New Wairoa River flood management plan is ‘a safer approach' – Hawke's Bay Regional Council
The Intermediate Management Plan, led by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) in collaboration with Wairoa District Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, outlines a proactive approach to
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NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay fires: Penalty of fine criticised as ‘economic incentive to burn'
'$300 is not a deterrent. It's actually an economic incentive to burn,' Graham said. 'I rang the Pollution hotline. This was one of the worst examples of air pollution that I have seen this year, which is saying something considering the extent of this activity,' Graham said. 'This fire was in blatant disregard and abuse of our community's air quality and the law. 'The smoke was drifting towards Hastings, completely covering the entire region between Railway Rd and Havelock North,' Graham said. 'It was difficult to drive on Riverslea Rd heading back into Hastings due to limited visibility.' HBRC said its pollution response team investigated a complaint regarding smoke in the Longlands Rd area on July 27. 'As a result of that investigation, enforcement action has been taken and a $300 fine issued.' HBRC compliance manager Matt Wilkinson said it was frustrating that the council's ability to deter this behaviour was constrained by the fines set at a national level. 'But we acknowledge the changes made by the Government, coming into effect in September, which lifts the infringement fines to $600 for individuals or $1200 for companies as a move in the right direction of discouraging burning in or near airsheds.' Graham said those planned increases were not high enough and would still encourage fires to save money. Air pollution records published in Hawke's Bay Today on Friday, August 8, show the National Environment Standard air quality was also exceeded in Hastings on July 26 (54 micrograms). In a 12-month period in 2023-24, HBRC received about 80 complaints of burning during winter. More than 70 infringement fines were issued. Orchard burnoffs are allowed under the Regional Air Quality rules, but they must meet specific conditions. Christian Jirkowsky, who moved from Austria to Hawke's Bay in 2007 and has more than 30 years' experience in the power and heat generation sector, where wood, biomass, and fossil fuels are used for energy production, said it was widely acknowledged and scientifically proven that even brief exposure to fine particles (PM 2.5 and PM1) and aerosols emitted from open wood burning increases the risk of non-accidental and respiratory-related fatalities. 'This is why most developed countries have banned open burning and apply severe consequences for violations,' he said. 'Wood smoke exposure induces airway irritation, causes lung damage, and substantially increases the likelihood of developing asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], and heart attacks,' Jirkowsky said. What is an airshed? An airshed is a legally designated air-quality management area. In New Zealand, regional councils and unitary authorities have identified areas to be managed as airsheds for the national environmental standards for air quality. The majority of airsheds may have levels of pollutants that exceed the national environmental standards for air quality. Some airsheds are also identified based on factors such as: the number of people living in the airshed now or in the future unique weather patterns and geography local air emissions, such as local industrial activity, which need to be specifically considered and managed. Why do we have airsheds? HBRC says airshed rules exist because smoke from backyard fires in urban areas, though they may seem minor, adds up quickly. On cold, still days, the smoke lingers and affects air quality. 'If everyone lit backyard fires, it would quickly become a serious pollution issue. These rules help protect our whānau and community from the harmful health effects of smoke, especially in winter when it gets trapped close to the ground.' LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Clive resident calls for river dredging after years of ‘neglect'
HBRC in July began work on strengthening the riverbank beside Farndon Rd to prevent erosion. But Craig MacErlich, who was born and bred in Clive and grew up on the river, says it's the river itself that needs the attention first. 'Once upon a time, when I was young and foolish, we would jump off the Clive Bridge. The water was deep. We would also swim across to the bars. 'I wouldn't swim in it now. Hawke's Bay Regional Council has neglected the river. It hasn't been dredged for years,' MacErlich said. A spokesperson for HBRC said the council acknowledged the concerns and appreciated locals' long-standing connection to Te Awa o Mokotūāraro. 'The subject of dredging the river was taken to the council before Cyclone Gabrielle, to seek additional funding,' the spokesperson said. Hawke's Bay Regional Council is using a thick layer of large rocks to strengthen the riverbank along Te Awa o Mokotuararo. 