February 19, 2013
Māori landowners want faster lake clean-up
An experienced Māori land manager says a 20-year timeframe to clean up Lake Rotorua is too long.
After Rotorua MP Todd Mc Clay stepped in to broker a compromise, Bay of Plenty Regional Council struck a deal with Federated Farmers to spread reductions in the annual nitrogen load going into the lake over 20 years rather than 10 years.
Tom Walters, the Deputy Chair of Te Arawa Federation of Māori Authorities, says while the agreement avoids a costly Environment Court battle, there may not be enough in it to change behaviour.
“At the end of the day, we Māori are taking back alot of our land that has been in long term leases today. Without exception, that land is coming back and it’s absolutely a mess. It’s full of toxins and no wonder our lakes are so filthy. say Mr Walters.
Tom Walters says Māori farmers need to lead the way in using organic fertilisers rather than the toxic importers products that leech nitrogen into the waterways.
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