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Friday 7 May 2021
Waitapu: Iwi build consensus
Representatives from Manawhenua ki Mohua, led by Barney Thomas, right, at the Waitapu Bridge site. Photo: Jo Richards. JO RICHARDS
The community consultation on the future of the Waitapu Bridge site - a reserve on the outskirts of Takaka - has begun. Last Friday afternoon, representatives from Manawhenua ki Mohua (MKM) and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), along with members of the public, gathered at the site to start what is likely to be a long conversation. The aim of the initiative is to develop an understanding of the cultural significance of the river, exchange ideas about how to restore the river and surrounding environment, and to safeguard future public access to the area. The recent history of the site is one of controversy. Years of use and abuse by freedom campers came to a head during the summer of 2019-2020 when around 200 vehicles parked there, cheek-by-jowl, for several nights. Outrage from the Golden Bay community over campers’ illegal toileting, excessive littering, and antisocial behaviour led to a review of Tasman District Council’s Freedom Camping Bylaw, and resulted in the area being removed from the list of approved sites in late 2020.
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Somewhat ironically, it turned out that the land is in fact owned by NZTA, not TDC, and consequently the responsibility for the site was transferred to the former, who quickly established a partnership with local iwi with the aim of collaborating on a long-term management plan. In the meantime, in order to deter overnight camping at the site, the two partners erected signage – which has proved only partially effective – and installed rock barriers that have upset a good number of locals. Friday’s event marked the opening of the discussion to members of the public, and around a dozen turned up to listen and to provide input. With all parties assembled on the bank of the Takaka River, in the shadow of Waitapu Bridge, MKM chair Barney Thomas began proceedings by underlining a shared aspiration. “We have a common cause. We have come together because we want to protect this place,” said Barney before inviting contributions. “We want to hear from you what’s special and how we can work together to ensure access by the public.” Mairangi Reiher spoke about the deep
cultural significance of the river and the connection between humans and the natural environment. “I am the river and the river is me,” said Mairangi. She explained that Waitapu (which translates as “sacred waters”) is a sacred place for MKM, with the three iwi (Ngati Tama, Te Atiawa and Ngati Rarua) acting as guardians of all such taonga in Golden Bay. “It’s important we pass this on to the next generations.” Although the focus of the discussion was on the riverside site, Mairangi explained that the surrounding whenua, used extensively by tribal ancestors, incorporates other tapu sites – from Te Waikoropupu Springs upstream to the Takaka River estuary – and consequently the wider catchment should be taken into consideration. Barney highlighted sewage discharge into the river just upstream from the Waitapu site as an example. “From an iwi perspective, we are not happy about it.” An exchange of views raised a number of issues, including the need to prevent overnight camping while allowing public access, the current ineffective signage, ... Continued on page 3
10-Year Plan hearing JO RICHARDS
The series of four hearings on Tasman District Council’s 10-Year Plan began in Richmond on Tuesday and will end today in Motueka. In between, the hearing panel convened at Takaka’s Rec Centre on Wednesday for the Golden Bay session. The hearings are a key part of the public consultation process and allow those who have made a written submission to deliver their message in person before a delegation of TDC staff and councillors. A total of 186 speakers registered their intention to speak at one of the hearings. According to TDC’s website, over 1500 written submissions were received. Feedback focused on the four “big choices” identified in the council’s consultation document; housing, the allocation of Waimea Dam cost overruns, a new company model for the Nelson’s airport and port, and the response to climate change. In its consultation document, TDC tried to steer submissions towards council’s preferred options, so the feedback received on one of the big choices – how to pay for the $25.9m dam overrun – will make unpleasant reading for TDC’s mayor and senior managers. Analysis conducted on the feedback by Water Information Network (WIN) shows that 1132 of submissions (around 85 per cent) supportive of Option D – which proposed that the full overspend be recovered through a targeted rate on irrigators. TDC’s preferred Option A, which recommended a mix of targeted and district-wide rates, attracted support from a mere 62 submitters. Option B, supported by dam proponents Waimea Irrigators Ltd, would impose a district-wide rate on all ratepayers but was supported by only 71 submissions while Option C – a proposal for a targeted rate in the new Zone of Affiliation – was the least favoured with only 47 respondents selecting it. On one of the other controversial issues – the proposed new company model for Port Nelson and Nelson Airport – it appears that, of those who expressed a preference, 304 opted to retain the status quo, compared with 185 who supported the council’s recommendation. The hearings are an opportunity to put flesh on the bones of such statistics and 21 submitters chose to do just that at the Takaka hearing. Think of it as a turbocharged version of the community board public forum. Listening to Wednesday morning’s hearing were all councillors bar... Continued on page 2
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Inside: Vaccine talk THE GB WEEKLY, FRIDAY 7 MAY 2021
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ISSN (PRINT) 2538-0923 ISSN (ONLINE) 2538-0931
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