TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA
Chief Executive’s Report
A key focus for the operations of Te
Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa this past year was our Environment Court appeal
opposing the consent granted to
Creswell N.Z Limited by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC)
for the purpose of bottling water to
In support of our appeal the following parties joined us as section 274 parties: Te Rūnanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust, Ngāti Tūwharetoa (BOP) Settlement Trust, Ngāti Pikiao Environmental Society, Tuwhakairiora O’Brien and Ngāi Tamawera Hapū.
Earlier in 2018, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and other parties made submissions in opposition to Creswell’s resource consent application and submitted our Cultural Impact Assessment to support our opposition. Following a Council level hearing later in 2018,
A mediation was held following the filing of appeals which assisted to narrow the issues but did not resolve the matter. Our appeal ultimately focused on the tikanga effects of taking ground water. Following mediation, but before evidence was due to be filed, the Ngāti Tūwharetoa (BOP) Settlement Trust withdrew its appeal. Sustainable Otākiri also withdrew its appeal of the regional consents (granted by BOPRC) and confirmed it was only appealing the district consents (granted by Whakatāne District Council) alongside a jurisdictional challenge. Ultimately, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa was the sole appellant of the regional consents.
TE RŪNANGA O NGĀTI AWA | ANNUAL REPORT 2019
to take 1.1 million cubic metres per
8
Commissioners appointed by the BOPRC determined to grant Creswell consent to, among other things, take and bottle 1.1 million cubic metres per year from the Awaiti Canal Aquifer. Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa along with Ngāti Tūwharetoa (BOP) Settlement Trust and Sustainable Otākiri appealed the BOPRC decision to grant the consents.
year from the Awaiti Canal Aquifer sell in Aotearoa and overseas.
