June 18, 2019
Tūhoe warned Waikaremoana access must stay open
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says blocking tourism access to Lake Waikaremoana and the former Urewera national park was never part of the Tūhoe treaty settlement.
Mr Jones is in a stand off with Tūhoe's governing body Te Uru Taumatua over his plan to use Provincial Growth Fund money to seal part of the road from Wairoa to the lake.
He says it's not credible for Tūhoe leaders to claim environmental concerns over the type of seal to be used on the southern fringe of their rohe when they drive over the same seal to get to work in Rūātoki and Tāneatua.
The upgrade is needed for safety and the convenience of locals and visitors to the area.
"Tūhoe enjoyed the fruits of a very innovative and imaginative settlement but the deal is the access to Waikaremoana cannot be curbed on controlled. I understand Tūhoe's concerns that once you have more people visiting these jewels it ramps up the pressure in terms of waste management but there's a $75 million tourism infrastructure fund and to the best of my knowledge there has not been an application advanced for Waikaremoana by Tūhoe," Mr Jones says.
He will continue to work with Waikaremoana iwi Ngāti Ruapani and Wairoa District Council on the roading plan.
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