.
Responding to concerns raised by Kaiapoi resident Michael Bate, Davie said the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) lacked the necessary clout to offer guidance to councils.
Bate tabled two Radio New Zealand articles from last year, at a Waimakariri Zone Committee meeting last week about the lack of mechanisms to govern chemical use.
‘‘The EPA, as it stands, is meant to have oversight around chemical use, but there’s very little legislative requirements and there’s no requirement to report it,’’ Davie said.
‘‘If the EPA had a mandate and was properly funded we would have standards to respond to.’’
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton presented a report to Parliament last year raising concerns about the regulations around chemical use.
The report identified consequences such as lakes overloaded with zinc, too much antibiotics in wastewater and harm to bees from insecticide-dipped seeds.
It recommended expanding the EPA’s powers to require more data to be collected from chemical importers, manufacturers and sellers.
But more funding was needed.
Davie said it was important for the PCE to highlight those issues.
‘‘But he can’t enforce it and the government hasn’t responded.’’
ECan managed 59 river rating and drainage districts.
Weed management was essential to keep communities safe from flood risks and to protect biodiversity.
Waterways were vulnerable to infestations of exotic pest plant species which choked braided rivers and restricted natural functions.
Davie said spraying was ‘‘the nasty compromise’’ to manage weeds and the spread of gorse around riverbeds.
Glyphosate was widely used in New Zealand and other countries as a general-purpose herbicide and was considered safe by the EPA.
‘‘In an ideal world we would rather not spray,’’ Davie said.
‘‘Glyphosate is a spray which is reasonably short lived. It is a compromise and it is a really difficult thing to manage.’’
The Waimakariri District Council is preparing a report on spraying practices and chemicals used in the district.
■ Waimakariri Zone Committee chairperson Michael Blackwell and deputy chairperson Arapata Reuben both stepped down at last week’s meeting.
Carolyne Latham was elected chairperson, with Erin Harvie elected deputy chairperson.
Former Rangiora High School student Ruby Gill-Clifford was appointed as a youth rep to the zone committee.
Ruby served three years on ECan’s Youth Rōpū and was deputy chairperson last year.
She is studying for a science degree at Canterbury University.
*Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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