April 12, 2023
Rāhui for Whangamarino swamp
Waikato Tainui has declared the Whangamarino swamp off limits for a month.
Executive chair Tukoroirangi Morgan says the rāhui was imposed because of a devastating botulism outbreak.
Monitors have spotted hundreds of dead birds in the 7000 hectare wetland east of Meremere.
The iwi has asked the Conservation Department and Ministers to support the ban.
“Whangamarino is the largest wetland in this country. It should be protected. Its health and well being should be promoted and every effort should be undertaken in order to ensure its recovery. Up until then it is both foolish and inappropriate for anyone to be shooting ducks and taking them home to eat because it is totally unsafe,” Mr Morgan says.
He says people who use the wetland also need to be warned botulism can be fatal.