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Today’s Central Hawke’s Bay (CHB) Council meeting was a significant moment for Wise Water Use HB and our supporters. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 50+ people who filled the Council Chambers, many proudly wearing WWU badges in solidarity. Your presence sent a powerful message to Council and the community — we are here, and we care deeply about how water resources are managed.
Media outlets like Hawke’s Bay Today, CHB Mail, Bay Buzz, and TVNZ (with Henry McMullen rolling the camera) captured the action. We encourage you to tune in to TV1 News tonight or tomorrow for full coverage of the day’s events.
The meeting’s primary focus was to consider a deed for a ‘Community Trust’ that would hold the consents for the Ruataniwha dam. If adopted, the deed could have major implications for our environment, our ratepayers, and the future of water use in the region.
Moves to Delay – But More Work Is Needed
To her credit, Mayor Alex Walker recognized the strong public interest and recommended further advice on the unresolved questions be provided before any decisions are made. She also suggested the CHB community be given the chance to submit feedback through Let’s Talk CHB before the next Council meeting on Thursday, 31st October.
This is a partial win for us! The Trust Deed wasn’t rubber-stamped today, but with only two weeks until the next meeting, there are still too many unanswered questions. We must keep up the pressure to ensure the community’s voice is truly heard.
Key Concerns Raised – But WWU Was Denied a Voice
Despite WWU spokesperson Trevor Le Lievre’s request for a 5-minute speaking slot, which should have been allowed under Council’s Standing Orders, he was denied the opportunity to address Councillors. This is yet another example of the lack of transparency and community engagement that has surrounded the Ruataniwha dam issue from the beginning.
However, we’re grateful that some key questions were asked by Councillors Gerard Minehan, Pip Burne, and Kate Taylor. They raised important concerns about the ratepayer liability if the Trust were to move forward.
Amiria Nepe-Apatu’s heartfelt speech about her connection to water was a highlight of the day. She challenged Councillors to explore alternative methods for achieving water resilience—ways that don’t require a massive taxpayer-funded dam. Her powerful words resonated with the room, and when she finished, the chambers erupted in applause.
The Next Step: Your Voice Is Crucial!
We’re urging all of our supporters—and anyone who cares about sustainable water management in CHB — to take action now. Submit your feedback through Let’s Talk CHB and tell the Council why full public consultation is essential before moving forward with the Ruataniwha dam proposal.
At WWU, we believe in looking for smarter solutions that prioritize the wise use of our current water resources before committing to expensive, tax-funded engineering projects like dams. With your support, we can make a difference!
Let’s keep up the momentum, stand together, and achieve real, sustainable outcomes for our environment and our community.
Kia kaha!
The Wise Water Use HB Team
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