Disputes over diseased drinking water, droughts, dams, bottling plants and bores will be put to one side in March as the region comes together for a major hui on water.
Yesterday Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chairman Rex Graham, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said they will jointly convene the hui on water issues relating to the Heretaunga Plains.
A joint statement said the symposium aimed to bring all perspectives and issues together as did previous summits on genetic engineering and oil exploration.
"It will be fully open to the public and will include experts from all perspectives," the statement said.
"The recent water crisis has put a sharp focus on all water issues including the delivery of safe drinking water, public concern about water bottling plants, the GNS report, the TANK process and long-term sustainability of the Heretaunga aquifer.
"Water is the lifeblood of the Heretaunga Plains and in many ways it has been taken for granted. As the most important natural resource it needs to be looked after. Its allocation, protection, mana and sustainability requires a big shift in priority.
"It is time for us to change the conversation from 'nobody wants water' to 'everybody owns the water'."
Mr Graham said while there would always be different views on water "we need to go forward as one unit and ensure that our community is properly represented and protected".
"The public are a little bit confused and very annoyed that their leaders aren't talking to each other, instead they appear to be just suing each other," he said.
The hui would also provide a flood of information on council research and the large body of work by the TANK group, on water storage, which represents all stakeholders in the region.
Mr Tomoana said there was a "clutter" of issues that needed to be sorted.
"Our position today with the two leaders is to work together to climb above it all - to be more collegial in our science and in our politic, to enhance the water bodies of Hawke's Bay and relate to the common interests of every resident," he said.
Mr Yule said they sought to "change the conversation to a very positive one".
Hawke's Bay could find a unique solution and, if needed, ask the government for legislative changes "because frankly the current allocation model of first-in-first-served is actually not going to be sustainable in the long term".
"Water is no different than any other resource - you need to look after it.
"We need to actually be aspirational here. We live in a wonderful part of the world with the best soils in the world and some of the best water you'll find in the world.
"We need to find a way, that the public understands, that is fair and equitable and enduring to manage these issues."
He said Napier City Council would be asked to participate in the hui but was not involved at the outset because most aquifer issues currently revolved around Hastings District.
"We have a water issue currently around drinking water, we also have the largest area of commercial extraction in the Hastings District around horticulture and we are also recognising iwi interests and long-term interest of water quality."
Mr Tomoana said over the last few years Ngati Kahugunu 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.
"We say a good environment - especially good water - is good economy."
While the hui will look at high-level solutions fallout from the campylobacter outbreak in August, that struck down 5200 people in Havelock North, continues.
The regional council's prosecution of Hastings District Council has been set down for January 16 and the two councils will form a joint drinking-water safety working group with Hawke's Bay District Health Board, chaired by former Napier MP Chris Tremain.