Tania McInnes
  • Home
  • About
  • Strengths
  • Blog
  • Contact

Opportunity to innovate

5/29/2019

2 Comments

 
Picture
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” So said organisational consultant Margaret J Wheatly. A great example of this is a not so-quiet stirring now occurring at Whangaroa. A number of locals are so concerned for the health of their harbour they have informally called for a land development rahui (a prohibition against a particular area or activity, typically temporary, placed in order to protect a resource). They want a halt on development until issues are investigated and measures taken to rectify problems they are witnessing in their harbour. These include sediment build up contributing to the loss of pipi beds, and white-sand beaches to picnic on all but disappearing in less than a generation. The issues they are concerned about have developed over many, many years and there is no single culprit or an easy solution. 

This is not the only harbour under serious threat. Kaipara Harbour currently has around 700,000 tonnes of sediment entering it every year!  It is one of the largest harbours in the world, and if nothing is done it could become the world’s largest mudflat – not something to encourage in any measure.  The local kaitiaki have plans to reduce this by 60 per cent and are making excellent progress getting commitments to make this happen.

We must remember that this is not just about the health of Whangaroa. This is an issue impacting harbours across our district and New Zealand. Our waterways are precious taonga and not a commodity, nor a dumping ground. So what can be done to address what some might see as an overwhelming task or even an impossibility? Firstly, something must be done, overwhelming or not. The journey must commence, before one of our most treasured harbours loses its natural resilience, declines further and runs the risk of becoming a lifeless body.

Whatever the solution may look like, it must be led by local people. They are the kaitiaki, it is their backyard, their taiao. Their aroha for their place will ensure decisions are made in the best interests of the ongoing wellbeing of the harbour, now and for future generations. And to be fair, it is future generations that will most benefit from sound decisions made today.
The key to success will be an innovative, collaborative approach. The community empowered to lead and the rest of us, especially government agencies, in behind to support and provide resources as required. It needs to be smart, it needs to be timely and it needs to be inclusive.  It will take courage and some very brave conversations that will require an open heart and a vision for what can be.

I believe it is possible. I am looking forward to the coming conversations that will see a collective mandated to lead. One I believe will set a framework for others to follow.
2 Comments
Jocelyn Yeoman link
5/30/2019 10:43:06 am

Thanks for your comments Tania - I couldn't agree more. In fact it's why the regional council is pouring a great deal of time, money and effort into working with communities around the region to improve water quality.

Sediment is a huge issue for Northland and not an easy one to solve. We have soils that are easily washed into waterways during heavy rainfall, of which there is plenty despite the dry spells over the past year.

There is a great deal happening in this space. The regional council is working with land owners to develop farm management plans and hill country erosion plans, with highly erodible land a priority for funding, which the regional council provides through its Environment Fund and was successful in receiving more from central government for this purpose.

Agriculture is the cornerstone of our communities - I believe that finding ways to improve land use, to reforest highly erodible land and retire it while ensuring future generations can continue to live, work and play in our region requires a balanced approach.

Interestingly, Kaipara Harbour is one that is receiving significant funding and attention with an integrated approach to solving the issues. Tangata whenua, local government and other stakeholders are working together through the Kaipara Harbour Integrated Catchment Management Group - check out their website: http://www.kaiparaharbour.net.nz/ The cost of this work is phenomenal - estimated at hundreds of millions - and that's just one harbour out of ten!

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management is currently being reviewed by the government and changes are likely to come through early next year. The regional council will be updating its regional plan (our rule book for managing natural resources) to incorporate these changes, which will be about both water quality and the amount available for use. This process will be underway around 2021 and its very important that people are involved!

In the meantime, if anyone is interested in what's happening in their area take a look at https://www.nrc.govt.nz/water and if you'd like to do more, contact the land management team on 0800 002 004.

I couldn't agree more with you Tania - It's up to us all to work together to shape Tai Tokerau for future generations, to protect what's precious and unique while providing a place where we can live on and from the land.

Jocelyn Yeoman - NRC Councillor (Coastal North)

Reply
Di Maxwell
5/30/2019 05:03:21 pm

I agree, it is just a pity that governments and local councils believe it is they who can dictate what happens in our local areas. When the power is really devolved back to the local people, then that is when I believe we will see real progress.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Tania McInnes.

    Archives

    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    May 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    August 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • About
  • Strengths
  • Blog
  • Contact