Iwi advocate for stronger role in water plan

IWI made strong calls for Maori cultural values to be recognised in the District Council’s freshwater plan on the first day of hearings yesterday.

There were also calls from Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou and the Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust for their main rivers, the Waiapu and Te Arai, to be recognised separately from the Waipaoa River Catchment Plan.

The commissioners were hearing submissions on the regional policy statement for the plan. The submission from Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou said a key area of concern was that the plan, which would have region-wide application, had been drafted to address the water issues of the Waipaoa catchment.

Their submission detailed the very different physical and consenting characteristics of the catchments in the Ngati Porou rohe to that of the Waipaoa. A one-size-fits-all approach would have significant adverse effects on the Ngati Porou catchments.

Ngati Porou said an interim policy and rule regime was needed to ensure that the highly-permissive Waipaoa catchment rules were not applied to freshwater planning in their rohe.

To view the full version of this article click on the follow the link to the GIsborne Herald website: http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2410714-135/iwi-advocate-for-stronger-role-in