Returning to the Rivers: Choose Clean Water Film Tour 2021

Today we documented the story of the opposition to a proposed storage scheme in the Wairarapa. Many in the community say there are better ways to build a healthy, resilient region; working with the natural environment rather than damming the river and taking too much water out of waterways for irrigation. The private company pushing the scheme has received $7 million in public funding even though the community’s waterway plan called for nature-based solutions (creating and restoring wetlands, slowing the water down in the landscape, improving soil health, etc.) for tackling issues of drought and water availability. Stay tuned for the full story.

Mōrena friends,

We hope you're well and safe as we work to try to get on top of this current COVID outbreak.

I'm writing to you because tonight we are having our first film preview and webinar and we're hoping that (even with this short notice) you might join us!

Tonight's webinar is on the Hawke's Bay, streams that are drying up and the struggle to return water to the river. It features Ngaio Tiuka, Ngāti Kahungunu's Director of Environment and Natural Resource Unit, telling the story of how we got here.

Follow this link to attend: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/events/tautoko-webinar-series-te-mana-o-te-wai

We will watch the film and our panelists, including Ngaio, will answer questions and discuss solutions.

Hope you can join us. Even if you're not able to, we will send a link to the recorded webinar and another to the film this week.

Thanks again for your support. It has been a longer road to finishing these films than we had imagined thanks to a topsy-turvy year and we really appreciate you sticking with us.

Marnie

Morning everyone,

We're pleased to be able to share with you the story of Paritua/Kārewarewa Stream and the impacts of too much water being taken from Hawke's Bay's rivers and groundwater.

Ngaio Tiuka, Ngāti Kahungunu's Direction of Environment and Natural Resource Unit, tells us how Hawke's Bay's freshwater - Te Matau-a-Māui - is being mismanaged, with council failing to protect the health of the regions waterways.

The webinar went really well, with a lot of good discussion and questions - including how the 3 waters reform could effect water management. As soon as I have a link to the recorded webinar I will share it with you all.

In the meantime, we hope the video tells the story and we look forward to using as a tool for campaigning to return water to the rivers.

Marnie