While past discussions were around how the community felt about the river and defining the projects that could develop, the upcoming meeting was more about building on those projects and “starting to get them happening”, said Dr Chrisp.
“It's about ensuring that our communities are leading with the decisions about what happens.”
Among the presentations will be one from Let the River Speak, a research group from Auckland.
The team is working on a three-year initiative to find new ways to give rivers a “voice” and to revitalise them as living communities of landscapes, plants, animals and people. Their presentation will be via a Zoom call due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“I will be presenting more about the intent of the project and the approach that we as a team bring. Our dream is to have the river back to the state of ora — of life — again,” said University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Dan Hikuroa.
As the co-leader for the research team, he said the intent was not to turn up with predetermined solutions but to create a mechanism by which all the voices of the river could be heard.
“Our approach this time around is most probably reflective of the way the rivers were managed and the way some people viewed the rivers in relation to human impacts only,” he said.
While science was fundamental to revitalise the awa, it was the not only voice that needed to be considered.
“There are people who relate to the river, people who say that the river is their ancestor, people who want to paddle in the river. So these are the other voices that weren't really being heard all that well,” he said.
Other key issues that would be discussed were sedimentation and discharge of sewage in the context of the heavy rain and surface flooding earlier this month.
Other presenters include Ian Ruru, a Crown-appointed member of Taumata Arowai — New Zealand's new water services regulator. He will discuss how the Mauri Compass, a digital tool used to assess and restore the mauri of any river, lake or ocean, can be used on the Waimata project. He will also speak about the importance of protecting te mana o te wai/mana of the water.
A presentation from Waimata Catchment Project manager Laura Watson will be an update on developments in the upper catchment, including restoration work uch as planting and fencing off waterways, undertaken by the farmers over inter.
Dr Chrisp said the Waimatā Catchment Group were working with other groups including the Gisborne District Council.
She said the community hui would also involve the signing of a partnership agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, between the Waimata Catchment Group and the GDC.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the council was looking forward to working with the catchment group to achieve their shared goals.
“We are excited to have worked together on a MoU to look after the Waimata catchment better,” she said.
Dr Chrisp said it was “critical that we work together”.
■ The community hui is at Gisborne's War Memorial Theatre from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on November 30. Those interested are requested to contact Dr Jill Chrisp at drjillchrisp@xtra.co.nz for catering and Covid-19 safety reasons.
