23 April 2026 Shared vision for sustainable futures through Selwyn’s Blue-Green Pathway

An interactive web platform is bringing together research and information on one of the Selwyn District’s major blue-green pathways. 

A collaboration between Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University and Selwyn District Council has resulted in the completion of the resource, Mai Tauwharekākaho ki Waihora – Rolleston to Lake Ellesmere Blue-Green Pathway, which is now publicly available. The platform showcases research and monitoring along the Ararira/LII River corridor, helping raise awareness of ongoing efforts to monitor the district’s natural environment.

Lincoln University Master of Water Science and Management student Ashleigh Ferguson spent last summer working at Selwyn District Council, completing an internship on the project. She mapped restoration and research areas across blue-green corridors—interconnected networks of water (blue) and green spaces (green)—in urban areas. By doing so, users can view what work has been completed in the pilot area to date and compare current data with historic data to understand changes over time. 

“This GIS platform is a significant shared resource. It is a living document that shares data and research and helps with coordination. Having this information in one place allows us to see gaps and areas for further research as well as better planning based on what is already known,” says Selwyn District Council Strategy Team Lead Ben Baird. 

The Selwyn District Council’s Waikirikiri Ki Tua Future Selwyn / Blue Green Strategic Priority supports integrating environmental sustainability into urban planning by informing decision-making on flood management, climate adaptation and biodiversity enhancement. The first step is to collate data and research on the blue and green areas, with the initial pilot area spanning from Rolleston to Lake Ellesmere. Data has been sourced from Selwyn District Council and Lincoln University, as well as from publicly available sources and citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist. 

As New Zealand’s only specialist land-based university, Lincoln University is committed to being an exemplar of sustainable land, water and environmental management. Lincoln University Professor Susie Wood says the university saw strong value in contributing vital information to support greater connectivity and collaboration between the two organisations.

“Being located in the heart of the Selwyn District, we are uniquely positioned to support the goals of the Selwyn District Council’s Blue-Green Pathway through our educational programmes, academic expertise, research capability and strong community partnerships,” says Professor Wood. "Our contributions include research and applied projects from the past decade, along with current and emerging work that can inform future Blue-Green Pathway developments. This work spans freshwater management — with a strong emphasis on rivers, lakes and riparian margins— biodiversity and pest management, parks and open space planning, and remedial and mitigation solutions.” 

To explore the new Mai Tauwharekākaho ki Waihora – Rolleston to Lake Ellesmere Blue-Green Pathway website, click here.

For media enquiries, please contact media@lincoln.ac.nz    

Image credit: Robin Smith