Latest news with #GisborneDistrictCouncil
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Environmentalists See Forestry Changes As Dangerous Step For Tairāwhiti
Tairāwhiti environmentalists have called changes for commercial forestry under proposed Resource Management Act reforms 'a slap in the face' and a return to weaker forestry regulations. Local groups are preparing to make submissions on proposed changes to the way forestry is managed after consultation on the Resource Management Act opened on Thursday. The proposals would make it harder for councils to have their own discretion in setting stricter rules to control tree planting. Gisborne District Council (GDC) said the proposed changes grant both 'real opportunities' and 'some challenges'. The Eastland Wood Council (EWC) is still considering its options around submitting. Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti (MTT), the group behind a 12,000-signature petition that triggered the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use (MILU) in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa, claimed the Government was relaxing 'already permissive forestry rules'. The inquiry, published in May 2023, followed the destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and other major storms, when woody debris, forestry slash and sedimentation flooded the region's land, waterways and infrastructure. At the time of the inquiry's findings, the previous Government announced actions to reduce the risk of a Gabrielle repeat. MTT spokeswoman and Ruatōria resident Tui Warmenhoven said, 'We were promised stronger protections – what we're getting is deregulation dressed as reform.' The proposed changes were 'a slap in the face to the hundreds of whānau who've already paid the price for poor forestry regulations', said Warmenhoven in a group statement. Another part of the proposed changes will require a Slash Mobilisation Risk Assessment as part of all harvest management plans. It would also consider refining requirements to remove all slash above a certain size from forest cutovers. MTT welcomed the proposed requirement for Slash Mobilisation Risk Assessments, however, it warned 'this would be ineffective without enforceable planning requirements and local oversight'. 'A slash assessment without an afforestation plan is meaningless – it's a partial fix that ignores the root of the problem,' said Warmenhoven. 'We've already seen what happens when forestry is left to regulate itself and the problems with planting shallow-rooting pine on erosion-prone slopes. We are also concerned about the removal of references to woody debris, given that whole pine plantations collapsed during Cyclone Gabrielle and still line many waterways in the region.' Last September, EWC chairman Julian Kohn said forestry firms were 'bleeding money', with many companies finding Gisborne too costly to invest in. Speaking with Local Democracy Reporting, Kohn said EWC was still considering whether to submit its own response or work with other council members to make submissions. 'We've been working closely with the minister and advocating for what we see needs to be real change in respect of some of the causes in the NES-CF [National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry],' said Kohn. 'Our real concern is that the way the council is treating many of these consents and these enforcement orders are literally sending these forest companies to the wall.' He said forestry companies would close if things continued the way they were, which would leave forests unmanaged and unharvested. 'Next time we have a rain event, then some of those trees which have been locked up are going to come down the waterways, which is exactly what everybody wants to try to prevent.' GDC's director of sustainable futures, Jocelyne Allen, said the consultation documents came 'as no surprise' as they were broad and aligned with what the council had seen in the Cabinet paper and Expert Advisory Group report. 'The packages cover infrastructure, the primary sector, freshwater, and urban growth, all areas that matter deeply to our region. 'There are real opportunities here, but also some challenges, and we're taking the time to work through both carefully,' she said. The council intends to submit a response and will be taking a strategic and collaborative approach to doing so, including engaging with tangata whenua, whānau, hapū and iwi across the region and working through its sector networks, particularly the Local Government Special Interest Groups and Te Uru Kahika, said Allen. Before the announcement of the proposed changes, in an email to Local Democracy Reporting on Monday, Primary Industries and Forestry Minister Todd McClay said forestry played an important role in the economy and provided many jobs on the East Coast. 'The Government is working closely with the GDC and respected members of the forestry industry, farming and iwi to manage and reduce risk through better and more practical rules rather than blanket restrictions or bans.' He said they are reviewing slash management practices and will amend the NES-CF so councils can focus on the most at-risk areas, lower costs and deliver better social and environmental outcomes. 'We want them to focus on high-risk areas, which is what GDC is currently doing, rather than suggesting that there should no longer be any forestry in the Tairāwhiti region,' he said.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Tairāwhiti Knowledge Share With Cooks Islands
