Regional councillors still treading water

Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors face at least another week's wait to learn their fate.

Despite suggestions that yesterday's Cabinet meeting might discuss former National deputy prime minister Wyatt Creech's recommendations regarding the ECan council, the issue was not raised.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Nick Smith said last night no recommendations had yet gone to Cabinet and no decisions would be made this week.

Creech recommended sacking the 14 elected ECan councillors and bringing in commissioners and establishing a new regional water authority.

Yesterday, National MP Nicky Wagner was booed by demonstrators at a rally in Victoria Square, Christchurch, over the ECan proposals.

A crowd of about 200 people chanted "shame, shame" as Wagner tried to defend the regional council shake-up.

The rally was organised by a coalition of Canterbury groups, which believed water management must remain in the hands of locally elected representatives.

The event coincided with World Water Day.

- © Fairfax NZ News