May 16, 2023
Ngati Porou ready for slash clean up
East Coast iwi Ngāti Porou is calling on the Government to commit to all the recommendations in the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa.
Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou chair Selwyn Parata says they can no longer tolerate unsustainable practices that degrade the land and continuously place people, waterways, and coastal environments at risk.
He says Ngati Porou and Te Aitanga a Mahaki have already mapped and costed debris removal and clean-up initiatives for the most vulnerable waterways and at-risk lands.
The appointment of a woody debris taskforce as recommended will provide additional expertise, bandwidth and resources.
The iwi also looks forward to partnering with government, landowners, industry leaders and communities to implement productive and sustainable land uses.
Forestry Minister Peeni Henare says there’s $10 million in this week’s Budget to clean up slash and debris in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay.
The aim is to remove up to 70,000 tonnes of woody debris from river and catchment systems, using local contractors to assist with debris removal, chipping and haulage.