Tauranga iwi oppose sewage pipe
Maori tribal opposition to piping human waste under Tauranga Harbour has emerged as one of the main reasons why the city council wants to pipe sewerage over an existing bridge at Matapihi.
However Ngaiterangi kaumatua Hauata Palmer says the $106 million pipeline project will still need to be carefully considered.
“The other issue which is more important is the fact that it goes to the treatment ponds which are at Te Manga, and from there is the real issue, whether the outfall is in the harbour or whether it is out to sea,” Mr Palmer says.
A discharge into the harbour might affect the upper reaches.
COUNCIL SUPPORT DESERVED BY MARAE
A kaumatua for the Manukau City Council is hoping the introduction of separate Maori wards will increase the advocacy for Maori issues around the council table.
The Manukau City Council is considering introducing Maori wards for upcoming local body elections.
Haare Williams says dedicated Maori councilors would be able to advocate strongly on Maori issues without having to temper their views for a general electorate.
He says as well as representing their wards they'd contribute to the debates on issues such as waahi tapu and the future health and use of the harbour.
Mr Williams also believes Maori councilors could lay out the argument for council funding of Maori initiatives that contribute to the community... such as marae... especially when plans for marae redevelopments have to go through council.
“Marae now should be considered as an institution in our country. It’s not quite there yet. Alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Ballet, libraries and gymnasiums and sports stadiums and things like that,” Mr Williams says.
The Manukau City Council will discuss the issue of separate Maori wards at a meeting on September 25.
NGAPUHI SEEKING URBAN SUPPORT FOR CLAIM
Ngapuhi was held a hui in Auckland last night to gain support from iwi members living in the city for their treaty claim.
The hui was held in advance of a judicial conference later this month at which a decision will be made to assess if an early start should be made to the Ngapuhi claim.
“The main issue is there was a strategy initiated by the Crown of the time not long after the signing of the treaty to take Ngapuhi out, to deprive it of its economic and political power it had at the time, and essentially, that’s what the claim is about,” says tribal member Julian Wilcox.
NO COMPROMISE ON HARBOUR DISCHARGE
Tauranga Maori say council plans to pipe sewerage across an existing harbour bridge rather than under the harbour may not end their opposition to the project.
The council is seeking planning permission to use the Matapihi bridge at a cost of $106 million dollars after Maori objected to having human waste piped under the harbour.
However Ngai Te Rangi Kaumatua Hauata Palmer says the more important issue is where the sewage will end up.
“The discharge into the harbour itself might be a problem and it might start to affect the upper reaches of the harbour," Mr Palmer says.
It would be far more preferable to see the treated sewerage discharged out to sea.
OPTIMISM MAORI WARDS ON THE WAY
A kaumatua on the Manukau City Council is optimistic one of the country's largest local bodies will adopt separate Maori wards for upcoming elections.
Haare Williams says he detects a favourable disposition among the councillors to the idea of Maori wards after its Te Tiriti o Waitangi committee recommended the council support the introduction of separate Maori seats.
“The Manukau City Council has been so proactive in so many other things working with mana whenua and taura here that I see this as probably the best place to allow this to gestate and grow and that idea to be born, so I’m optimistic but we need more than optimism to turn it into a reality,” Mr Williams says.
If the wards are established the next step will be to mobilise the Maori voters.
The council will consider the matter of separate Maori wards at a meeting on September the 25th.
MANGROVES ENCROACHING INTO HARBOUR
Marae around the Manukau harbour are keeping a close eye on plans to clear mangroves behind Manurewa Marae on the Puhinui inlet after the Auckland Regional Council supported wider clearing than initially applied for.
Tunuiarangi McLean, from Manurewa Marae, says they wanted to clear the mangroves from Puhinui inlet on its back door and build a jetty... but after speaking with the Auckland Regional Council they've set their sights a bit further.
“Our original submission was just to cut a pathway through to the channel so that our young people could participate in the waka ama activities, the kayaking and all that. What the ARC supported us in was that they would support the removal of a large majority of the mangroves along the foreshore behind Manurewa marae,” Mr McLean says.
