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February 2019 update: Mayoral Forum

Pre-Forum discussions

The evening prior to Mayoral Forum meetings, Mayors and Chief Executives meet for a working dinner.

On 31 January, the Forum focused on its work plan leading up to local body elections on 12 October 2019.

Forum members discussed and provided direction to the secretariat on the preparation of a draft triennial agreement, 3-year work programme and regional development strategy for 2020–22.

Mayoral Forum highlights

  • Hugh Logan, chair of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) Regional Committee, presented an interim report on the CWMS ‘Fit for the Future’ project. A final report will come to the Mayoral Forum in May 2019 with recommended goals for 2025 and 2030. The Forum noted that Plan Change 5 (Land and Water Regional Plan) became operative on 1 February.
  • The Forum issued a media statement (PDF file, 145 KB) endorsing recommendations in LGNZ’s report (31 January 2019) on climate change impacts. To support the regional climate change working group formed in May 2017, the Mayoral Forum agreed to establish a climate change steering group of Mayors and Chief Executives.
  • The Forum noted heightened national attention to biological diversity (particularly indigenous biodiversity) and supported a renewed approach to the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy and its implementation.
  • Tracy Tierney (Timaru), Paul Morris (Waimate) and staff from the Ministry for the Environment presented on the Canterbury Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Strategy and were thanked for their work.
  • Graham Mitchell and Nick Manning from Crown Infrastructure Partners presented the next stage of the Rural Broadband Initiative, Mobile Black Spots and Ultrafast Broadband roll-out. By 2022, we expect that 99.9% of Cantabrians will have access to fast broadband.
  • ChristchurchNZ presented on: the Canterbury Film Office; its engagement with District Tourism Organisations; and its contract with the Mayoral Forum to develop:
    • a web-based South Island major events calendar
    • ‘The Canterbury story’ to attract businesses, investment, migration, students and visitors to the region.

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