Lakes News:
National News
Mighty River Power share price set
The Crown has advised that the Final Price for the Initial Public Offering of Ordinary Shares in Mighty River Power has been set at $2.50 per share.
Mighty River Power Chair, Joan Withers, said the determination of the Final Price was at the sole discretion of the Crown as outlined in the Offer Document.
Following the completion of the bookbuild process, Mrs Withers said the Company has been advised and the Final Price had been announced publicly by the Shareholding Ministers.
The Mighty River Power Share Offer is made pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in a combined Investment Statement and Prospectus dated 5 April 2013, as amended on 22 April 2013.
Trading of the shares (under the stockcode ‘MRP’) is expected to begin at 12.30pm (NZST) on Friday, 10 May, on the NZX Main Board on a conditional settlement basis. Trading of the shares on the ASX2 (under the stockcode ‘MYT’) on a conditional and deferred settlement basis is expected to begin at 12 noon AEST (2.00pm NZST) on Friday, 10 May 2013.3
Shares in Mighty River Power have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
KEY DATES:
10 May 2013
Allocations expected to be available
Expected commencement of trading on NZX Main Board (conditional settlement basis) and ASX (conditional and deferred settlement basis)
14 May 2013
Allotment date. Expected despatch of holding statements and last day of conditional trading
15 May 2013
Shares expected to begin trading on a normal basis on the NZX Main Board and the ASX
Coalition committed to stopping asset sales
The Keep Our Assets coalition will continue to collect petition signatures to force a referendum on asset sales.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives’ initial count, released today, shows that a remaining 16,500 valid signatures are required to trigger a referendum.
"The Keep Our Assets coalition is committed to finishing the job and forcing a referendum to stop the Government’s unpopular asset sales programme," said Keep Our Assets coalition spokesperson Roy Reid.
"We have two months to collect the remaining signatures. History shows that most petitions require a second go to get across the line.
"Three out of the four previous citizens initiated referenda have had to go back to get more signatures after the initial count.
"Of those petitions that required more signatures, two of them needed more than ours, so we are happy there it is only a small number of signatures left to go and that on the second go the referendum will happen.
"The asset sales are still unpopular and economically foolish. The collapse of Solid Energy’s value and the Government’s willingness to push ahead with the sale of Mighty River Power regardless of market conditions shows the Government isn’t listening.
"The Government needs to pause the asset sales programme and allow the referendum process to conclude," said Roy Reid.
Fuel prices reach lowest levels in 9 months
Petrol prices fell 12 cents during April and could drop below $2 a litre according to the Automobile Association.
The price of 91 octane petrol fell to $2.05 per litre in the main centres, while diesel fell 10 cents per litre to $1.42 a litre at most service stations, the lowest price since July 2012.
"Since mid-March, petrol prices have fallen 16 cents per litre, and diesel 13 cents. In all, fuel prices have fallen on seven consecutive occasions, the most number of sustained drops since June 2012," says AA PetrolWatch spokesperson Mark Stockdale.
"However, the AA’s monitoring of commodity prices shows that since the last retail price increase in mid-February, the imported cost of petrol has fallen nearly 19 cents per litre, and diesel 16 cents. That means fuel companies have not passed all of the lower costs onto motorists, although some service stations have discounted prices below $2 a litre."
This time last year we were paying $2.20 a litre for 91 petrol and $1.57 a litre for diesel, meaning motorists buying 40 litres of petrol today will be saving about $6 a time, or about $158 a year for a typical 2-litre car.
"International fuel prices have been consistently falling due to lower global demand, and increased supply as refinery production comes back after shutting down for maintenance," Mr Stockdale said.
"Although in the last few days oil prices have risen slightly, at current trends there is a good chance the price of 91 octane petrol will fall below $2 a litre soon, the first time since June and July last year," Mr Stockdale added.
Submissions on Green Bill heard
There was a very strong voice yesterday from local tangata whenua saying that they want their river protected not polluted said Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty.
