The town of Wairoa could lose out on a $70 million government fund for flood protection if a solution isn’t confirmed by the end of this month.
Wikitoria Hauraki’s home was submerged in Cyclone Gabrielle, and under the flood mitigation proposal it will be moved or demolished, but she’s supporting the plan.
“Decisions are going to be made, we can’t sit here with no protection, no solution… We’re trying to help save as much of our community as we can to the best of our abilities.
“We might not like solutions or outcomes… but I don’t think there’ll ever be a perfect solution,” she said.
However post settlement entity, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust, is not on board. Its chair Leon Symes told RNZ the process has been rushed – and is leaving mana whenua behind.
“We’re against it cause it has a direct impact whānau. We expect the rights of whānau to make informed decisions on 1C.. at the end of day if effected whānau all agree to go we wouldn’t have a problem with it.
“But there are also whenua Māori tied up in this, so that’s not just homeowners, but land use changes for Māori whānau owners too,” he said.
Crown Manager Lawrence Yule said there’s no way of creating a spillway without having to move homes.
“Yes there are some significant impacts on homeowners. There is a variety of views amongst those people based on initial conversations of what they wish to happen.
“Quite a number of them wish to move immediately and want to be bought out and gone. Some would like to be relocated to another property in Wairoa, and there are some who are very concerned about what is happening so we’ll have ongoing conversations,” said Yule.
But in order for it to work, Yule has to first get more than 70 landowners on board.
“With whenua Māori land it’s really difficult. almost impossible to compulsorily acquire it. So, there’s a lot of case law on this. Basically unless we can persuade people to participate in this and offer them a package they are agreeable with… and if we can’t get every piece of this then we’re stuck.
“So it’s a negotiation rather than a big forced legal process,” said Yule.
Options for land and homeowners will include selling, relocating, or possibly leasing land to the council but retaining ownership. Yule said they’ll be compensated at market rates from before Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
Three organisations have been discussing it for months, the Wairoa District Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust. But the trust is coming under fire for misrepresenting the Māori community. Wikitoria Hauraki told RNZ she’s concerned that Tātau Tātau has not attended local hui on the issue, or genuinely engaged with Māori whenua.
“Hey cut that out because you weren’t slopping around here in the mud when we got affected… So I’m going to say I take offence to any korero you give because right up until Gabrielle your conduct and your support for the manu whenua has left us wanting,” said Hauraki.
But Symes is standing his ground. He wants more time to research other options.
“We just need to be mindful that there is a bigger discussion to have with all people who have interest in this spillway option.. have been engaged.
“Those that are pro for it and happy to give up land – kei te pai. But what about the other people who are yet to make a decision,” he said.
That decision needs to be made soon though, Wairoa has to confirm a solution by March 31 or it risks losing $70million of government funding to build flood protection.
What to know:
- Hundreds of homes in Wairoa were ruined in recent floods and the town has been trying to find a solution since Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023
- Lawrence Yule was appointed as the Crown Manager to help Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Wairoa District Council decide what to do
- His preferred option, which the councils are also backing, is 1C – a spillway to divert floodwaters from the Wairoa River
- The spillway is 170m wide and 2m deep, and in its path is one marae, 16 homes, 6 hectares of maori land and 18 hectares of general title land
- A ‘project plan’ has been presented to the Government by March 7, and must be confirmed by March 31st, in order to recieve the $70 million of Government funding
By RNZ’s Alexa Cook
