A hui to discuss water issues in the region will now be held sometime at the end of April or early May, with drinking water identified as a priority topic.
Initially planned for March, the symposium was announced last December by Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, who would jointly convene the event.
Mr Yule said yesterdaythat the exact date was unclear as yet, with delays caused while finding a venue. He said that a lot of work had been under way setting the themes for the hui which, due to its extensive nature, may end up being held during two days.
"It will combine many issues. We want to give the public a broad understanding of the science around both surface and groundwater, but we have clearly elevated drinking water as a priority."
As well as considering the findings of the Government Inquiry into the Havelock North water contamination outbreak, which were due to be released by the inquiry panel on March 31, the hui would also cover other water issues such as public concern about water bottling plants, the GNS report, and the TANK process regarding the Heretaunga aquifer.
In announcing the hui in December, Mr Tomoana said during the past few years Ngati Kahungunu was forced to go to the Environment Court, the Waitangi Tribunal, the Environment Court and the Ruataniwha Dam board of inquiry over water "and it is a huge waste of resources".
"So we say we should work together with councils and get a more forensic view of the quantity and quality of water to enable a fairer regime of water allocation and distribution."
Irrigation issues in the Ruataniwha area, such as the effect on householders' water supply from bores in the Ongaonga area, would also be discussed at the hui, as would any matters affecting Napier and Wairoa, Mr Yule said.
In terms of the Heretaunga Plains, an application for a water conservation order on the Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers, which was referred to a special tribunal by the Minister for the Environment last month, would also be included.
The application was made by Fish and Game, Ngati Hori ki Kohupatiki, Forest and Bird, Whitewater New Zealand and Jet Boating New Zealand.
The tribunal will be headed by resource management lawyer Richard Fowler, and include former Waitangi Tribunal member Dr Roger Maaka, environmental scientist Dr Ngaire Phillips, lawyer Alec Neil and apple grower John McCliskie.
Mr Yule said this could have fundamental implications for the Heretaunga Plains.
Also in the mix would be the government's recent proposals for improving the swimmability of the country's rivers and lakes, which the Hawke's Bay Regional Council would give a perspective on.
"It's a blank sheet of paper, but we have transferred the conversation from 'nobody owns the water' to 'everybody owns the water'," Mr Yule said.
"We will be trying to share the broad information we have and structure the discussion to produce some outcomes for the way forward."