The Local Government and Environment Select Committee today heard submissions on Green MP Catherine Delahunty’s Bill which would amend the RMA to protect rivers from pollution via the current "exceptional circumstances" loophole.
"Hearing people talk about the real cost of the pollution of their river strengthened my resolve to see this bill become law," said Ms Delahunty.
"People don’t accept that the companies cannot innovate to clean up their act.
"Solutions can be found. We need to put a line in the sand to make sure they are.
"The pulp and paper mills at Kawerau (Carter Holt Harvey and Norske Skogg) contradicted themselves, claiming to have cleaned up their act yet wanting to retain the right to pollute.
"As many of the submitters pointed out, the Tarawera River downstream of the pulp and paper mills is still one of the most polluted rivers in the country.
"While there has been some progress, the river is contaminated and discoloured - we need to do more.
"My bill still allows the mills 22 years of an existing resource consent to find a solution but they still want more.
"We heard how locals can’t eat the food, can’t take their children swimming and can’t serve the kai moana from the river mouth to their guests.
"Some of the submitters brought their children who spoke about wanting their river to be as clean upstream as downstream," said Ms Delahunty.
Fisherman hooked on home detention
A Tauranga based commercial fisherman and skipper has been convicted for misreporting over 15 tonnes of
Gary Robert Mitchell appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday and was found guilty of five charges under section 231 of the Fisheries Act for knowingly making a false statement in a fishing return for the purpose of obtaining a benefit under the Act.
The offending relates to five fishing trips undertaken by Mr Mitchell in the Bay of Plenty between 20 August and 30 September 2012, where he carried out what is known in the fishing industry as "trucking". Trucking is the catching of fish in one Quota Management Area (QMA) and falsely reporting it as having been caught in another QMA for financial benefit. In just over five weeks of commercial long lining, Mr Mitchell misreported over 15 tonne of Ling.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) District Compliance Manager for Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Brendon Mikkelsen says, "MPI is happy with the court’s decision as it sends the message that offending of this nature will not be tolerated."
"A total disregard for the Quota Management System as revealed by this investigation places fish stocks at risk of overfishing. Accurate information provided by commercial fisherman on their returns is essential for managing commercial fisheries and making sure they are sustainable"
"Fishery Officers and Investigators will continue to focus on accurate and timely fishery reporting to ensure the integrity of the New Zealand Quota Management System and the ongoing sustainability of the Bay of Plenty fishery".
Mr Mikkelsen encourages any industry members and non-commercial fishers to report any suspected illegal activities or practices, by phoning 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224). All calls are kept confidential if necessary.
Waterways contaminated after flood
There was extensive surface flooding across the coastal Bay of Plenty over the weekend.
“We can assume that all flood water is potentially contaminated with farm run-off, faecal matter from feral and domestic animals, and, in some cases, sewage,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Phil Shoemack.
There are potential health risks associated with contaminated flood water and the Medical Officer of Health has provided the following advice to help prevent illness in the community.
Where a home, office, or retail premise has been affected by flood water above floor level all soft furnishings will need to be effectively decontaminated or disposed of. This includes carpets, curtains, furniture, and any other fittings. In some cases thorough cleaning followed by exposure to sunlight will be sufficient, but some furnishings and fittings will have to be thrown out.
If any food was affected by flood water, or fridges or freezers were left without power for more than a couple of hours, this food will need to be thrown out. Any food premises will have to take extra care to ensure everything is decontaminated.
The same problem of contaminated flood waters means that people should avoid all recreational water contact with rivers and harbours or estuaries till later in the week. Shellfish beds throughout the coastal Bay of Plenty will also be affected. Because of the way most shellfish filter their food from the water in which they live they are likely to all carry higher than acceptable levels of microbes, including bacteria and viruses, for some time. A 2009 study showed that once shellfish in Tauranga Harbour were contaminated with Norovirus it takes up to three months for the shellfish to completely shed the virus. Additionally, there is already a health warning in place against the collection of shellfish throughout the Western Bay of Plenty due to continuing high levels of paralytic shellfish toxins. So anyone deciding to eat locally harvested shellfish is taking a significant risk that they will become ill.
