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RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Public have their say on controversial Hawke's Bay dam
Local resident Ngavii Pekapo speaks at the first public meeting to discuss the controversial Ruataniwha Dam. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Leaders of the controversial Ruataniwha Dam faced tough questions from fired up locals at their first public meeting about the project in Waipawa on Tuesday night. Dozens of people filled the Waipawa Town Hall for the first public meeting held by the Tukituki Water Security Project team. Irrigation NZ's Stephen McNally spelled out how dire the water security situation is in Hawke's Bay, and was followed by project chair Mike Petersen who urged the crowd not to confuse this dam with its controversial predecessor. "We're here to focus on the issues tonight and not the personalities. We want to look forward rather than revisit history and go back over old ground. "There was a lot of angst over the old Ruataniwha project and frankly I don't think it does the region any benefit at all if we keep revisiting history," he said. But when the floor opened for questions, angst was what he got. Local resident Ngavii Pekapo told him in no uncertain terms that their lack of tikanga and mana whenua involvement was disrespectful. "We do become offended when a meeting like this hasn't been addressed with a prayer - if it had been addressed with a prayer maybe we wouldn't have had this argument. "When you have a hui to do with this, to do with our people, to do with their lands - this is when you bring them in. When you stand up there and speak to Māori people you must address the whakapapa," he said. Another person agreed, questioning the organisers over their misjudgement. "Where's the karakia, where's the whakapapa, where's the kaupapa", they said. Johnny Nepe Apatu from Ngāti Marau felt the project leaders had failed to respect Māori, and could have made an effort with their pronunciation. "I'm a bit agitated that I kept hearing the name of the river being mentioned wrong.. and the other rivers have been bastardised as well. "And the little lies were happening, saying they'd been talking to mana whenua - well I've been on this kaupapa all my life," he said. Nepe Apatu feared the dam favoured money and the economy over its peoples' health. "We are the kaitiaki of this environment and we want to make sure our mokopuna and their mokopuna, and their mokopuna, get to have water to drink safely," he said. Other concerns were raised at the meeting too, such as the cultural significance of the dam site. Ngavii Pekepo, who has lived in Waipawa for 72 years, said a large maori community once lived on the Makaroro River and a dam should not be built at that location. "It won't happen, but good luck to you," he told the project leaders. Tukituki Water Security project chair Mike Peterson told RNZ he has consulted with mana whenua throughout the process. "We have been discussing all the issues raised tonight with mana whenua leadership - and look, we know that there are people within mana whenua who disagree with this project. And we understand we have to work our way through that. "It's not something that happens quickly, but we'll continue those discussions," he said. Project chair Mike Petersen speaks about the plan for the Ruataniwha Dam project. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Petersen said a key difference between the Ruataniwha Dam and the Tukituki Water Security Project is the hierarchy of water use downstream. The priority is to support minimum flows near Havelock North, use water to remediate local lakes, supply water to townships and enable higher value food production and processing. During question time, Petersen told the crowd he was sick of the misinformation being spread about the project. "It's actually bloody frustrating. We're genuinely trying to put one peg in the ground every day to try and understand if this is a viable project or not. "Why don't you give us the room to do that? We will do the work we need to do and then we'll come back and talk to you about whether it's viable or not," he said. The next step for fast track project is a feasibility study, which the government has funded to the tune of three million dollars. The Tukituki Water Security Project is gathering another three million from individuals and businesses. The study will take about 18 months and determine if the dam is a goer. "If it's not feasible we will not go ahead with this project - it's a go or no-go decision. "So would I walk away if enough people came up to me in this room and said 'Mike Peterson you're an asshole'? No of course I won't," said Petersen. Those in the meeting also worried about gravel build up in the Makaroro and the proximity of a large faultline, questioning the project leaders about where the data was showing these issues from the original dam plan had been overcome. But Petersen said that detail will be revealed during the feasibility study. Gren Christie from the dam protest group Wise Water Use wants the dam halted, and for them to first take a closer look at how water resources are allocated in Hawke's Bay, for example to the dairy industry. "We should look exactly at what we are doing with out water now and address that issue before we start taking on massive mega dams. "There are a lot of problems with those dams environmentally and the footprint it's going to take," he said. Throughout the hour of questions from the public, there were voices for and against the dam. Those in support of the project were hopeful for the economic growth it will bring in jobs and opportunities. One man took up the mic to tell the audience he was not impressed with his fellow residents who were fighting against the dam. "There are comments made here tonight which sicken me, because they are losing sight of the fact of what this thing will do for us. "It's going to cost a lot of money, it's going to cost a lot of hard work and it's going to cost a lot of effort. I congratulate you Mike for standing up here against all these people who are so bloody negative," he said. While another local urged people to imagine what the dam would look like once completed. "This could be the most stunning recreational area you can imagine, this could be the Lake Como of the Southern Hemisphere... it could be amazing," she said. The Tukituki Water Security Project said it continues to engage with central government about future funding past the feasibility phase, and it has fully planned and costed the Fast Track and DOC land exchange process. 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RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'There's been no transparency': Ruataniwha Dam protest outside meeting
Wise Water Use protestors. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook Opponents of the controversial Ruataniwha Dam in Central Hawke's Bay staged a surprise protest outside a Centralines meeting in Waipukurau discussing the use of trust beneficiaries' money for the fast-tracked dam project. The protest comes a month after Centralines trustee Tony Murphy resigned because the electricity distributor's board put $100,000 towards a re-scope of the fast-tracked and rebranded Ruataniwha Dam , now called the Tukituki Water Security Project. Hawke's Bay power distributor Centralines is one of many sources of funding for the Ruataniwha Dam. It is comprised of a board, which makes operational decisions, and a trust that represents the public stakeholders. Protest group Wise Water Use spokesperson Trevor Le Lievre told RNZ Centralines had now committed $300,000 towards the controversial project . "There's been no transparency around this money. We believe it's a case of cronyism, pure and simple. So we are here to send a message to the trust because the trust appoints the board and so have some sway over what the board does. "We're here to tell the trust to call the board in, hold them to account, rescind that decision on the $100,000 and act in the best interest of beneficiaries," said Le Lievre. However, Centralines board chair Fenton Wilson was confident there was no issue, and makes no apologies for supporting the dam. "I welcome the strong views - from the company point of view we deal with what's in front of us and there's an opportunity to invest in a project that has real growth potential if it comes off. "But we are not in this alone, businesses right across Hawke's Bay are investing - the government is investing. People have done their due diligence and it fits the growth potential with this business and this company," he said. Wise Water Use protestors peacefully talk to Centralines' Board Chair and Trustees Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook The Central Hawke's Bay Consumer Power trust chair Karen Middelburg told RNZ she has been listening to all of the community's voices on the issue, including the protestors concerns. "We've got a meeting now where we'll discuss what they've brought to the table and we'll certainly be passing that on to the board. "But our role is certainly not to tell the board how to make financial decisions for the company - our role is to appoint the board to do that on our behalf," she said. Wise Water Use is vowing to keep protesting against the dam project and member Murray Rosser said it should not be allowed to proceed under the government's fast track legislation. "It's such an outdated idea - it's going to ruin the river and wreck a whole lot of environmental precious taonga. "And it's going to put money in the hands of a few people and others won't get a dollar," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
