Making room for our rivers where possible and the multiple benefits associated with the potential unintended consequences of contemporary river management approaches was discussed.
“Despite the tragic cyclone, there is an opportunity to learn and work towards improving our planning, saving costs through wider considerations and recognising the value of mātauranga Māori and more natural solutions,” Smith said.
Ngaio and Shade ended the day verifying their findings and solutions to protect waterways.
“Our natural environment has been severely degraded, not just by natural disasters but poor management, polluted waterways, damaged mahinga kai, over-abstraction of water and much more,” Ngaio Tiuka said.
For the past 13 years, the Fish Hook Summit has been an opportunity for Ngāti Kahungunu to come together and share mātauranga and experiences from across the rohe, with kōrero from our tribal authorities from Wairoa to Wairarapa; providing updates on taiao projects, sharing experiences, ideas, aspirations and promoting plans and collaboration going forward.
The Ngāti Kahungunu freshwater objectives remain the same:
1. The revitalisation of the mauri of waterways.
2. Repatriation of our values, practices and customs – enabling access and use of waterways and resources.
3. Control water quality and quantity, providing safe and reliable drinking water.
4. Maintain, enhance and restore water quality.
5. Managed for aquatic ecosystem purposes; maintain water flow and quantity for ecosystem health.
6. Avoid adverse causes and effects of unsustainable land use.
7. Manage water and land use at the sub-catchment scale and provide and resource for effective hapū input.
