Freshwater resources include surface water (watercourses - rivers and streams) and groundwater (aquifers sourcing irrigation water).
We monitor the current state of the water quality and quantity.
Using freshwater resources - taking water
Water is a valuable resource that's in high demand across the region. People and properties depend of both surface and groundwater especially in dry summer months.
Water for your property
You're permitted to take water for your property, provided you meet the following:
- the maximum water take is 10 cubic metres per day, and
- water must be taken at a rate of less than 5 litres per second, and
- you must not irrigate more than one hectare.
Water for stock drinking water
It's permitted to take water from a watercourse for stock drinking water purposes, provided it's at a rate less than 5 litres per second.
For water takes over these limits, a water take consent is required.
For information on bore installation and groundwater, see our groundwater webpage
Water take consent holders - you can enter your water meter readings online Water Data System
Dams - surface water
Daming overland flow and or a watercourse requires a water consent.
Surface water may be extracted either via an intake chamber installed in the riverbed or by a mobile pump from the riverbed or riverbank. Dams may capture rainfall runoff from hill slopes or may be a diversion channel from a watercourse.
Freshwater plan
The Freshwater Plan has been incorporated into the Tairawhiti Resource Management Plan
State of our environment
We continuously collect a wide variety of environmental data across many locations throughout the district.
During summer, water take consent holders can monitor river flows online.
This provides users with up-to-date flow information to help with planning irrigation, and an overall view of river fluctuation over the entire summer irrigation season.
Read our State of the Environment Report
Helpful link for consent holders
Ministry for the Environment's guide for measuring and reporting water takes