Hawke's Bay rallies to fight water conservation order

Bostock NZ owner John Bostock spoke out against the Water Conservation Order at a meeting in Twyford Hall last night. Photo Duncan Brown

"Hawke's Bay for Hawke's Bay" was the message delivered at last night's meeting, held to take a stand against the proposed water conservation order.

The WCO, requested to Environment Minister Nick Smith, has come under fire after local farmers, business owners, authorities and environmental groups believe it will be "detrimental" to the Bay's economy.

If the WCO comes into affect restrictions or prohibitions will be put in place on how water from the Ngaruroro and Clive River can be used, which could result in a vast number of jobs being lost.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham said under this plan there would be an average of 27 irrigation bans and in a dry there could be up to 90 irrigation ban days.

"Under Hawke's Bay Regional Council there have been 10 irrigation ban days in the last few years and I would like to tell these applicants we have a lot of dry years and there will be no crops planted if that was to happen and fruit trees would die."

Mr Graham said this wasn't just about the growers and farmers but was about everyone in Heretaunga and also Napier.

"We need to get everyone understanding that if the WCO goes ahead as it is written there will be dire consequences."

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council with local growers, farmers, business owners, authorities and environmental groups have already established TANK, which makes recommendations to the Regional Planning Committee on the future use of land and water resources in the Tutaekuri, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamu catchments.

"TANK is a collaborative process that is working well and has taken into account all of the values including environmental, social, cultural and economic factors the communities hold."

"This water conservation order would cut across the huge progress we have recently made and might mean it could die as we don't have the money to fight this as well as TANK."

Bruce McKay, representing Heinz Watties, said the 1600 people who rely on Watties were at risk of loosing their jobs if this order went ahead.

"If there is no water then no one will plant crops and the likes of Watties and McCains will have no produce and would have to close down."

Bruce Beaton, representing Turners and Growers said investors would turn away from Hawke's Bay and New Zealand and the thousands of seasonal workers wouldn't be able to come anymore.

"These people spend a lot of money in Hawke's Bay and the impact of them no longer coming would be huge and the effects would go right through the community."

John Bostock, owner of Bostock New Zealand, and Twyford Irrigators Group chairman Jerf van Beek called on the community to get behind them and rally against the potential WCO.

Mr Bostock said TANK needs to continue and they can't let Hawke's Bay be pushed around by these outside organisations.

"We will make our own decisions, Hawke's Bay is for Hawke's Bay, and we need our voices to be heard. Let's get our tractors and make some noise as we can't let this WCO shut down Hawke's Bay."