Clive Bibby
On Friday the 2nd February 2024, PM Christopher Luxon met with Iwi leaders at Kerikeri in the far North - presumably as an opportunity to have constructive dialogue about how they could work together in the future rather than just talking past each other, which is a recipe for declining relationships and confrontation.
During that conversation Luxon is reported to have said, “What would unlock prosperity here in the North? Well, it’s very good roads and it’s water storage.”
My initial reaction when l read those quoted comments was one of disbelief.
Given my years of presenting the same (word for word) message to those who currently decide what priority items should be included in our regional long-term planning, l found it difficult to accept what l was reading.
After years of responding to the local Council’s disingenuous invitation to ratepayers asking for submissions to the Long Term Plan, l had given up even hoping that somebody with the ability to make it happen might change the environment that allows this type of dialogue to bear fruit.
Thankfully, after investigating the possibility that this might be another false alarm,
I began to realise what this seemingly throw-away line might mean - not only for the people of North Auckland but more importantly, for those provinces facing an uncertain future due almost entirely to the effects of climate change.
Provinces likely to be threatened by this emerging phenomenon are almost exclusively the rural provinces on the east coasts of both islands.
The key to survival for those regions will be their ability to build an infrastructure capable of maintaining productivity levels during the seasonal pressures associated with climate change. Not surprisingly, scientists are warning that the easterly position of those provinces makes them very vulnerable to more frequent severe droughts and cyclones that cause severe flooding and destruction to high-value crops and the high-quality land that supports those crops.
Those of us who have experienced and survived these more regular catastrophic events and the impacts they have on business operations, have consistently volunteered our recommendations for living with the changing environments - ironically, ideas that include the PM’s recipe for North Auckland’s own restructuring.
Unfortunately, up until now, local government in these rural communities have been held to ransom by the elitist, radical groups who have an inflated opinion of their own self worth and entitlement. As a result, very little progress has been made towards building defences against the full impact of climate change.
Local Councils have known for some time what needs to be done in mitigation, yet few have had the courage to challenge these unruly elements for fear of losing their own jobs or being accused of being racist, pale, stale males or the female equivalent.
But, due to the PM’s timely olive branch, I am hopeful that those who are intent on confronting the Government at Waitangi on Tuesday will have another think before endangering this fledgling evidence of trust that is essential in order to avoid further stalemate in areas where the consequences of inaction would be catastrophic.