The big picture

Vision setting: How do you want your catchment to be in the future?

Te Mana o Te Wai hierarchy applied to all decision-making:

• 1^st The health and wellbeing of waterbodies and freshwater ecosystems
• 2^nd The health needs of people (such as drinking water)
• 3^rd People and communities to provide for the social, economic and cultural wellbeing, now and in the future.

Image of a meandering path through a river landscape passing the following signposts and text.

• What are the values and desired outcomes for your river?
• Attributes: decide what to monitor and measure to tell you about the state of the river.
• Baseline state: what is the current state of your river?
• Target state: decide on whether to maintain or improve the state of the river and when this state should be achieved.
• Communities and tangata whenua are involved with the regional council at every step.
• Look after your rivers by setting limits and rules on resource use. Create and apply action plans.
• Monitor progress towards achieving the targets and environmental outcomes.

When the path reaches a fork there are two directions. One is signposted: Achieving vision. The other is signposted: Not achieving the vision. A signpost on this path reads: Take action to respond to degradation. This path then loops back to the main path at the signpost: Look after your rivers by setting limits and rules on resource use. Create and apply action plans.

Source: Ministry for the Environment