Press Release – Gisborne District Council The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. A small delegation from the Cook Islands emergency management team are heading out of the region buoyed by what they hope they can introduce to their country after visiting Tairāwhiti Civil Defence. Technical coordinator Stephano Tou and planning and advisory coordinator Ella Napara had a whistle stop visit to Tairāwhiti as part of their NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) supported trip to New Zealand which also included stop-offs in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'I am already thinking about how we can replicate some of the systems Tairāwhiti has in place, using the tools we have available to us,' said Mr Tou. 'We came here to see the ECC (Emergency Coordination Centre) design concept and the tools being used. We'll be taking from it the things that are suitable for us.' TEMO general manager Ben Green and readiness and operations manager Marcus Tibble showed the visitors the state of the art desalination units, the solar powered stations and a 50-litre water heater, as well as the award-winning COP (Common Operating Picture) among other things at the centre. 'Many of these are not things we have in the Cook Islands,' said Mr Tau, who loved the self-sustainability the equipment provided a community. 'It is very relatable here in terms of the population and challenges faced.' Mr Green had underlined the importance of not relying on a national system in times of crisis. 'It is good Ben recognises that and plans with that in mind.' Mr Tou had built an internationally award winning dashboard but wanted to take it to the next level based on what he had seen in Tairāwhiti. Ben Green said the visit was a win-win. 'We gain just as much when hosting international groups given our dispersed communities as well as the region being subject to being cut off,' said Mr Green. 'We often take for granted what resources and capabilities we have developed and imbedded here in Tairāwhiti, however and in context of the South Pacific, we actively collaborate with one another on the back of these events' Ms Napara said it had been an amazing trip. 'It is blowing my mind in a good way,' she said. 'I like the systems here (in Tairāwhiti) – they are so impressive. Everything is there right at your fingertips. We want to build a system where all the data is collected and saved.' The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. The visitors were hugely grateful to NEMA and the Cook Islands government for their support for the trip.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Tairāwhiti Knowledge Share With Cooks Islands
Press Release – Gisborne District Council The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. A small delegation from the Cook Islands emergency management team are heading out of the region buoyed by what they hope they can introduce to their country after visiting Tairāwhiti Civil Defence. Technical coordinator Stephano Tou and planning and advisory coordinator Ella Napara had a whistle stop visit to Tairāwhiti as part of their NEMA (National Emergency Management Association) supported trip to New Zealand which also included stop-offs in Wellington and Palmerston North. 'I am already thinking about how we can replicate some of the systems Tairāwhiti has in place, using the tools we have available to us,' said Mr Tou. 'We came here to see the ECC (Emergency Coordination Centre) design concept and the tools being used. We'll be taking from it the things that are suitable for us.' TEMO general manager Ben Green and readiness and operations manager Marcus Tibble showed the visitors the state of the art desalination units, the solar powered stations and a 50-litre water heater, as well as the award-winning COP (Common Operating Picture) among other things at the centre. 'Many of these are not things we have in the Cook Islands,' said Mr Tau, who loved the self-sustainability the equipment provided a community. 'It is very relatable here in terms of the population and challenges faced.' Mr Green had underlined the importance of not relying on a national system in times of crisis. 'It is good Ben recognises that and plans with that in mind.' Mr Tou had built an internationally award winning dashboard but wanted to take it to the next level based on what he had seen in Tairāwhiti. Ben Green said the visit was a win-win. 'We gain just as much when hosting international groups given our dispersed communities as well as the region being subject to being cut off,' said Mr Green. 'We often take for granted what resources and capabilities we have developed and imbedded here in Tairāwhiti, however and in context of the South Pacific, we actively collaborate with one another on the back of these events' Ms Napara said it had been an amazing trip. 'It is blowing my mind in a good way,' she said. 'I like the systems here (in Tairāwhiti) – they are so impressive. Everything is there right at your fingertips. We want to build a system where all the data is collected and saved.' The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands – 13 of which are inhabited. Its biggest threat is cyclones but climate change had now meant they now regularly face coast inundation. The visitors were hugely grateful to NEMA and the Cook Islands government for their support for the trip.
