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Waikato Regional Council has taken the next step in the plan to clean up the Waikato and Waipa Rivers over the next 80 years.
It has agreed to publicly notify changes to the Regional Plan to reflect Te Ture Whaimana, the vision and strategy for the Waikato river ity has developed in collaboration the five iwi who share mana over the river.
Councillors were split 7-7 and the measure was passed on the casting vote of the chair, Paula Southgate.
Kataraina Hodge, the chair of the River Iwi Governors group, Kataraina Hodge, says the Wai Ora: He Rautaki Whakapaipai sets out a series of 10-year objectives and is flexible enough to last the distance.
"What we have done is put a platform in place so the future, whether it's our mokomokopuna or the grandchildren of the Wakato Regional Council councillors, they have a concrete path in place for them to walk and work towards," she says.
Mrs Hodge says over time the changes to the Regional Plan will help to reduce sediment, pathogens and nutrients entering water bodies and groundwater in the Waikato and Waipa River catchments.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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