Magic vs logic

What does (2 x 2) + 1 — 54 + (1.5 x 3) x 2 equal? My calculator tells me the answer is not a positive outcome. But apparently that’s only in the logical world of wha¯nau, hapu¯ and iwi.

In the magical world of local government, it seems that (2 laws x 2 local bodies) + 1 resource consent application to discharge higher levels of nutrients into our waterways — 54 opposing submitters + (1.5 supporting submissions x 3 days of hearings) x 2 independent commissioners = 1 resource consent granted and issued.

The background to this clash between logic and magic is that, for almost a decade, the Far North District Council operated in breach of its resource consent to discharge treated municipal wastewater from its treatment plant at Taipa¯ into the waterways. Put simply, it was putting more tiko into the water than it was allowed to under the consent the Northland Regional Council gave it.

During that entire time, both the FNDC and the NRC effectively ignored the concerns of the hapu¯ on whose stolen land the plant is built, and who depend heavily on the affected waterways, which are now seriously degraded. In doing so, the two councils breached both the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act. So, having breached the laws, they get punished, right? Wrong. Apparently, in the magical world occupied by these councils, not only does their lawbreaking not get punished, it gets rewarded. Now that’s just not right.

Logically, hapu¯ have always opposed the discharge of wastewater into the waterways. They fought long and hard against the treatment plant being built on their whenua in the first place, because they knew it was going to be bad news for them and the environment.

One of the basic requirements of all humankind is drinkable water. But many factors of modern life, including globalisation, population densities and pollution, are leading towards a critical shortage, and forcing all of us to think more meaningfully about water purification and reuse.

Over the past few years the hapu¯ and their partners have searched for and tested a range of treatment options with a view to finding one capable of effectively and affordably purifying wastewater enough to enable land application. Those tests have showed that electro coagulation is the most logical option. The technology and test results have been shared with both councils, along with clear evidence of the current technology’s failings. Perhaps predictably, both councils have rejected it all, and, on August 26, a consent was issued. An appeal seeking to overturn that consent has now been filed in the Environment Court. Magic has its place, but not in tiko treatment.

"Put simply, it was putting more tiko into the water than it was allowed to under the consent."