Nelson Iwi Congratulate Awaroa Tender Winner

Nelson Iwi Congratulate Awaroa Tender Winner

Yet Focussed on Protecting NZ’s Largest Freshwater Springs Nearby

Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu in Nelson congratulates the organisers behind the successful public bid for the Awaroa Inlet which was announced today.

The iwi elected not to financially back the campaign although it is relieved that the land ownership remains in Aotearoa and doesn’t slip into foreign hands.

“Even if we wanted to step in; Awaroa Inlet was in private ownership. We received our settlement three years ago so couldn’t negotiate further with the Crown” says Chair of Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu Trust, Leanne Manson.

In its settlement in April 2013, the iwi vested 28,600 hectares of land back to the Crown at Te Tai Tapu which is now forms part of the Kahurangi National Park.

Ngāti Tama’s priority currently is focussed on water protection.

It’s engaged legal counsel in a battle to restrict further water from being drawn from Golden Bay’s Te Waikoropupü Springs for commercial gain. It intends to introduce a water management plan as part of its responsibility as kaitiaki (guardian).

Tasman District Council is currently reviewing two contentious resource consent applications opposed by Ngāti Tama to take more water out of the springs which are publicly recognised as being of spiritual significance to Māori.

“Te Waikoropupū Springs are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand, the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere and contain some of the clearest water ever measured” according to the Department of Conservation’s website.

The resource consents are being decided without public consultation on a non-notified basis. The Council has failed to heed calls to recognise Ngāti Tama as an effected party. Ngāti Tama disagrees with the Council view based on the cultural, ecological and spiritual significance of Te Waikoropupü to the iwi.

ENDS

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