Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Call for Minister to support conservation order


Immediate Release
24 February 2017

Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust call on Environment Minister to support conservation order to protect national water taonga


Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust in Nelson have applied for a ‘water conservation order’ under the Resource Management Act 1991 to protect the mauri and wairua of the aquifer that supplies Te Waikoropupu.
Iwi have applied to the Environment Minister in partnership with community members. The Minister's private secretary has been in contact. It’s a legal first and if successful will create a precedent.

The aim of seeking the order is to protect both the water supply and the aquifer of the largest freshwater springs in the country – a wahi tapu (sacred place) and “national taonga (treasure) of importance to all New Zealanders” according to official documents advocating political support.
Ngāti Tama in its capacity as kaitiaki (guardian) takes its responsibility to safeguard very seriously and says it’s a leadership decision that it’s been upholding for over thirty years.
The commercial development of Te Waikoropupū Springs in Golden Bay and the management of water that feeds it has been a publicly debated issue in the area since 1984 when Ngāti Tama first stood up in a public meeting to protect it.

It is one of several resource management issues Ngāti Tama are facing in the rohe (area) while the Tasman District Council reviews the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP) for release later this year.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Through its participation in community consultation around water resource management planning, Ngāti Tama has identified areas for improvement that better serve its kaupapa (purpose).
“We want cultural, ecological and spiritual values to be given significant weight in all plan and consent decision making. This aligns with the weight that should be given to these matters in Part II of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), particularly section 6 (e) as a matter of ‘national importance’. The granting of a Water Conservation Order recognising the outstanding significance of Te Waikoropupū Springs in accordance with tikanga Māori provides appropriate recognition of the importance of these values” says Mr John Ward-Holmes, Kaumatua of Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust.
Ngāti Tama also says that there are plenty of successful working examples in other parts of New Zealand where this has been implemented for the benefit of the community. Its intention is to achieve a balanced outcome so iwi evolve the current process so kaitiakitanga (guardianship) responsibilities are honoured.

“Te Waikoropupū Springs is a very sacred place with the clearest water in the country if not this part of the world. Experts have advised us about the ecological risk if we don’t step in now so we would appreciate the Minister’s help.”
Aside from pursuing the water conservation order, Ngāti Tama are seeking a judicial review of consent decisions approved by Tasman District Council without public consultation on a non-notified basis. That matter will be heard on 13 March in the Nelson High Court.
ENDS
Background
Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust was formed in 2013 to represent the Uri o Ngāti Tama who whakapapa to Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka-ā-Maui (Top of the South Island).
Web: http://www.ngati-tama.iwi.nz \

Links:
Ngāti Tama Ki Te Pounamu media area: http://www.ngati-tama.iwi.nz/media/media.htm
Historical media coverage on settlement: http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8580144/Ngati-Tama-settlement-signed
The Resource Management Act 1991
Section 6 (e)
“the relationship of Maori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, and other taonga:”

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.