Its director, Duncan Abernethy, said the decision reduces the farm’s capacity to produce food.
“We are disappointed with the court’s decision. However, we accept the ruling and will move forward accordingly.
“We have no other allocation and we think this decision could affect future resource consent applications reviewed by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.”
A spokesperson for the council (HBRC) said it recognised the importance of protecting freshwater resources and the need to consider and manage the cumulative effects of groundwater abstraction.
The take per year would have been the equivalent of 1554 Olympic swimming pools, though almost a third of it would have been allocated for release to streams and rivers.
The largest already consented take in the Ruataniwha Basin is for 4,310,000 cubic metres a year.
Forest & Bird joined forces with Te Taiwhenua o Tamatea, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Fish & Game to oppose the application.
Ngāti Kahungunu’s director of environment and natural resources Ngaio Tiuka said the outcome was great.
“The catchment is already over-allocated. Whanau provided evidence of degraded mahinga kai, dying eels and declining water quality.
“Groundwater quality for the Ruataniwha is among the worst in the rohe.”
He said the court agreed mana whenua were best placed to describe the impacts on the environment and taonga.
A spokesperson for Forest & Bird said the result meant the waterways were protected from further over-abstraction.
“It’s always nice to have a win for nature, but in these times, with legislative reform favouring development and curtailing local community input, it’s even more uplifting.”
Corina Jordan, chief executive of Fish & Game New Zealand, said it was a sensible outcome for a catchment already under pressure.
“As a statutory body with responsibilities for protecting the habitats of sports fish and game birds, we have an obligation to ensure freshwater ecosystems are managed sustainably,” Jordan said.
“We acknowledge water is essential for farmers and rural communities. Access to reliable water underpins their livelihoods and the wider Hawke’s Bay economy.
“That’s why it’s important decisions about new water takes are grounded in strong evidence, transparent assessment and a full understanding of the cumulative effects.
“With parts of Hawke’s Bay already under water restrictions, careful and integrated management was important.”
She said in this case, the court found the applicants had not demonstrated the proposal could avoid additional negative effects on waterways or habitats.
The HBRC spokesperson said the applicants wanted to use the water for irrigation and augmentation of the stream, wetland restoration and cultural and ecological enhancement conditions.
“Groundwater was to be pumped to augment the river flows when they were low.”
But the court found insufficient evidence that it would avoid significant adverse effects or align with key objectives in the Regional Resource Management Plan and the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
Both applications were for a water permit and a consent duration for 20 years commencing on October 1, 2026, and expiring on September 30, 2046.
Te Awahōhonu Forest Trust, which owns and operates the 1365ha Gwavas Station north of Tikokino, declined to comment.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
