Iwi optimistic Government acceptance of Three Waters recommendations put taonga on the right track
Friday, 29 April 2022
Iwi leaders say the degradation of the environment and water quality, under the watch of many local councils, shows it's time to change how water is managed.
As the Government confirmed its Three Waters project plans, which will see the responsibility of managing water infrastructure transfer to four new entities, iwi including Ngāti Toa, Ngāi Tahu and Tainui voiced their support for the change.
Under the new system, set to start in 2024, councils across the country will be expected to work with mana whenua and councils in their regions to appoint members to four new water management boards.
At the annoucement, Ngāti Toa chief executive Helmut Modlik reflected on his iwi’s past 200 years in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) and the changes the moana (sea) and wai (water) in the area had gone through in his lifetime.
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“It’s been changed from a food basket to a pond where, while still beautiful on a sunny day as it is today, there’s no more eating, there sure as heck better not be any swimming in it or you’ll regret it – and that is a travesty.”
Modlik said the kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the water was paramount, and Friday’s announcement was a step in the right direction for Aotearoa today and its future generations.
“We’re only temporary stewards for a brief time and I would like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of Ngāti Toa to the leadership of whom we have heard from this morning, who under their stewardship have taken the courageous decision to act on behalf of all of our land, and all of our people, to do something concrete to improve it for the generations to come, so ngā mihi anō ki a kōrua ngā rangatira o te kāwanatanga nei.”
Instead of individual councils operating their own water systems, the Three Waters project will bring the infrastructure under the control of four regional bodies.
Those four water management organisations will have oversight from a representation group in each region, drawing from mana whenua and local councils, with a mana whenua and local council co-chairs. They’re also expected to include a range of members, from urban, rural and provincial centres.
These groups won’t be responsible for the day-to-day operation of water infrastructure but they will appoint board members to the water management bodies, ensuring the board understands the needs of the different communities across the region.
Local councils will also maintain ownership of the water infrastructure, gaining one share of the region-wide organisation per 50,000 people in their district.
Modlik said ownership of the infrastructure was of no concern to Ngāti Toa, rather the focus in improving the integrity of water quality and the health of the community was of the highest importance.
“All around the motu, who have had the wisdom to get in behind this initiative to create and provide for our moko, and our mokos’ moko [grandchildren and our grandchildren’s grandchildren], a regenerative place to live in where they will once again be able to eat and swim and drink and enjoy this beautiful place that is our birthright.”
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai welcomed the Governments' acceptance of the independent working group’s recommendations, but acknowledged the implementation would be challenging.
“We are pleased that community representation and environmental protections will be strengthened. The ministers have agreed that regional subcommittees will feed into the water service entities’ regional representative oversight groups, ensuring local councils and iwi/hapū have their voices heard on the matters that most affect them.”
The balance between fiscally sustainable investment and maintenance of the reform alongside accountability and representation of mana whenua and councils will be difficult to strike, Tumahai said, but there was no time to waste.
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“The new water services entities will have Te Mana o Te Wai at the centre of their governance, ensuring the health of local waterways is not compromised.
“This is a challenging programme for government. Since the working group report was presented, reports on the state of infrastructure and investment and the Ministry of Health’s drinking water standards monitoring have shown why the reform is so urgently needed, for environmental protection, financial sustainability, and human health.”
Waikato-Tainui’s Te Whakakitenga chairperson Parekawhia McLean said co-governance was not new to the iwi, which has been working on a similar basis with local councils for the health and mauri (life force) of the Waikato Awa through the Waikato River Authority.
McLean was optimistic Friday’s announcement would lead the nation in the same direction towards protecting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of the water resources across the motu.
“Te Mana o te Wai/Awa as a core principle for the new water service entities is significant, including the delivery mechanisms around water services.
“This was the basis of our whole settlement and the Watercare case is a clear example of why change is important. The easy solution for council and Watercare was to keep reverting to increase water take from our awa tupuna and supply water to Auckland.
“They need to look to alternative solutions to ensure they behave in a more sustainable way and not at the detriment to the health and wellbeing of our waterways. By putting the water first, this aligns really well to the objectives of our River Settlement and Te Mana o te Awa and Te Ture Whaimana.”