Had the opportunity yesterday to visit and experience the magic Hurunui River, about an hour and half north of Christchurch. Fish and Game, Forest and Bird and others hosted the visit.
![November 2009 027[1]](http://blog.labour.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/November-2009-02711-375x500.gif "November 2009 027[1]")
Got the chance to white water raft a few kms down the north branch to where it meets the south branch of the River. Breathtaking scenery and wonderful water, even if the rock snot is thick in parts.
![Hurunui River Day 29[1].11.09 016](http://blog.labour.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Hurunui-River-Day-291.11.09-0161-500x375.gif "Hurunui River Day 29[1].11.09 016")
In August a conservation order was granted for the North Branch, but not the South Branch. The Hurunui Water Project had earlier sought resource consents to dam the river and to take water for irrigation. Last month it announced a delay in its applications for resource consents for up to a year so that the Canterbury Water Management Strategy could address the issue of water storage. I support the water strategy and want to see a greener Canterbury – but not browner rivers. There have to be better options than damming this majestic river.
I hope this river doesn’t end up like the Murray river.
That rafting looks like heaps of fun.
Looks gorge-ous!
There are – get rid of the farms, replant native forests and put them into the conservation estate.
Those are the images of NZ I write home about.
Almost as beautiful as the East Coast
Did you manage to stay dry on the trip? Russel Norman got a bit damp I hear …
Yep, stayed dry-ish in the raft while Russel kayaked. Most fun had in a long time.