July 05, 2024
Local eyes needed to keep Wairoa dry
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The chief executive of Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa says it’s time for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council to leave decisions on the Wairoa River to those who live there.
Lewis Ratapu says last week’s flood caused when the bar was obstructed highlighted long-standing conflicts between Wairoa District Council and the regional council over how to manage the outflow of the river to the sea.
“If you’re from Wairoa, everyone drives up to the bar, everyone goes to the beach. Whether the fish is coming in or you’re just interested, it’s one of those daily ventures that most people go up there so we know what the bar looks like, we know when the river needs to be emptied so we are saying ‘look, just leave it to the locals to make the decision. It should be between iwi and local government and we will make thew decision when to open it,'” he says.
The post-settlement trust is playing its part in the clean-up, including using its recently-bought Mahia Beach Motel and Holiday Park to house displaced whanau and some of the Maori wardens from other areas who have some to help..