APPEAL UNDERPINS SOVEREIGNTY

Te Mana o Te Wai Hapū Integration Roopu are a collective of sovereign hapū within Ngāti Kahu who are most affected by the unsustainable overflow of high nutrient discharge levels coming from the Taipā Wastewater Plant which is owned and operated by the Far North District Council. 

In 2009, FNDC applied to the Northland Regional Council for a renewal of its discharge consents, which it was already in breach of. 

The hapū response was swift, loud and clear – the treatment regime is not sufficiently cleaning the wastewater of nutrients (especially phosphates), so find better treatment options and stop discharging into our waterways.  

After an initial period of cooperation, hapū kōrero and engagement with the FNDC ceased for several years due to differences of opinion about the selection process of treatment options.  So, the hapū and their supporters got on with finding and testing the options themselves.

Having found a cheaper and more effective alternative in electrocoagulation (EC), the hapū worked over the past three years with individuals and roopu from the community of Maheatai/Taipā, as well as Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, to help FNDC implement that alternative into the TWWP.  But all they met with was resistance.

Finally, In June this year, after a decade of delays, independent environment commissioners held a hearing into the FNDC’s application to renew its consents.  To the dismay of the hapū, in spite of the evidence, the consents were granted to the FNDC by the Northland Regional Council. 

There are no conditions in the consents granted that provide any opportunities to explore the EC option that the hapū and their supporters have already investigated and tested.  Instead, the consents indicate that they will have to restart exploring the options’ process altogether.  It seems to be a case of ‘business as usual.’

Te Mana o Te Wai Hapū Integration Group, Far North Envirolab Ltd, Clean Waters to the Sea Tokarau Moana Charitable Trust, Te Pokapu Tiaki Taiao O Te Tai Tokerau Trust (Far North Environment Centre) and Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu are now appealing through the courts to have the three interim resource consents quashed until immediate action is taken to stop the unsustainable levels of nutrients from contaminating their waterways. 

In the lead up to the recently concluded local body elections, the current Mayor-elect and at least three of the Councilors-elect attended information hui on the EC system and showed interest in it.  Now, they need to obtain genuine understanding of the science behind it. 

If the latest iteration of FNDC continues to be obstructive, there are viable alternatives for the hapū and their supporters.  To that end, the FNDC also need to comprehend the role and standing of the hapū whose sovereignty is underpinned by both the appeal and the alternatives.