Definition: Mackenzie basin

where do the boundaries lie

Officially the area I’m most interested in is divided. It falls into the care of both Canterbury and Otago regional councils.

And while the Northern part of the catchment is the ‘true’ Mackenzie basin and runs under the care of the Mackenzie district council, the southern ‘bit’ is looked after by the Waitaki district council. The division happens near Twizel/ the big river and separates what is actually one natural system.

This only serves to confuse things as far as the ecology is concerned, mother nature is not concerned by apparently arbitrary boundaries and from an ecological point of view we need to be looking at whole systems, whole catchments.

The catchment, pic care of DOC

If you look at a high aerial photo or decent topo-map there is a clear pattern of rivers divided from the rest of the south island by ridges and mountains, it is this massive pattern of water that feeds the Waitaki river and the things that go with it.

So while I might be talking about the Mackenzie basin what I’m usually referring to is the whole catchment, mountain to the sea. The exception is when councils, laws and resource consents etc… (legal stuff) are discussed, as these tend to be specific to particular councils.

And while this might not be ‘correct’ as far as government, its sensible in terms of ecology and seems a logical way to look at the system.