Last days for submissions on council’s plans
Bay of Plenty residents have only a few days left to make submissions on Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Draft Annual Plan.
The Draft Plan sets out the Council’s key programmes and projects for the coming year, how much they will cost and where the funding will come from. Submissions close at 4pm on 26 April.
Copies of the draft Plan are available on the Regional Council’s website www.boprc.govt.nz or from Regional Council offices.
As forecast in the Ten Year Plan, the Draft Annual Plan includes a general rates increase for residents of between $7 and $12 a year.
Relationship agreement with Tuhoe
Bay of Plenty Regional Council has signed an agreement with Ngai Tuhoe to work more closely together.
The Relationship Protocol was signed this week by Ngai Tuhoe Treaty settlement entity Te Uru Taumatua Chief Executive Kirsti Luke and Regional Council Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod.
Ms Macleod said there would be positive gains for both parties from a collaborative engagement which respected their distinct needs.
"Tuhoe and the Regional Council choose to work together to benefit their communities. We will both be looking to increase opportunities to work on shared goals, projects and initiatives," she said.
Ngai Tuhoe is one of the largest iwi groups within the Bay of Plenty. The tribe has initialled a Treaty Deed of Settlement and are likely to sign soon. The new Relationship Protocol is outlined in the Deed.
The signing took place at Te Uru Taumatua office in Taneatua, with Regional Councillors and staff and iwi members including Tamati Kruger (former Chief Negotiator), Te Hau Tutua and Glen Mitchell, and trustees Max Temara, Patrick McGarvey and Huka (Irene) Williams.
Treaty settlements are very significant in the Bay of Plenty; Maori make up about 27 percent of the population and about 33 percent of the land is Maori-owned. The region has at least 36 iwi, more than 200 hapū and more than 260 marae.
Bay of Plenty has also achieved eight comprehensive Treaty settlements, six iwi have signed Deeds of Settlement and another 11 claims are being progressed. Last year the Crown enacted three settlements and several others are likely to be completed this year.
$3 million invested to protect Lake Taupo
Environment Minister Amy Adams has announced the Government will invest a further $3 million to ensure the long-term protection of Lake Taupo’s water quality.
"Lake Taupo has significant economic, cultural and environmental value for New Zealanders. It is important that we continue to restore the lake’s water quality so that people can make the most of this unique environment in the years to come," Ms Adams says.
The Lake Taupo work programme to date has been successful in getting land owners to change farming practices and significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen getting into the lake.
The extra funding will be used to achieve a further 20 per cent reduction in nitrogen in the lake. High nitrogen levels in lakes and rivers can harm micro-organisms and cause algal blooms.
In total, the Government has committed $35.5 million to ensuring the long-term protection of Lake Taupo’s water quality. Together with money provided by Environment Waikato and Taupo District Council, this forms a joint fund of $75.4 million.
"Improving freshwater quality and the way freshwater is managed is a priority for the Government.
"Freshwater is one of New Zealand’s most valuable assets and its importance - both to our economy and the environment - cannot be overstated.
"On an international scale, New Zealand’s water quality is still among the very best, but we do not shy away from the fact that the quality has been declining in some of our lakes and rivers over many decades, and we must address this.
"That is why the Government has committed substantial funding towards cleaning up our most iconic waterways.
"The National-led government has already invested $101 million since taking office in 2008 into cleaning up historic pollution from our waterways - five times more than the previous Labour/Greens government in the preceding four years."
Council prepare Waikato river for drought disaster
A barge will be moved on to the Waikato River tomorrow (17 April) as an initial step in preparation for very low river levels still forecast for early May, despite rainfall this week.
Hamilton City Council is taking the precautionary step as part of its contingency plan during the current drought in case promised rain does not ease pressure on low flows from Lake Taupo and in the Waikato River.
