A trustee for a massive Northland water storage project says it will be a game changer for the region’s economy.
The Matawii reservoir near Ngawha is set to open in a few weeks.
Dover Samuels says as well as being a back-up in times of drought, it will supply the fast-growing Ngawha business innovation park and enable a big increase in horticulture in the Kaikohe area.
“You’ve gotta have water, and then you can start talking about wanting horticulture, and mahinga kai, and growing fruit and veggies out of season…but it’s going to be a really transitional game changer,” he says.
Mr Samuels says the trust is building an even bigger water storage facility in the Kaipara district – which will serve a similar purpose.
