Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand (FMC), Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, NZ Canyoning Association, Buller Tramping Club, and former Whitewater NZ President Kev England have co-signed an open letter urging the Fast-track Panel to protect the Waitaha River, one of the country's last pristine wild river gorges.

The letter, sent on 14 April, follows draft approval of Westpower's fast-track application to build a 23-megawatt hydro scheme in the largely untouched Waitaha River. The letter calls on the Panel to reconsider the decision, noting severe threats to the area's ecological and recreational values.

FMC President Megan Dimozantos said the scheme would have devastating impacts on the area.

"If this goes ahead, the river will be reduced to little more than a residual flow, causing permanent and significant damage to both its recreational and ecological values.

"We recognise that renewable generation is important, but not at the expense of one of the country's last untouched, pristine wild river gorges.”

During the assessment process last December, the Department of Conservation formally requested that FMC be invited to provide comment to the Panel on the recreational experience of users in the area. The Panel declined this request.

“FMC requested to comment on the proposal. We also wrote to the Panel directly. Ultimately, we’ve been ignored. The hundreds of recreational users who visit the area every year have been ignored.”

“The Panel itself acknowledged the significant effects the scheme will have on the Morgan Gorge and Kiwi Flat, even after all mitigation measures are in place”, said Dimozantos.

The scheme was previously declined in 2019 by then Environment Minister David Parker, who cited severe and permanent damage to the Waitaha River's conservation values, including its intrinsic values. FMC is calling on the Panel to honour that precedent and protect the Waitaha for future generations.

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