Ngati Kahungunu tells council: put people first!

Press Release: Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc tells council to step up and put people first!

13th February 2009

“Ngati Kahungunu is appalled, but not surprised at the Hawkes Bay Regional Council’s response to the water shortage hence community health problems at Bridge Pa” says Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc Chairman, Ngahiwi Tomoana. “The people of Ngati Poporo have held Ahi Kaa in the area for more than 400yrs, and for the council to tell them that they need to look at the ‘bigger context’ in terms of water allocation is an extreme case of reverse sensitivity. It is only because of the manaakitanga and kindness of Ngati Poporo that this area has prospered but it’s time to say ‘no more!’ Mr Tomoana went on to say.

Mr Tomoana said that, “Ngati Kahungunu has had enough of this attitude and will be running the Regional Council to task over their destruction of the waterways, the neglect of our traditional fisheries and their contempt for Tangata Whenua”. Mr Tomoana advised that, “Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc will continue to seek legal and constitutional avenues to hold our Regional and local councils to account for their appalling behaviour in caring for the water resources and the people of our communities. If they can’t care for our people, they should allocate a proportion of the rates to us for us to do this.”

The Hawkes Bay Prison sucks copious amounts of water out of the Bridge Pa area. The main well that feeds the Hastings city’s reservoirs, including Havelock North, is in the Bridge Pa domain and yet neither the Regional Council or the District Council deem it their responsibility to ensure the safety or health of Ngati Poporo and the other residents of Bridge Pa. Mr Tomoana says that, “This is an indictment on our Council’s and councilors as this community is one that is least able to afford improvements!”.

Mr Tomoana went on to say that “Both Councils should show inspired leadership and address this issue once and for all and not allow it to become a regular summer headline which it has been over the last 20 years or so, especially with increased commercial take from the water table. It is time for the council to start putting people first.”

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc will be convening a Hui A Hapu to discuss the Freshwater and Economic Issues facing our people on 21 March 2009.

ENDS