The Council has been working closely with Waikato Regional Council, other large water users, iwi and health and civil defence organisations to ensure planning and contingency plans are robust.
The barge will be tethered below the Peacockes Road treatment plant in preparation for pumps being installed next week, ahead of possible use in early May should drought conditions persist.
The pumps will be able to draw water from lower in the river than the treatment plant’s current intake, and the water will then be treated at the plant and reticulated to the city in the usual manner.
City Waters manager Tim Harty says: "While rain is forecast, as part of our contingency plan we’re allowing for a worst case scenario in case it doesn’t amount to much and river and lake levels continue to drop.
"At this time, early May is when the lake is forecast to be at low level and when the river will revert to its natural flow. If significant rain does fall in the lake and upstream river catchments this will extend this date further into May."
The barge will be assembled at the Grantham St boat ramp tomorrow morning in preparation for being lifted by crane on to the river around lunchtime, then towed a short distance upriver to the treatment plant.
Water restrictions for Hamilton are presently at Alert Level 2 - alternate day sprinkler use 6-8am and 6-8pm - but may need to be increased to manage water demand in the event the pumps are required.
To date around $15,000 has been spent on the contingency plan, it will cost around $60,000 to get the barge and pumps in situ, and cost around $30,00-60,000 a week to operate.
The low river level contingency plan, developed in 2008 when there were similar concerns, was not required, however in 2010 the barge was put in place, but again not activated as the rains came.
Is organic food healthier?
Scientists at Cornell University in New York discovered that labelling food as organic can significantly influence people's perceptions of taste, kilojoules and value. As part of their research, 115 people were recruited from a local shopping centre and asked to evaluate yogurts, cookies and potato chips.
Participants were offered two kinds of each food, one that was labelled organic, and one that was not, and were asked to rate the taste and kilojoule content of each item and how much they would be willing to pay for the food.
Despite the fact that each item was identical, the results, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, revealed the organic label greatly influenced people's perceptions.
Cookies and yogurt were thought to have fewer kilojoules when labelled organic with participants willing to pay up to 23 per cent more for them. The organic cookies and yogurt were also deemed to taste lower in fat than the regular variety and the organic crisps were considered more nutritious. The organic label even affected people's taste buds as chips and yoghurt labelled organic were considered more appetising.
According to researchers, some participants were more likely to be fooled by food labels than others. Their questionnaire revealed that people who read food labels regularly, practice environmentally friendly habits like recycling and regularly buy organic are less likely to think that organic food is tastier and healthier.
In Australia, food that is certified as organic is grown and processed without the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilisers, with a focus on environmentally sustainable practices. But whether organic food is in fact healthier is a hot topic. A review of studies by scientists at Stanford University found that most organically grown food is not more nutritious than non-organic food, and the only benefits to eating organic food is less exposure to antibiotics and pesticides.
Successful trial of summer boating restrictions on lake
Positive feedback from a six month trial exclusion zone at Lake Rotoma could see a more permanent solution introduced in the future to manage diver safety during busy periods
Provisional boating restrictions over the summer period in Lake Rotoma have now come to an end.
Access to an area of water within 75 metres of the shore around Otangiwao Point was closed to boats between the hours of 10am to 6pm, seven days a week, from October through to the end of March. The area is a popular spot for diver training and over 1000 divers use the area a year, as it has the perfect depths and conditions.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Harbour Master Lakes Pererika Makiha said the trial of the exclusion zone had worked well and there had been no reported incidents over the period.
“The exclusion zone was an effective short term measure to ensure the safety of the trainee divers, while also allowing access during popular fishing times. Summer is a busy time on the Rotorua lakes and mitigating any of the safety risks that we can is a top priority for us. We are now removing the exclusion zone during the quieter period and will look into possible options for the future.”
Regional Council has consulted with a number of stakeholders to get feedback on the trial exclusion zone; including dive companies, boaties, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and local community groups.