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Tairāwhiti Citizens' Assembly release ‘Calls to Action' around land use transition
Gisborne District Council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann and Mayor Rehette Stoltz receive the Tairāwhiti Citizens' Assembly Calls to Action from assembly members and the project team, (from back left) Tia Takarangi, Te Weu chairwoman Renee Raroa, Paul Murphy, Meredith Akuhata-Brown, project lead Harley Dibble, Linda Evans, Ray Kitchen and Jonty Hall, (front) Rachel Hogan, Makahuri Thatcher-Wharehinga, Nedine Thatcher Swann, Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Assembly spokeswoman Dayna Chaffey. Photo / Supplied The Tairāwhiti Citizens' Assembly formed to discuss how land use changes can be fairly managed has released 'Calls to Action' urging support for a locally led process to prepare for a climate-resilient future. They want the Government, the Gisborne District Council and industry to back land-use transition that restores the
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Gisborne Council Awarded $51k From Forestry Company In Environment Court Decision
Article – Zita Campbell – Local Democracy Reporter Environmentalists call for stronger regulations to prevent similar issues. Gisborne District Council has recovered half of just over $100,000 spent on what its legal representative described as 'avoidable' legal costs in an Environment Court decision against a Chinese-owned forestry company. The case followed several recent enforcement actions taken by the council across several forests, including Kanuka, West Ho, Te Marunga, and Wakaroa, which the council says have resulted in forestry operators reducing risks and improving compliance. Environmentalists said they were pleased with the legal outcome but believe these issues should be addressed through stronger regulations. The council spent $101,175 on legal and expert witness costs associated with a four-day hearing in July last year. The hearing concerned enforcement orders related to woody debris and sediment migrating from commercial forestry activity in the Kanuka Forest in the Upper Waimata River catchment. According to the court decision, the council argued that the conduct of the forestry groups, China Forestry Group (CFG), and management company Wood Marketing Services (WMS), 'unnecessarily lengthened' the hearings process through conduct before and during the hearings, which included the NZ-based director of China Forestry Group NZ, Mr Yuxia Sun, resigning 10 days before the hearing. The council submitted that the respondents provided 'arguments without substance and technical or unmeritorious points which failed', which caused the council to incur more 'avoidable legal costs' drafting submissions in response. Speaking with Local Democracy Reporting, council's resource management compliance manager, Gary McKenzie, said the council had a responsibility to uphold environmental standards and protect public welfare as a regulatory authority. 'While some costs can be recovered through the courts, full cost recovery is not always possible. Like other regulatory agencies, we rely on public funding to fulfil these statutory obligations,' McKenzie said. He confirmed the costs awarded by the court had been paid to the council by the respondents. 'The council will continue to monitor forestry activity across the region and, where necessary, pursue legal action where environmental risks are not adequately managed.' During a council meeting last year, council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said about forestry prosecutions that for every $1 million spent on legal and investigation fees, 'you may get $250,000 back'. The environmental group, Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti (MTT), served as a third respondent to the case, with Alanya Limmer, a King's Counsel from Uawa, working pro bono. Spokesman Manu Caddie said it was a poor way to manage environmental issues and not fair to ratepayers, as it took council resources, including staff time away from other priorities. 'A small community group like ours could never afford to go up against these multinational companies like China Forestry Group if it wasn't for Alanya's generosity,' Caddie said. He said it was the fifth enforcement order application against forestry companies, four of which have been successful and one of which was awaiting an outcome. 'This is an incredibly costly and ineffective way of trying to reduce risk in catchments across Tairāwhiti and should instead be dealt with through stronger regulations.' The lawyers of China Forestry Group and Wood Marketing Services said the organisations did not wish to comment. The court decision, made on April 28, enforced China Forestry Group NZ, its NZ director at the time, Mr Yuxia Sun (who has since resigned), and management company Wood Marketing Services to pay the council $51,000 and MTT $8500. The council sought various enforcement order applications on September 8, 2023, which were granted nearly a year later on August 9, 2024 However, 'the issue of costs was reserved', with the court granting leave for the council and MTT to apply for costs. The council sought half of its expenses incurred in its application, which the court rounded up to $51,000. The $51,000 will be split, $38,250 for China Forestry Group NZ and Sun, and $12,750 for Wood Marketing Services. MTT's $8500 will be split, $6000 for China Forestry Group and Sun and $2500 for Wood Marketing Services. The court found that the respondents contributed to the length of the case management process and the hearing, with 'WMS's contribution to the length of the process less than CFG in terms of the way it conducted itself at the hearing. Further, it complied with Court directions'.
