Protecting the environment

Last month Nga¯ti Kahu carried out the following environmental work.

Rangaunu survey: In the recent snapper and seabed survey of Rangaunu harbour by Niwa, the same eight sample sites visited three years ago were visited again over a two-day period, and we were present at three of those sites. The purpose of these surveys is to both check the health of the harbour’s water, fauna and flora, and to understand more about what happens to the snapper once they leave Rangaunu.

Te Mana Whakahono-aRohe workshop: Our Environment Portfolio had prepared to attend the hui set for March 13, and had invited all resource contact people from each of our marae to join them, but the hui was cancelled due to cyclone Hola. We are waiting to hear if/when it is to be rescheduled.

National Climate Change Summit: We sent representatives to this hui in Wellington. The information, analyses, strategies and networks they have brought back will help our wha¯nau and hapu¯ to mitigate the worst effects of abrupt climate change.

Resource consent applications: We dealt with an application to build a supply store and yard in Kaitaia, another to build a house at Koekoea (Cooper’s Beach), and a third to build a house at Mangataiore (Victoria Valley). We also dealt with an application to subdivide a property on Paewhenua Island, and another to upgrade the seawall on the north side of Ikateretere.

Projects: We continued to support the restoration of the mauri at Lake Waiporohita, as well as the Taipa¯ bridge upgrade, the Maitai Bay ra¯hui, and the Para Kore (Zero Waste) programme in Te Hiku o Te Ika.

External meetings: We attended the Doubtless Bay Working Group hui, where the focus was on remedying the impacts of the Mango¯nui causeway at Paewhenua Island and restoring the mauri of the harbour and river. As a result, we lodged interventions with the Northland Regional Council as part of its long-term plan review. We also lodged an intervention regards illegal water take in part of our rohe at Kaimaumau.

Future workstreams: We are exploring the One Billion Trees programme to ensure our people retain control of their land and get a genuine benefit from it, i.e. no long-term leases, no rights of renewal, no low stumpage clauses etc. We are also organising a meeting with the Maungaroa Station team, who have set up a successful business growing and making products from manuka that utilise the whole tree.

Safety: There were two bad accidents (one fatal) on Kareponia Hill in March. We have contacted the NZTA, asking for an urgent meeting with the marae, kohanga, church and ru¯nanga to address the serious safety issues there.

In Nga¯ti Kahu we say, “Ko te whenau ko au, ko au te whenua” (The land is me, I am the land). We know that in order for us survive, we must ensure the environment thrives. That is why we work hard to protect it.

"We are exploring the One Billion Trees programme to ensure our people retain control of their land and get a genuine benefit from it ..."