Council’s Waihi dam failure gives little hope for Ruataniwha

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council's failure to police the small-scale Waihi dam shows its massively unprepared to monitor and protect waterways at risk from the large-scale Ruataniwha Dam project, the Green Party said today.

Leaked documents show Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) knew for almost three years that the Waihi dam was pouring silt into Wairoa’s waterways and drinking water, yet the Council failed to stop the pollution or issue any penalties on the dam owners.

“HBRC are clearly struggling with even their simplest duties to protect the water quality in Hawke's Bay,” said Green Party water spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.

“If HBRC can't police a tiny dam like Waihi, what hope can people in Hawke's Bay have that the Council would monitor and enforce large-scale environmental risks associated with the Ruataniwha dam.

“The Ruataniwha dam would put significant pressure on freshwater species and water quality in the Tukituki River, which is already struggling with pollution.

“Managing large-scale, environmentally risky projects like the Ruataniwha dam is highly challenging, and it’s clear based on the Waihi dam experience the Council does’t have either the resources or capability to do this.

“The Council's failure to properly monitor and enforce the Waihi dam resource consent has hurt farmers and tangata whenua who depend upon the health of Wairoa’s waterways, and costs ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in clean-up costs,” said Ms Delahunty.

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest

The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and repla...
Read More

Story

You *wood* not believe it: Greens secure win for urban trees

The Green Party’s advocacy has secured an amendment to the Natural and Built Environment Bill at a crucial stage of the Parliamentary process to en...
Read More

Story

Forestry sector must compensate for slash damage

The Green Party welcomes today’s release of the report of the Ministerial Inquiry into slash and sediment, and are clear that the forestry industry...
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition to protect conservation lands from mining by Mineralogy International Limited

The Green Party has today launched a petition calling for conservation land to be protected from mining by big overseas companies such as Mineralog...
Read More

Story

National's drought of ideas won't help farmers facing climate change

Christopher Luxon and the National Party have once again presented another lazy, back-of-the-napkin policy to Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More

Latest Water Announcements

Story

Greenpeace nitrates research proves need for strong freshwater regulation

The Green Party is welcoming the release of an interactive map which enables people to monitor nitrate levels in their drinking water.
Read More

Story

Three waters rebrand insufficient

Today the Government adopted a long held Green Party position to increase the number of water entities to ensure a closer connection with communiti...
Read More

Story

Freshwater crisis needs stronger government action

New Zealand’s rivers, lakes and freshwater are in crisis and there needs to be a more ambitious Government plan to clean them up and protect agains...
Read More

Story

Changes needed to three waters plans

Greater local oversight and control, seven instead of four entities, stormwater staying with councils, and stronger safeguards against privatisatio...
Read More

Story

National reckless on rivers

The opposition’s dangerous plan to scrap rules to improve the health of rivers and lakes around Aotearoa highlights the importance of having a stro...
Read More

Clean Water

From the maunga to moana, water is a taonga which must be protected, but too many rivers, lakes, and wetlands have been polluted over the years, an...
Read More