The mangroves have taken over Puhinui inlet and in some areas cover half of the whole channel, which concerns many marae around the harbour.
However Ngaiterangi kaumatua Hauata Palmer says the $106 million pipeline project will still need to be carefully considered.
“The other issue which is more important is the fact that it goes to the treatment ponds which are at Te Manga, and from there is the real issue, whether the outfall is in the harbour or whether it is out to sea,” Mr Palmer says.
A discharge into the harbour might affect the upper reaches.
COUNCIL SUPPORT DESERVED BY MARAE
A kaumatua for the Manukau City Council is hoping the introduction of separate Maori wards will increase the advocacy for Maori issues around the council table.
The Manukau City Council is considering introducing Maori wards for upcoming local body elections.
Haare Williams says dedicated Maori councilors would be able to advocate strongly on Maori issues without having to temper their views for a general electorate.
He says as well as representing their wards they'd contribute to the debates on issues such as waahi tapu and the future health and use of the harbour.
Mr Williams also believes Maori councilors could lay out the argument for council funding of Maori initiatives that contribute to the community... such as marae... especially when plans for marae redevelopments have to go through council.
“Marae now should be considered as an institution in our country. It’s not quite there yet. Alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Ballet, libraries and gymnasiums and sports stadiums and things like that,” Mr Williams says.
The Manukau City Council will discuss the issue of separate Maori wards at a meeting on September 25.
NGAPUHI SEEKING URBAN SUPPORT FOR CLAIM
Ngapuhi was held a hui in Auckland last night to gain support from iwi members living in the city for their treaty claim.
The hui was held in advance of a judicial conference later this month at which a decision will be made to assess if an early start should be made to the Ngapuhi claim.
“The main issue is there was a strategy initiated by the Crown of the time not long after the signing of the treaty to take Ngapuhi out, to deprive it of its economic and political power it had at the time, and essentially, that’s what the claim is about,” says tribal member Julian Wilcox.
NO COMPROMISE ON HARBOUR DISCHARGE
Tauranga Maori say council plans to pipe sewerage across an existing harbour bridge rather than under the harbour may not end their opposition to the project.
The council is seeking planning permission to use the Matapihi bridge at a cost of $106 million dollars after Maori objected to having human waste piped under the harbour.
However Ngai Te Rangi Kaumatua Hauata Palmer says the more important issue is where the sewage will end up.
“The discharge into the harbour itself might be a problem and it might start to affect the upper reaches of the harbour," Mr Palmer says.
It would be far more preferable to see the treated sewerage discharged out to sea.
OPTIMISM MAORI WARDS ON THE WAY
A kaumatua on the Manukau City Council is optimistic one of the country's largest local bodies will adopt separate Maori wards for upcoming elections.
Haare Williams says he detects a favourable disposition among the councillors to the idea of Maori wards after its Te Tiriti o Waitangi committee recommended the council support the introduction of separate Maori seats.
“The Manukau City Council has been so proactive in so many other things working with mana whenua and taura here that I see this as probably the best place to allow this to gestate and grow and that idea to be born, so I’m optimistic but we need more than optimism to turn it into a reality,” Mr Williams says.
If the wards are established the next step will be to mobilise the Maori voters.
The council will consider the matter of separate Maori wards at a meeting on September the 25th.
MANGROVES ENCROACHING INTO HARBOUR
Marae around the Manukau harbour are keeping a close eye on plans to clear mangroves behind Manurewa Marae on the Puhinui inlet after the Auckland Regional Council supported wider clearing than initially applied for.
Tunuiarangi McLean, from Manurewa Marae, says they wanted to clear the mangroves from Puhinui inlet on its back door and build a jetty... but after speaking with the Auckland Regional Council they've set their sights a bit further.
“Our original submission was just to cut a pathway through to the channel so that our young people could participate in the waka ama activities, the kayaking and all that. What the ARC supported us in was that they would support the removal of a large majority of the mangroves along the foreshore behind Manurewa marae,” Mr McLean says.
The mangroves have taken over Puhinui inlet and in some areas cover half of the whole channel, which concerns many marae around the harbour.
posted by Adam | 12:04 am
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