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Horowhenua Chronicle
Punahau Early Childcare Centre The Punahau Early Child Care Centre is closed as of Thursday the 19th of December and will reopen on the Monday the 13th of January. If you would like to enroll your tamariki in the new year call the Punahau on 06 368 7780.
String of Achievements since Lake Accord established There has already been a string of achievements in the four months since the Lake Horowhenua Accord was established. Matt Sword, Chairman of the Lake Accord, says that the partner agencies are working well together under the auspices of the Accord. “These efforts are a fantastic start towards returning the Lake to a healthy state. It is early days and we are looking forward to ramping up our efforts in the coming months”. The efforts build on work undertaken in the lead up to signing the Accord. The Accord sets out the primary issues facing the Lake and lays out a number of goals and actions needed to improve the condition of the Lake and the Hokio Stream outlet to the sea. Dr Jon Roygard of Horizons says that the improved monitoring of the Lake will provide important information on the progress of the lake restoration efforts. Activities carried out by the Accord partners include: • Re-established monitoring of the water quality of the streams entering the Lake. • Established a flow monitoring site on the Hokio outlet stream and installed a lake level recorder.
Friday, December 20, 2013
• Further plantings have been completed on Arawhata stream • Maintenance of restoration plantings has been undertaken to ensure the survival of the plantings Lake Trustees have held independent hui of owners. Accord partners have also held two public meetings to engage with the community about the project.
This event also served to celebrate another importation milestone for Muaūpoko: MTA receiving recognised Crown mandate as well as being a family occasion to celebrate this great year that comes to an end preparing for 2014.
The Accord Group itself has also completed regular meetings to ensure progress. Matt Sword says that the Accord Group will be presenting a detailed Lake Restoration Strategy in the very near future. Horowhenua Mayor Brendon Duffy says the Parties provide the leadership needed to halt the degradation and put in place remedial measures to gradually return the Lake so it can regain “pride of place in the Horowhenua community” And, Mayor Duffy is delighted with progress. “it’s a brilliant result so far and these achievements bring us that bit closer to a fantastic outcome,” he said.
John Harbord, Chief Crown Negotiator, and Louana Williams, Acting MTA Chairperson
Special Factors Hui Thursday 5th December 2013 A very productive hui was held with Hon Christopher Finlayson, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations. This meeting had the purpose of presenting the key special factors that should be taken into account by the Crown for Muaūpoko’s Treaty settlement process. The representatives of MTA who attended did a great job delivering a very informative and solid presentation to the Minister.
• Further monitoring of the Lake has been established via the installation of a continuous monitoring buoy in the Lake. This is a first for this region and provides information on a range of important water quality measures such as the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water and the amount of blue green algae in the Lake (the algae that can be toxic in the Lake).
• A survey of the fish populations undertaken in April 2013. The final report was completed in August. Extensive fish monitoring exercise undertaken to consider impact of pest fish (e.g. perch and goldfish). Survey concluded pest fish populations were not at a level that is likely to be having an impact on the Lake. Eel were highly abundant although larger size eels were nearly absent. The report also concluded that the weir was likely forming a barrier to migration from the sea to the Lake for flounder, grey mullet and inanga (part of the whitebait catch). In response to that Horizons Regional Council has completed the design of a fish pass solution for the weir and is working with the Accord partners on a plan to get that in place in 2014. Other work includes: • establishing 2,000 native plants in the Hokio stream area in a collaborative project between Horizons Regional Council and Horowhenua District Council • a 2.5 km fencing project has been undertaken, paving the way for further restoration planting work in that area in autumn 2014
Left to Right: Louana Williams, Trevon Hill, Kerehi Wi Warena, Sillena McGregor, Deanna Paul, Sandra Williams, Brenton Tukapua, Rob Warrington, Marokopa Matakatea Williams and Kevin Hill.
Terms of Negotiation Ceremony An important milestone of Muaūpokos Treaty settlement process was achieved and celebrated on Saturday the 14th Of December 2013 at Kawiu Marae. At this event representatives of the Crown and MTA signed the Terms of Negotiation of Muaūpoko’s Treaty Settlement process. Although this is not a legally binding document, it will allow stepping into the negotiations stage of the settlement process with the Crown, only initiates negotiations towards an Agreement in Principle once this milestone has been achieved. On behalf of the Crown and the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) attended John Harbord (Chief Crown Negotiator), Tania Ott (OTS Negotiations and Settlement Manager), Fern Hyett (OTS Analyst) and Stephen Ihaka (OTS Cultural Advisor).
Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te aroha nui, nā te whanau o Muaupoko Tribal Authority The team at Muaupoko Tribal Authority would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. The MTA/Birthright office will be closed from the 19th of December 2013 and re open on the 6th of January 2014. Happy Christmas lots of Love from the Team at Muaupoko Tribal Authority.
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• Weekly contact recreation monitoring for the Lake has been restarted in November 2013 and will run through to the end of April 2013 with results available on Horizons swimming spots website.