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Resources & Research
Research invitation
This page refers to information about whole-of-river issues. For more information about specific parts of the river, please visit our River Network page which lists all the community groups and organisations working the length of the catchment.
Catchment management and waterway restoration
- Cashmere Stream Restoration: Follow-up Ecological Survey (2024)
- 2024 Land Drainage Asset Management Plan CCC
- A Voice for the River: Collective Restoration by the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network (2024)
- Coastal Hazards and Climate Change Guidance – MoE (2024)
- Christchurch Fish Barriers Update CCC (2022)
- Christchurch City Council Operational Pest Plant Management Plan (Draft 2022)
- Lower Ōpāwaho Heathcote Guidance Plan (2022)
- Environment Aotearoa 2022 – StatsNZ
- Coastal Hazards Assessment Summary Report (2021)
- CSNDC – Sediment Discharge Management Plan CCC (2021)
- CCC – Comprehensive Stormwater Network Discharge: Annual Report (2021)
- Cashmere Stream & Port Hills Working Group – Recommendations (2020)
- Christchurch City Council – Comprehensive Stormwater Network Discharge (2019)
- Assessment of Current and Future Stormwater Contaminant Load CCC (2018)
- Opawaho-Heathcote River Catchment: Vision and Values (CCC, 2016)
- Avon-Heathcote Tidal Barrier – Pre-Feasability Study (CCC, 2015)
- Improving Urban Waterway Health – Haytons Stream (ECAN, 2012)
- Surface Water Strategy (CCC, 2009)
- Mid-Heathcote River/Opawaho Linear Park Masterplan (CCC, 2009)
- Waterway restoration (CCC)
- Ferrymead Park Development Plan CCC 2007
- Heathcote River Floodplain Management Strategy (CCC & Canterbury Regional Council, 1998)
- Avoca Valley Restoration – Di Lucas 1998
- Current Land Drainage Recovery Programme MAP
Springs
Soil and Erosion, Climate Change Effects
Ecology
- Port Hills Fish Communities April (2023)
- NIWA Aquatic plant identification (2020)
- Te Mana o te Taiao: Biodiversity Strategy DOC (2020)
- The iNaturalist Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Catchment Project species inventory has accumulated 6500 observations of 1300 species reported by 216 observers. You can add to this every time you go for a walk along the river!
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River weeds – Nick Head (2019)
- Lower Heathcote River Weed Survey (2019)
- Heathcote River Five-Year Aquatic Ecology Monitoring Report (Instream 2020)
- Aquatic Ecology of sites within the Heathcote, Estuary & Coastal, and Avon SMP catchments (Boffa Miskell, 2015)
- Aquatic Plants in Christchurch River Systems (2002)
- Whaka Inaka: Causing Whitebait (EOS Ecology)
- Ngāi Tahu Taonga species list
Waterways in Christchurch
- Jacksons Creek Catchment – a possible future (2018) WSP Opus was appointed by CCC to produce a vision of what an urban catchment in Christchurch should look like in 50 – 100 years.
- Waterways, Wetlands & Drainage Guide (CCC)
- Christchurch West Melton Waterways Zone Committee (ECan)
- The Christchurch Waterways Story (Landcare Research 2011)
Geomorphology and the effect of earthquakes
Waterways monitoring
The Christchurch City Council monitors the environmental health of theŌpāwaho-Heathcote River through both water quality testing and ecology and sediment quality.
- Environmental Monitoring Programme 2025 (CCC)
- Waterways Monitoring (CCC)
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2017
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2018
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2019
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2020
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2021
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2022
- Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River Health Report Card 2023
- Faecal Sources in the Avon Ōtakaro & Ōpāwaho Heathcote Rivers and Estuary (2015)
Recreation
Mana Whenua and local history
Ngāi Tahu website
Kā Huru Manu (Ngāi Tahu Cultural Mapping Project)
Tī Kōuka Whenua (Christchurch City Library)