This review examines the proposed social contract to improve water management in the Canterbury
Region of New Zealand. This contract defines expectations of resource access and use, forming a
boundary of responsibility between entitlement holder and society. The type of expectations may
range from community wellbeing to freedom of private interests. In effect, this creates a tension
between other regarding action for resource stewardship and the freedom to self-manage a
resource entitlement with minimal accountability. The tension is embedded in western liberal legal
frameworks that simultaneously seek enforcement of stewardship obligations while protecting the
freedom of private interests in resources. In Canterbury a collaborative resource management
strategy for water, supporting a legal social contract shows the tension in practice.This research was carried out using an Endeavour Research Fellowship, an Australian
Government initiative administered by the Department of Science, Innovation and
Workplace Relations
