Bernadette McClutchie helped facilitate the hui at the clubrooms where about 10 people were visible on Zoom.
Another 25 participants joined the Zoom meeting.
Ms McClutchie asked the panel why they did not go to Tokomaru Bay first hand and meet kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) since the bypass was opened on Tuesday.
Hekia Parata said when planning they were not confident about when the road would be open and time getting to the akau (bay) was a factor as they only had four weeks for consultation.
The first speaker at the clubrooms talked about the lack of equity when it came to cleaning up beaches and waterways in and around Tokomaru Bay.
“We had our own people down on the beach cleaning up rubbish from the dump that had gone down Mangahauini River. We need equitable clean-up of beaches like what happens in Gisborne city.”
He spoke of how Tīkapa Beach resident Graeme Atkins and his whānau also had to organise their own clean-ups.
“Where is the accountability of forestry companies to clean up waterways? There are logs backed up in waterways just waiting to come down in the next heavy rains. How are we going to make them accountable to clean up waterways?
“I don’t think the taxpayer or Government should pick up the bill. It should be the forestry companies.”
Following the first speaker, some accessing Zoom by themselves wanted to speak but didn’t know how to fully utilise Zoom and were missed by the administrator running the meeting.
Community and Civil Defence lead for Tokomaru Bay, Lillian Te Hau-Ward, spoke about the trauma of dealing with seven extreme weather events over the last 18 months and the impact forestry slash and operations had had on her whānau and community.
“My partner and I live on Mata Road. It was cut off during Gabrielle but a contractor was able to fly in and clear the road. We have seen forestry functions on that road and the practices have not improved,” she said.
“Two years ago there was harvesting and we watched as slash was left by Puketītī, which ended up in the river.”
Tokomaru Bay was isolated for the last six weeks as roads north and south of the township were damaged, but Ms Te Hau-Ward said residents had seen forestry companies being able to use roads that people did not have access to.
She also spoke about managed retreat, saying if there had been more investment from Gisborne District Council and the Government they would not be in this situation.
“When we retreat, where do we retreat to? Do we become pine-living people?
“I believe in the right tree for the right place. Yes, forestry employs our people, but not at the expense of our wellbeing. Our waterways are dead. Historically we could swim in and drink from them. Now they are green and filled with crap that comes down every weather event.
“As a result, our kāpata kai (natural food cupboard) is affected. Our seafood that could cling to rocks can no longer because of the silt washed down waterways.”
Local fishermen had noticed there was something wrong with the ocean and had raised concerns to the Ministry for Primary Industries as well as Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, she said.
“We are the awa and the awa is us. The whenua is us. Those that buy these lands don’t give a damn about us and it’s ruining our lives.
“Our whole ecosystems have been destroyed by forestry due to mismanagement of forestry companies. The blame lies at the feet of Government, who allow the land to be sold to foreign investors.
“I am against forestry for what it has put our people through, what it is doing to our whenua, our waterways and kāpata kai.
“We can’t take more trauma at home — trauma of being isolated, being unheard, being overlooked by those who make decisions on our behalf.”
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was not benefiting tangata whenua of Aotearoa, she said.
Dan Russell, of Puketītī Station near Te Puia Springs, spoke about his environmental planting and said he planned to do more.
Mr Russell questioned the ETS. He said he could not claim carbon credits for his plantings and asked why the ETS was set up the way it was.
The panel said those issues had to be brought up with the ETS, not them.
Mr Russell replied: “I’m offering solutions and feeling like they are being talked down to.”
Ms Parata explained the difference between the inquiry and ETS, and said in the report there would be kōrero about the ETS as it had been brought up at all of the community hui.
Graeme Smith, of Tokomaru Bay, raised what he saw as the inaction of the district council in its monitoring of waterways.
“Who is the person responsible at the council to check the river flows to make sure the banks aren’t being eaten away?”
Ms Parata said she did not know but agreed that the council was responsible for monitoring waterways.
Eight people spoke at the hui which lasted 90 minutes.
The hui will contribute to a report that will make short-, medium- and long-term recommendations.
Written submissions are open until April 6 and anybody can submit through tinyurl.com/5n6wm45u
Lack of equitable resources to clean up beaches, emotional and physical damage caused by forestry slash and impacts of extreme weather events on the people of Tokomaru Bay were shared at a ministerial inquiry into land use community hui
