Special Tribunals Report on the Nevis River.

The Ministry for the Environment (MAE) has today released the Special Tribunal's report on the application for an amendment to the Water Conservation 'Kawarau' Order 1997. 

The report outlines each of the major submitters and the cases they put forward. Changes in kayaking technology and paddler's skill-sets since the initial WCO was put in place were considered but deemed to be irrevelant, in reference to this the report states that "as well reasoned as that analysis may be, the major difficulty is that all of those features were known at the time of the original WCO and neither the changes in technology nor the upskilling of kayakers are factors of or directly related to the river itself."

Instead the saving grace for this amazing section of river is in fact the 'Smeagol' an informal name for a distinct species of small native fish that is officially described as Galaxias gollumoides. The tribunal acknowledge that this tiny fish hadn't been identified during the initial WCO hearings, and the species has since been identified as unique to the Nevis valley. Inundation of land through damming could potentially cause the extinction of the entire species, therefore placing the Gollum Galaxiid over the 'outstanding characteristics' threshold. 

The tribunal has therefore put forward to the Minister for the Environment that the existing WCO be amended to remove the provision for dams in relation to the outstanding value of the Gollum galaxiid. 

All submitters to the initial hearing now have a right to place a further submission with the enviroment court in regards to the report. The Minister for the Environment can then put the WCO forward to the Governor-General to be made an order in-council. 

To view the full report - Application to vary Water Conservation Order Kawarau 1997 Special Tribunal Report. 

A big thank you to everyone who submitted, presented and got involved with this process, a special mention to Glenn Murdoch, Maree Baker, Whitewater NZ, Wild Rivers, and NZ Fish & Game.  

NZ Recreation Expo Christchurch

Recreation: The NZ Outdoor Adventure Expo

Pioneer Recreation & Sport Centre | Centennial Park, 75 Lyttelton St, Christchurch.

Entering into its second year of existence the NZ Outdoor Adventure Expo will give you the opportunity to browse a range of products, activities, organisations, and businesses under one roof. It is also the perfect opportunity to pick up some end-of-season winter bargains, or if you're more focussed on the coming summer then there will be expo specials on clothing, tents, equipment, tours, activities and plenty more.

The outdoors is about getting out there and enjoying nature, so the show is not all about new products and financial transactions. During your visit you can rock-climb on 'The Britz Rock Climbing Wall', explore the 'DOC Kids Conservation Corner', listen to presentations in the 'Valde Training Group Speakers Corner' – including special guest Marty Schmidt (International Mountain Guide, Sponsored by Macpac), get your golf skills analysed at the Aiden Berry Coaching Golf Net as part of the Jeff Gray BMW Golf Expo or have a chat and ride the mechanical surfboard with surf legend Doug Young.

http://www.recreationexpo.co.nz or find them on Facebook. Mark the dates on your calendar: 24-26 September 2010.

Australian Surf Kayaking Champs

Read more: Australian Surf Kayaking Champs

Citroen Extreme Race 2010

Low water levels on the Citroen Rapid saw tight racing in the annual extreme race. 2010 saw the debut of 4-way heats and also the new starting platform. The platform sat 4-5 metres above water level and launched four racers at a time into the flow just about the hardest move on the course.

Read more: Citroen Extreme Race 2010