A green wave is slowly spreading over the parched Mackenzie Basin as more and more irrigation comes on stream. A “radical shift” in management is needed to protect the Mackenzie Basin from ongoing damage, the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) says in an extensive report released last week. The Mackenzie Basin straddles both Mackenzie and Waitaki districts and falls under the management of the two district councils in addition to Environment Canterbury, the Department of Conservation and Land Information New Zealand. “Our current research indicates that we need a radical shift in the way we are managing the Mackenzie Country’s landscapes,” Peart said. The agencies responsible for the area, the Mackenzie Basin Agency Alignment Programme, have welcomed the report.

Source: Stuff June 15, 2020 02:03 UTC