The draft includes radical changes that farmers say would threaten their economic viability, including wider margins from waterways and removing stock from hill country land steeper than 25 degrees.
The Council has proposed these rules to meet the Te Mana o te Wai principles for freshwater introduced by the previous Labour government in the revised National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020. Section 3.2 states:
“Every regional council must engage with communities and tangata whenua to determine how Te Mana o te Wai applies to water bodies and freshwater ecosystems in the region.” It goes on to say a council, “must give effect to Te Mana o te Wai”. [emphasis added]
The Ministry for the Environment says there are six principles to Te Mana o te Wai. These are:
- “Mana whakahaere: the power, authority, and obligations of tangata whenua to make decisions that maintain, protect, and sustain the health and well-being of, and their relationship with, freshwater
- “Kaitiakitanga: the obligations of tangata whenua to preserve, restore, enhance, and sustainably use freshwater for the benefit of present and future generations
- “Manaakitanga: the process by which tangata whenua show respect, generosity, and care for freshwater and for others
- “Governance: the responsibility of those with authority for making decisions about freshwater to do so in a way that prioritises the health and well-being of freshwater now and into the future
- “Stewardship: the obligations of all New Zealanders to manage freshwater in a way that ensures it sustains present and future generations
- “Care and respect: the responsibility of all New Zealanders to care for freshwater in providing for the health of the nation.”
These values are explained in a series on YouTube videos produced by The Ministry for the Environment. See videos HERE>>>
Māori leaders say the “mana or mauri (life force) or water was paramount above all else…and put the health of water above that of humans and the economy”.
The new NRC Chairman has made his views clear. Geoff Crawford (who has replaced Tui Shortland as Chairman) says Te Mana o te Wai principles should be removed from the coalition Government’s new plans for freshwater management.
What do you think? Are cultural values more important than the needs of humans and the economy? Should “spiritual values” have any role in the management of freshwater? Should the management of freshwater be a “partnership” between the Regional Council and iwi/hapu?
Consultation is continuing until the end of March.
