April 04, 2016
Chair of Ngati Kahungunu Ngahiwi Tomoana on Paakiwaha
Ngahiwi Tomoana says he is very pleased with a recent court decision that he says essentially the Hawkes Bay Regional Council wanted the ability to pollute the water and to degrade the water with economics overpowering the ecology.
The Environment Court has backed the contention of Ngati Kahungunu Inc that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council was trying to dilute water quality standards for the region’s aquifers.
It ordered the council to restore to an objective in the regional resource management plan that there should be no degradation of existing groundwater quality in the Heretaunga Plains and Ruataniwha Plains aquifer system.
Ngahiwi Tomoana says their people went to the court and used the in-house office people as they didn't have the resources to have their own lawyers.
He says this is the same council that have allowed overseas companies to come in and suck out all the water for bottling.
He says we have to stand up and oppose it not just for Maori but for all New Zealanders and we are pleased with the result. In this instance he says tikanga has overpowered the ture and that is an eye opener.
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