“We’ve had good feedback from the majority of those involved so far, and plan to continue to consult with the community as we move forward. We are scheduled to review the regional Navigational Safety Bylaws in the 2013/14 financial year and will be considering the potential to introduce a more permanent solution to minimise the safety risk at Otangiwao Point.”
The exclusion buoys have been removed from the zone this week. The isolated danger buoy which is situated immediately off the end of Otangiwao Point will remain in place and be used to display a dive flag which can be seen from both sides of the point when divers are present. New signs are also being put up reminding water users and divers alike about the use of dive flags.
Anyone wishing to provide feedback on the trial of the exclusion zone can contact Maritime Operations Manager Reuben Fraser on 0800 884 880 or by emailing Reuben.Fraser@boprc.govt.nz
Open season for environmental grants
Community groups seeking funding for environmental projects in the Bay will now be able to apply for funding throughout the year, after a change to Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF).
The Regional Council is replacing the previous contestable funding system, held at a set time each year, with an ‘open season’ funding round that enables groups to apply for grants at any time from 1 July.
The Fund was established in 2000, and has so far distributed more than $7.5 million to almost 500 environmental projects throughout the region.
Last week’s Regional Council Operations, Monitoring and Regulation Committee endorsed the changes, which support projects targeting water quality and habitats, enhancing streams, lakes, harbours and estuaries. The Fund will also support innovative projects that optimise the use of the natural resources such as water and energy, or waste.
The He Matapuna Akoranga a Hawea Vercoe Memorial Fund, begun in 2010 after the death of the Regional Councillor, will be merged with EEF funding but keep its own identity, assisting appropriate projects submitted by Kura Kaupapa MÄori, bilingual schools and Kohanga Reo.
Committee Chairman Malcolm Whitaker said the Council wanted to encourage groups wanting a small amount of seed funding to apply for grants.
"Groups are encouraged to apply for the amount of funding required for their project, whether it is $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000. Funding can be applied for at any time," he said.
"This funding contributes to community development and has encouraged volunteers to improve their community environments over the years. For every $1 the council invests the return is $1.60 because of volunteer involvement."
The changes to the Fund would improve efficiency and ensure it operated at maximum effectiveness for the same or lower cost.
Rotorua residents to prepare for winter
Using clean-burning wood burners and dry firewood will ensure Rotorua’s air will be cleaner this coming winter.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reminding Rotorua residents to get ready for winter by getting their firewood early to ensure it is dry enough, and making the most of assistance to upgrade their wood burners using the Hot Swap scheme.
Rotorua homeowners need to upgrade more than 7,600 old wood burners and open fires to meet the Ministry for the Environment’s National Air Quality Standards. To help with the cost, the Regional Council offers the Hot Swap loan - an interest-free loan paid off over 10 years to upgrade old wood burners and open fires to clean heat.
Regional Council General Manager Strategy Fiona McTavish said burning dry, seasoned wood meant warmer homes and less air pollution.
"Households that plan ahead and only use dry wood will benefit by being warmer, as dry wood burns hotter and provides more heat for your home," she said.
"Rotorua has poor air quality, particularly in winter, when people use their old wood burners and open fires. Everyone in Rotorua can help improve air quality by using clean heat options and only burning dry wood," she said.
Pollution caused by burning wet wood in older fires can cause adverse health effects, especially for the elderly, the very young and those who already have respiratory problems, such as asthma, Ms McTavish said.
"Just over 1,000 homeowners have used the Hot Swap loan to upgrade to clean heat, but we still have a lot of homes to go," Ms McTavish said.
Additional financial help is available for low income households. Any ratepayer who qualified for Central Government's rates rebate, a rates subsidy for low-income homeowners, can have their annual Hot Swap loan repayment waived for each year that they are eligible for the rates rebate. The payment is waived the year after the application is made.
"This means that groups in our community such as pensioners could have a clean heat upgrade that is fully funded over the 10 years," Ms McTavish said.
"All homeowners and landlords who have an older wood burner or open fire should contact a Hot Swap service provider and get a free heating assessment and quote," Ms McTavish said.
