Latest news with #TeRūnangaoNgāiTahu
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Mitchell wants answers on Selwyn flood response
Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell is urging councils to have a frank and honest assessment of how to mitigate flooding. Mitchell has written to all councils asking them to review current decision-making processes around flood protection and control and report back by next Friday. 'As you will be aware, there has been heightened public interest in how regional and local authorities have managed flood protection and control works during, and in the lead-up to significant weather events,' Mitchell wrote. 'Even when local authorities and staff have done exceptional work to respond to events, the perceived inability to effectively manage the flood protection schemes and waterways has contributed in some places to a lack of public trust in the emergency management system's ability to prepare for and respond to significant weather events.' The letter specifically mentioned Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth. In the aftermath of flooding caused by two months' worth of rainfall in eastern Selwyn over 48 hours, debate has emerged over whether opening Lake Ellesmere earlier could have reduced the damage. Environment Canterbury chair Craig Pauling told Selwyn Times it was in the process of preparing a response to Mitchell. 'We are confident our opening decision-making processes are robust, but are planning to meet with representatives from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere consultation group soon to debrief and discuss future management approaches.' The opening of Lake Ellesmere is governed by the National Water Conservation (Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere) Order 1990. Under the order, the lake can be opened anytime from April 1 to June 15 to assist fish passage. Otherwise it can be opened between April 1 and July 31, only when it reaches a water level of 1.13m. Selwyn Times recently reported community concerns about the increase in subdivisions worsening the impact of floods. Said Pauling: 'We're also working with our communities to review how we manage and fund flood and river resilience so we can strengthen and have appropriate infrastructure into the future.' Mitchell's letter also asked councils to identify any additional regulatory powers they may need. Pauling said ECan was considering this as part of its response. However, Mayor Sam Broughton said no additional powers were necessary. 'The council currently has a strong framework of legal instruments to respond to a weather emergency, and we are not looking for any additional legislative levers to enhance our response.' A Christchurch City Council spokesperson said staff were working on a response to Mitchell's letter and could not comment further until it was complete.
Newsroom
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsroom
The injustice of a freshwater crisis
When the Prime Minister dodged Northland on Waitangi Day, he ended up getting an earful instead in the South Island. It came from Justin Tipa, the chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, in a speech at the Ōnuku Marae. 'Our rangitiritanga has been ignored for decades, and the state of freshwater in our takiwā (territory) has gotten worse and worse … and it's not good enough, and we're doing something about it.' That something has just come to a conclusion. A two-month-long High Court case against the Crown to get a declaration that the tribe has legal rights over freshwater in its territory – an attempt to get real engagement on designing a better way to manage lakes, rivers and waterways that are becoming increasingly polluted. Newsroom's South Island correspondent and environment editor, David Williams, covered the case extensively. 'What it comes down to is they're saying that, in a simple way, the waterways aren't in a good state,' he tells The Detail. 'And part of this problem is the fact that they haven't had a seat at the policy table, and that that would actually improve things.' Ngāi Tahu is asking for a series of declarations, seeking recognition of these rights, and direction that the Crown ought to, with Ngāi Tahu, create a better regime to protect freshwater. The tribe produced scientists who gave evidence of the issues, and you only have to have half an ear on the news to know what they are. The Shotover River being renamed by locals as the 'Shitover' after the Queenstown Lakes District Council pumped treated wastewater directly into it; boil water notices for Canterbury areas; statistics on our rivers and lakes that show about 60 percent are unswimmable, 74 percent of freshwater fish are threatened, and 95 percent of rivers flowing through pastoral land are contaminated. University of Otago research this year found 800,000 New Zealanders were drinking water with unsafe levels of nitrate contamination. The Government's own reports say waterways have deteriorated. When it comes to how our waterways are managed, it's a top-down situation. Governments issue national policy statements (there's one about freshwater management) and set environmental standards. Regional and local councils need to implement them, through their water plans. 'So people might be familiar with Te Mana o te Wai which was the idea that the water would come first, the health and wellbeing of the people would come second and commercial things would be third.' That was rolled back with the Resource Management Amendment Bill, which makes it clear that resource consent applicants no longer need to demonstrate their proposed activities follow the Te Mana o te Wai hierarchy of obligations. That's the kind of legislation Williams means when he talks about 'shifting sands' underneath this case. 'The Government certainly has proved that it's willing to change the law to pursue its policies,' he says. Other tribes around the country are watching for the result of this case. 'There is a thought that this could actually provoke claims in other parts of the country and provoke a bit of a headache for the Government,' says Williams. 'But some would say that's a good headache because actually if you're not protecting fresh water, something needs to be done differently, and maybe this is the way.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
