The Ritso Society

The Ritso Society was incorporated on 3 April 2002.

The key objectives of the society are:

• To promote and develop knowledge and understanding of water enhancement schemes on the Central Canterbury Plains between the Waimakariri River to the north and the Rakaia River to the south ("Central Plains");
• To represent the interests of the Central Plains primary producers on issues and statutory decisions pertaining to the allocation and use of water;
• To raise awareness in Central Plains of the potential that irrigation brings for economic development;
• To promote and develop knowledge and understanding of the issues associated with the use of irrigation and associated land use change.

Membership of the Ritso Society includes business people, primary producers and others with an interest in promoting the economic well-being of Selwyn District and the wider Canterbury region.

The Ritso Society is named after Mr GF Ritso, who served as county engineer for Malvern during a period late in the nineteenth century, and in 1883 wrote:

"No doubt, in a few years, works will be constructed for the purpose of using the waters of all principal rivers for irrigating the plains, thus making water meadows which will fatten probably five or six sheep, or a proportionate number of cattle to the acre, on land two acres of which will barely support one sheep."