The Trust

The Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust is a non-profit organisation formed by the general public and supported by Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury.

Trustees

Information on all of our members is available on the trustees page.

Our Objectives

• To pursue for the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai (the Estuary) the preservation of its natural and historic resources to maintain their intrinsic values, and to seek the protection of these resources, including restoration and enhancement, for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by present and future generations.
• To achieve healthy working ecosystems for the Estuary and its catchments through Integrated Environmental Management, meaning a systematic effort to understand, through interactive interpretation and analysis, the linkages between ecosystems, resources and people.
• To involve individuals, community groups and statutory agencies in learning and practicing the principles of integrated environmental management so that all parties responsible for the management of the Estuary and its resources apply these principles.
• To strengthen relationships between mana whenua, communities, interest groups and statutory agencies for the better management of the Estuary and its resources.
• To acquire, publish and use information and knowledge of the Estuary through research and monitoring, public education, contributing to planning, and any other actions that are necessary for the integrated environmental management of the Estuary, its resources and its catchments.
• To increase public recognition, understanding and appreciation of the qualities and values of the Estuary.

Strategic goals

• To translate the Trust’s objectives into practical outcomes by assembling working groups to facilitate specific outcomes.
• To leverage actions from outside organizations and individuals to fulfill the Trust’s objectives.

Tactical goal

• To establish and maintain working groups within the limits of the Trust’s resources and to act on the priorities as set by the Trust Board.

Trust Board Duties

The Trust Board includes the following:

• The Executive: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, 
• Board Trustees: those elected at the AGM and /or co-opted by Board as per the processes outlined in the constitution.

The primary function of the Trust Board is to achieve the Objects of the Trust through the implementation of the Non-Statutory Management Plan for the Estuary and provide leadership, support and co-ordination of the Trust’s activities through the execution of the Business Plan.

This leadership will

• Determine Policy Direction of the Trust.
• Engage and support the Coordinator, and define and approve the Coordinator’s duties
• Liaise with Working Groups, confirm priorities, and give direction towards activities that attain the Objects of the Trust.
• Receive progress and completion reports from Working Groups on projects undertaken, and establish structures within the Trust to maintain  clear lines of communication between Groups within the Trust.
• Nominate a person to liaise with the coordinator and/or other employees.
• Elect Chairperson from among its members at its first meeting and annually thereafter.
• Appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer. These offices may be combined.

Review and update all Trust job descriptions:

• For any employees of the Trust, annually at the time of performance review or
• when requested by the Trust Board;
• and otherwise every two years.
• oversee the publicity of Trust activities and promotion of its Objects.

Constitution

View Constitution