February 07, 2023
Call for inquiry into slash torrent
Tairawhiti hapu and communities are calling for an independent inquiry into land use around the East Coast and the actions of forestry companies in mitigating the effects of their activities.
Hera Ngata-Gibson from Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti says the petition delivered to Gisborne District Council also calls for iwi and hapu to be involved in setting new rules.
Heavy rains over the past month have again brought huge quantities of slash down waterways, increasing flood damage and covering beaches.
Ms Ngata-Gibson says the council prosecuted five companies after a similar dump of slash in 2018, and the community needs to show its support.
“As a result of the petition council has agreed to seek enforcement orders which will force companies to remove their slash off hillsides and they are are meeting with industry reps who’ve been working on their PR strategies to try and I guess tell a better story but the new prosecutions suggest that not enough has changed,” she says.
Hera Ngata-Gibson says there’s concern forest owners are pushing for a more narrowly-focused inquiry, but a public inquiry is needed.