To contact Hot Swap service providers, call 0800 468 792 or visit www.hotswap.co.nz
Dotterels doing well since Rena
Monitoring shows the population of rare New Zealand dotterels captured during the Rena oil spill has recovered well from the event.
About 120 dotterels were in the area between Matakana Island and Matata at the time of the spill in October 2011, and the decision was made to take 60 into captivity to keep them out of the path of the oil.
Translocation of the birds and release elsewhere would not have helped as they would have returned quickly to their breeding territories.
Had the remaining dotterels in the area been lost to oil, the "insurance" population in captivity could have been used to re-establish dotterels in the region.
Independent shorebird ecologist Dr John Dowding has been monitoring the population since it was released back to its habitat at the end of 2011. He says of the dotterels taken into captivity, more than three-quarters were alive a year later.
"There were some losses in the first month after release - probably due to the respiratory condition that killed six birds while they were captive - but after that survival has been normal," he says.
Once dotterels begin breeding, they typically remain at the same site for many years. "As it was not always possible to catch both birds in a pair, some pairings were disrupted during the pre-emptive capture."
In spite of this, most of the survivors were paired and breeding again a year after release. Dr Dowding says that overall, the dotterel population in the western Bay of Plenty appears to have survived the Rena incident reasonably well.
"One year on, numbers at most of the important sites are similar to those before the grounding," he says. "This is an encouraging result; dotterels can live for up to 30 years, and the one season of disruption needs to be viewed in that context.
"After some losses shortly after release, the birds held in captivity also appear to have re-adjusted to life in the wild, showing normal rates of survival and dispersal, and typical levels of breeding activity."
However, he says there is always the potential for longer-term effects, and monitoring will continue. "To date, the results suggest the pre-emptive capture exercise was justified; in spite of some losses, the captive population would have been sufficient to allow the regional population to re-establish, had the remaining wild population been lost to oil."
National Oiled Wildlife Response Team co-ordinator Kerri Morgan says that the mortalities were disappointing, although not entirely unexpected.
"We always knew the period in captivity would be stressful and potentially risky. However, it’s encouraging to see that survival rates of released birds have now normalised and hopefully this will continue into the future."
Campaign to 'future-proof' Bay of Plenty land
New toolkit aims to support western Bay land owners to sustainably manage their land.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council last week announced the launch of a new campaign, called ‘Futureproof Your Land’, which is aimed at rural land owners in the Tauranga Harbour Catchment.
The campaign, which was launched at the Tauranga Harbour Symposium on Thursday 7 March, provides information toolkits to help land owners future proof their land to ensure it remains productive and profitable, while ensuring water quality and biodiversity are protected or improved and erosion is controlled.
Land Management Manager Robyn Skelton said landowners face a range of challenges that, if left unmanaged, could undermine future production and the value of their land. Doing nothing could threaten the quality of soil, crops, livestock, lifestyle and landowner’s income.
"We are looking forward to engaging with local land owners and working together to ensure a better future for the Bay. We want to equip our landowners with the knowledge and tools to make the best choices in their land use practices."
Regional Council land management officers will work with individual landowners to help them identify the best practices and land use options for their property.
Regional Councillor Jane Nees said the campaign is about raising awareness of the need for landowners to sustainably manage their land and protect the waterways that flow through their properties.
"Ensuring we engage in sustainable practices now will have a significant effect on the health of our land and waterways further down the track. We need to keep the bigger picture in view, but work through the smaller steps to get there. This programme aims to get that information and that knowledge into the right hands and then work alongside those people to ensure we are all working towards the same goal."
The toolkits cover erosion proofing, pollution proofing, weather proofing, pest proofing and soil health.
For copies of the toolkits please visit www.boprc.govt.nz/futureproofyourland or to speak to a Tauranga Harbour Land Management Officer, please phone 0800 884 880.
Fonterra and Doc to work to care for waterways
Fonterra and the Department of Conservation (DOC) today announced a $20 million community investment to improve the natural habitats of some key waterways around New Zealand over the next ten years.
