MAGIC VS LOGIC

What does ((((2 x 2) + 1) – 54) + (1.5 x 3)) x 2 equal?  My calculator tells me the answer is not a positive outcome.  But apparently that’s only in the logical world of whānau, hapū and iwi. 

In the magical world of local government, it seems that (((2 laws x 2 local bodies) + 1 resource consent application to discharge higher levels of nutrients into our waterways) - 54 opposing submittors) + (1.5 supporting submissions x 3 days of hearings)) x 2 independent commissioners = 1 resource consent granted and issued.

The background to this clash between logic and magic is that, for almost a decade, the Far North District Council operated in breach of its resource consent to discharge treated municipal wastewater from its treatment plant at Taipā into the waterways.  Put simply, it was putting more tiko into the water then it was allowed to under the consent that the Northland Regional Council originally gave it.

During that entire time, both FNDC and NRC effectively ignored the concerns of the hapū on whose stolen land the plant is built, and who depend heavily on the affected waterways which are now seriously degraded.  In doing so, the two Councils breached both the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act.

So, having breached the laws, they get punished, right?  Wrong.  Apparently, in the magical world occupied by these Councils, not only does their lawbreaking not get punished, it gets rewarded.  Now, that’s just not right.

Logically, hapū have always opposed the discharge of wastewater into the waterways.  They fought long and hard against the treatment plant being built on their whenua in the first place because they knew it was going to be bad news for them and the environment.  But, at the time, the Councils had their say and got their way.  Then, they left the hapū to deal with the tiko outcomes. 

One of the basic requirements of all humankind is drinkable water.  But, many factors of modern life, including globalization, population densities and pollution are leading towards a critical shortage and forcing all of us to think more meaningfully about water purification and reuse.

Over the past few years, the hapū and their partners have searched for and tested a range of treatment options with a view to finding one capable of effectively and affordably purifying wastewater enough to enable land application.

Those tests have showed that electrocoagulation is the most logical option.  The technology and test results have been shared with both Councils, along with clear evidence of the current technology’s failings.  Perhaps predictably, both Councils have rejected it all and, on 26^th August, a consent was issued.

An appeal seeking to overturn that consent has now been filed in the Environment Court.  Magic has its place, but not in tiko treatment.  If humanity is to survive, we must have drinkable water and logic must prevail over magic.