The government has selected experienced and capable commissioners with first-class public service, governance, judicial and business skills. It has ensured a balance of agricultural, environmental and electricity expertise to match the challenges facing Environment Canterbury. It has endeavoured to maximise the number of commissioners from Canterbury and ensured representation from both North and South Canterbury communities.

Completing a resource management plan for water in Canterbury has been made an urgent priority in the terms of reference.

The commissioners are also required to improve relations with Canterbury's 10 territorial councils, to build on the work of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and to meet all the statutory obligations of the Resource Management and Local Government Acts to consult with the Canterbury community. These measures are intended to improve the performance of Environment Canterbury.

Biographies

Dame Margaret Bazley, ONZ, DNZM, Hon DLit (Chair) 

Dame Margaret has a long and distinguished career in public service and held the positions of Secretary for Transport and Director General of Social Welfare. She has also been the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament, Chair of the NZ Fire Service, Deputy Chair of the State Services Commission and Chair of the Foundation for Research Science and Technology.

Dame Margaret has experience as a commissioner, having headed the inquiry into Police Conduct, the Review of Legal Aid and as a member of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

Dame Margaret brings a wealth of experience both in management and governance of large organisations and has specialist skills in organisational structure and change management as well as a long history in working with Maori communities at whanau, hapu and iwi level.

Dame Margaret was awarded the Peter Blake Medal in 2011.

Hon David Caygill, CNZM (Deputy Chair)

Mr Caygill's governance experience includes Chair of the ACC Stocktake Group, Chair of the Education New Zealand Trust, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Official Statistics, Associate Member of the Commerce Commission, Board member of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and Trustee of the Electricity Commission.

More recently Mr Caygill has led the panel established to review the operation and effectiveness of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.

Mr Caygill had three terms as a Christchurch City Councillor and six terms as a Member of Parliament where he held Ministerial portfolios in Trade and Industry, Health and Finance before reverting to the law as a partner in Buddle Findlay.

He brings a significant background in politics at both local and national level as well as strong management and governance skills. His work in the electricity sector will be valuable when working through the issues of water allocation.

David Bedford

Mr Bedford owns a small vineyard in North Canterbury which he manages with his wife and son. He is a Trustee and former Chair of Enterprise North Canterbury.

Mr Bedford has an extensive history initially in human resources and change management and latterly in senior management of large enterprises. He was Chief Operating Officer Australia for Telecom before retiring in 2003. He had previously held senior management roles in Telecom New Zealand and, prior to that, the former Electricity of New Zealand.

Mr Bedford's experience in corporate management and his ability to manage culture change programmes to improve service delivery in large organisations will be essential to the Commission.

Donald Couch

Mr Couch’s governance experience includes Pro-Chancellor of Lincoln University from 2005-2011, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Deputy Kaiwhakahaere from 2004-2009 and Interim Chair from 2007-2009.

He has a long history in resource management both here and in Canada and has held elected positions on both regional and city councils in Canada and was until recently Deputy Kaiwhakahaere, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu.

Mr Couch is the ideal person to guide the Commission on any issues concerning Ngai Tahu and has the support of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu in this capacity. He also brings a wider experience of resource management law from his time spent in Canada in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tom Lambie, ONZM

Mr Lambie owns a 415 hectare dairy farm at Pleasant Point South Canterbury which is BioGro organic certified. He is Chancellor of Lincoln University and Chair of Opuha Water Limited. Until recently he has been a trustee of the Todd Foundation and of Motu, Economic and Public Policy Research Trust, and Chair of the Hikurangai Foundation.

Mr Lambie has a long history of farming politics and was National President of Federated Farmers from 2002-2005. His long involvement with the farming sector and in particular his close association with the development of the Opuha Water Storage Dam makes him an ideal candidate for the Commission as he has an in-depth understanding of the economic and environmental benefits of good water management.

Honorary Professor Peter Skelton, CNZM

Professor Skelton is a former Environment Court Judge and Associate Professor of Resource Management Law at Lincoln University. He presided as an Independent Commissioner over the hearings by Environment Waikato into Variation 5 to the Waikato Regional Plan concerning the control of nitrates entering Lake Taupo and, as an Independent Commissioner appointed by Environment Canterbury, has been completing a series of decisions on Lower Waitaki Catchment water applications.

With more than 20 years as a Judge of the Environment Court and having presided over the Lower Waitaki hearings, Professor Skelton brings the depth of knowledge and experience required for the Commission to fulfil its role in Water Conservation Order matters and the development of water management plans for Canterbury.

Rex Williams

Mr Williams is Chair of H W Richardson Group and in the past has had the roles of Chancellor of Canterbury University and Chair of the West Coast District Health Board.

Mr Williams was the Managing Director of Holcim Cement and has more than 30 years’ experience in senior management positions. He has served on a number of boards across a range of activities.

Mr Williams was involved in the founding of the environmental lobby group The Water Rights Trust formed in 2002 to address increasing concern about poor water management and deteriorating water quality in Canterbury. He is a keen recreational angler and enjoys a number of outdoor sports.