Media Release

16 December 2015

Greater Heretaunga and Ahuriri group at a crossroads

A stakeholder group brought together by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to set limits for managing water in the Greater Heretaunga and Ahuriri catchment is at a crossroads.

The group known as TANK – for their focus on managing the Tutaekurī, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamū catchments – has a forum of more than 30 members. Their efforts have been complicated by changing external factors since the group was formed in 2012.

HBRC Chairman Fenton Wilson says there was a strong focus on working collaboratively with all stakeholders, using an independent facilitator to avoid any perception of a predetermined outcome.

“This is not working as well as it should and we need to make some alterations so our model is more effective,” says Mr Wilson.

“All of the stakeholders involved in this group want a win-win plan change for the Greater Heretaunga and Ahuriri catchment and we need to champion that sooner rather than later.”

Today’s council meeting received an update on the numerous ‘moving parts’ in the TANK plan change project, including leadership, the preferred role that Council could play, HBRC’s related science work programme, reforms currently proposed to the RMA (Resource Management Act), how best to engage with hapū/ iwi and the potential lodgement (and effects) of a Water Conservation Order on the Ngaruroro River catchment.

HBRC’s new Strategic Development Group Manager, James Palmer, arrives in January fresh from his central government role with the Ministry for the Environment. It was agreed that he review the TANK Group process and return his recommendations on its future operation to the next Regional Planning Committee meeting in February 2016.

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