As part of Fonterra’s Living Water initiatives, Fonterra Director John Monaghan and the Minister of Conservation Hon Dr Nick Smith officially launched the 10-year investment this morning at Lake Areare, a Peat Lake in the Waikato. The investment will initially focus on five key catchments in significant dairying regions.
Mr Monaghan said Fonterra and DOC will work together to make these waterways living examples of how dairy farming and natural New Zealand environments can work alongside each other.
"Our streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands are important to every New Zealander. Today’s announcement is about investing time and resources to improve their quality so that we can all enjoy our natural environment at its best and ensure this can occur alongside a sustainable dairy industry."
DOC Director General Al Morrison said quality waterways are pivotal to maintaining the healthy environments which protect native wildlife and also underpin a sustainable dairy industry.
"We all realise that our waterways need ongoing support and it makes perfect sense for DOC to be working with New Zealand’s largest dairy co-operative to improve water catchment health.
"By working together, we can deliver additional conservation gains in some of our most sensitive catchments."
Initially, Fonterra and DOC will work with local communities to make a difference to the water quality at five waterways:
- Kaipara Harbour
- Firth of Thames
- Waikato Peat Lakes
- Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere
- Awarua-Waituna
As the expert in conservation and biodiversity, DOC will work with Fonterra, local communities, iwi and farmers to help clean up waterways and wetlands at the five selected catchment areas. This will include planting trees alongside streams and rivers to improve water quality, managing pests and weeds and making sure that the right habitats are in place around farms to enhance biodiversity and provide homes for native fish and birds.
Mr Monaghan said the work with DOC will build on the good progress made by Fonterra’s Catchment Care programme, which has seen improvements to two million square metres of land and waterways through planting, weeding and other volunteer work over the past three years.
"Working together with DOC is part of Fonterra’s Living Water initiative and the long-term commitment we are making to do what’s right for the land and waterways in their communities," he said.
Mr Monaghan said that while improving water quality and on-farm water management practices has been a priority for Fonterra and our farmers for a number of years, the dairy industry still has work to do.
"This initiative with DOC is part of our ongoing determination through all of our Living Water initiatives to work together, and engage with local communities to make a real difference to the health of waterways."
Local Waikato farmer, Bas Nelis, said it is great that Fonterra is working on both sides of the farm gate to make a difference to water quality and the environment.
"I believe farming is going to be here for a long time ahead of us, I’m still young so I want to look after this farm for the next generation, for my kids, to make sure it is sustainable for the future."
For more information, visit fonterralivingwater.com
Emergency water shut down in Welcome Bay
Contractors are making emergency repairs to a leaking water main on Welcome Bay Road from around midday. Council say.
The shutdown will affect all properties past R431 Welcome Bay Road that are connected to the Tauranga City Council water supply . At this stage we expect the shutdown to last until 5 or 6pm.
A water tanker is being stationed to supply water for Otepou Primary and will remain for the duration of the shutdown.
Public process to decide Rena's future
Any decision to leave the remaining structure of the cargo ship MV Rena on Otaiti (Astrolabe) Reef off the Tauranga coast requires a full resource consent process, Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod says.
No consent application has yet been made.
Recent announcements about the ultimate fate of the remaining Rena structure have raised questions about the process that would be followed if the owners applied for a consent to leave the wreck and any debris on the reef.
Regional Council Chief Executive Mary-Anne Macleod said a "full and robust" statutory process would be followed if a consent application was lodged for any part of the Rena to remain on Otaiti Reef.
"Under the provisions of the Regional Council’s Coastal Plan, a resource consent is required for any structure to occupy the seabed. A full and robust statutory process would be followed in accordance with the requirements of the Resource Management Act," she said.
Any consent application for leaving the structure on the reef would be publicly notified to give the public every opportunity to express any concerns through this statutory process.
If a consent application is made in the future, the Regional Council would engage the best available scientific and technical advice to ensure an informed decision could be made, Ms Macleod said.