'At that time, an extra $3m was needed and suitable options for sediment disposal were still being explored.' The council chose not to allocate the additional funding and deferred the decision to the next Long-Term Plan. After the cyclone, the revised Long-Term Plan (a shorter three-year plan) focused on recovery efforts and rebuilding critical infrastructure. 'Looking ahead, the next opportunity to reconsider funding for this important work will be during the development of the 2027-2037 Long Term Plan,' the spokesperson said. 'If funding is approved, the timing of the dredging will depend on when it is available and capacity within HBRC to do the work.' The Awa o Mokotuararo (Clive River) in the 1900s. Photo / Michael Fowler Collection MacErlich said a lack of maintenance had left the river with little flow and that it was polluted. 'When the weed boat works upstream in the Karamu, the weed floats down to the river, then stops because of the lack of flow and sits there and rots.' The council spokesperson said they knew weed removed from upstream can sometimes accumulate in the Clive River. 'This is an unintended consequence of weed clearance operations, and we are actively reviewing how operational methods and scheduling can better account for downstream effects.' The area of the riverbank being worked on was identified after stopbank ground investigations found the riverside slope had been worn away by the river. 'We have stabilised it by building a structure of specific-sized and graded rock to protect against erosion. 'It will be installed by building a thick layer of large rocks, along with approved detailed engineering designs. It acts as a barrier to absorb the energy of the river, preventing it from eroding and undermining the bank.' The road shoulder will be closed most of the time, with traffic management in place when needed. It is expected that work will be completed by the middle of September. The council said, as the project was still under way, the final cost was yet to be confirmed. In January 2023, a rowing regatta, which included teams from around the country, had to pause at low tide because of weeds and tubeworms interfering with the course. The river was officially named Te Awa o Mokotūāraro, a shorter version of Ngaruroro Moko-tū-ā-raro ki Rangatira, the original Māori name, in 2023. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NZ Herald
19-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Pōrangahau's Birch Hill Station: ‘Amy's Forest' protected by QEII covenant and fencing
A chance visit to Birch Hill Station, by Mark Mitchell from Hawke's Bay Regional Council, led him to discover a block of bush that he believed needed to be preserved. Collaborating with QEII National Trust and the regional council, Ben and Libby started to get the project under way. Ben said that after three wet summers and a cyclone, the deer fencing around the 24ha native forest block had now been completed. He said the 2m-high fence will keep out wild deer and allow the forest to regenerate in the coming years. 'Systematic predator control has been carried out to reduce the numbers of rats, possums and other predators, like cats, stoats and ferrets. 'This will allow the native birdlife to flourish.' Fletcher Tosswill (left), Libby Tosswill, with arms around Jack Tosswill, team member Max Lyver and Alex Tosswill at Birch Hill Station. Photo / Ben Tosswill Predator control will need to be ongoing, but Ben said the aim was for Amy's Forest to become an island sanctuary where birds and other fauna could proliferate and spread to other areas. Peka peka (New Zealand short-tailed bat) have also been found to use Amy's Forest as a roost. Eventually, Ben and Libby aim to create a walking track in this native block, so it can be made available for visitors to appreciate how precious our native bush is. Birch Hill Station in Pōrangahau, Central Hawkes Bay, is home to Amy's Forest. Photo / Ben Tosswill Eradicating the remaining wild deer that were inside the fence after it was completed has been a major job. Professional hunters with specially trained hunting dogs, drones with thermal cameras and game cameras were employed for this task. It took a month to complete before it was 100% certain there were no more deer left. Amy's Forest has been protected in perpetuity by a QEII National Trust covenant, meaning it will always remain in its natural state. Photo / Ben Tosswill Wild red deer (an introduced species) are prolific in Central Hawke's Bay and throughout New Zealand, posing a major threat to native forests as they browse seedlings and prevent regeneration. Amy's Forest has been protected in perpetuity by a QEII National Trust covenant, meaning it will always remain in its natural state. Ben and Libby are advocates for enriching the land and, in turn, enriching people. Significant work has gone into protecting waterways and wetlands on their farm, and they also run a glamping site that enables visitors to enjoy a taste of country life and appreciate how farmers care for the environment and their stock. 'Amy's Forest is a special place for our family, and, in Amy's memory, it will be enjoyed by generations to come,' Ben said.
