A mixture of elected councillors and government-appointed members will take over control of Environment Canterbury from next year.

Elected councillors were sacked in 2010 and replaced by Commissioners after concern over organisational performance.

Environment Minister Nick Smith said six appointed members will work alongside seven elected members after local body elections next October.

He claims this phased approach means they maintain momentum in completing Canterbury’s water plan and work on earthquake recovery.

"I want to emphasise the reason the government intervened in 2010 was that water is just such a huge issue for Canterbury," he said. 

Prior to the announcement Labour's Megan Woods argued it's time to move on.

"It's not democracy, it's not the return to an elected regional council that Cantabrians have been waiting for. The Government has yet to make the case why it's going to treat Canterbury any different and bottom line for me, it's not good enough."

Green MP Eugenie Sage contended the lack of democracy is a public snub.

"I think they'd already made the decision to have a second class council model for Canterbury. No other council has that. People pay rates, people deserve to be fully represented through a fully elected council."