Protect the Mokihinui River
Our native freshwater fish are threatened by over fishing and habitat destruction from pollution, obstruction and development. Hydro dams cause enormous damage to the habitat of our native fish, most of which migrate up and down rivers as part of their breeding cycle. The Mokihinui River has been identified as one of New Zealand's most valuable wild rivers. That is why we want to stop Meridian Energy from building an 85m dam on the Mokihinui River in Buller.
What's at stake
The Mokihinui River is NZ's seventh most significant river for its biodiversity values. It is home to 12 species of native fish including the chronically endangered Longfin eel. Hundreds of thousands of longfin live in this river and they will be disastrously affected by the planned construction of a 85m high dam and the drowning of 330 hec of native podacarp rain forest. The dam will prevent the eels and other native fish migrating to sea to breed and the elvers returning to the upper reaches of the river where they live and mature.
Take Action
Now that submissions have closed on Meridian's proposal the best action is to contact the Minister of Conservation and ask that she:
- Decline's any request by Meridian Energy for a concession to remove old growth forest and flood the gorge.
- Decline the application to run the transmission line across conservation land and especially through the Ngakawau Ecological Area and the Recommended Areas for Protection on the Stockton Plateau.
You can email the minister at schadwick@ministers.govt.nz but it is much more effective to write to her. Requests to Minister's that are in a unique or different form, or something that has taken significant time or effort to compile tend to recieve more attention. It is free post so just address a letter to:
Minister of Conservation
Hon Steve Chadwick
Parliament Buildings
Wellington.
Additionally dropping by your local MPs office to tell them about your feelings on the proposal will carry more weight than a letter.
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