November 10, 2013
Kahungunu speaking for river
The chair of Ngati Kahungunu, says differences over investment in a proposed dam on the Ruataniwha river are a minor blip in the relationship between his iwi and Ngai Tahu.
Ngawhiwi Tomoana met with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu in Christchurch last week to discuss the South Island iwi’s commitment to the central Hawkes Bay water storage project.
He says they agreed environmental, cultural and economic factors should be weighed up before any final decisions are made.
Mr Tomoana says the iwi is now preparing for six weeks of consent hearings, where the iwi will be up against the Hawkes Bay Regional Council, the Government, Federated Farmers and local farmers.
"We just say that the river hasn't been given adequate attention and discussion and as kaitiaki over that we need to expand all our knowledge, our living knowledge, our ancient knowledge of the river itself because we are the personification of the river and if we don't perform these duties then we are derelict in our duties as kaitiaki iwi as well," he says.
Mr Tomoana says the proposed dam services the area where Ngai Tahu was living before it migrated to the South Island.
The hearings start next week.
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