Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for your heartening support to date.
Below this letter are some links to news articles covering the successful recent protest march held in Auckland, organised by Kelly Klink, to highlight (to the wider community and media) the proposed appalling dredge sludge dumping in the pristine waters just off Great Barrier Island/Aotea.
As context – the quantity of the proposed dumping (being contested in the High Court on July 22) – is equivalent to EIGHT LITRES PER SECOND FOR 35 YEARS of poisonous sludge being dumped into the clean waters off Aotea/Great Barrier Island.
Anyone who has been watching the recent David Attenborough documentaries about the fragile state of this planet upon which we all live and depend on for survival – and realising that our oceans are under immense threat already – can only imagine what irreparable damage this unnecessary and totally destructive dredge sludge dumping at sea will cause.
It is unfeasible that there will be only a “negligible impact” on the marine environment as a result of this dumping, and/or that any damage from will be restricted to the “disposal area”, as has been claimed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and Coastal Resources Ltd (CRL).
The reality of devastating ongoing, inter-generational, far-reaching effects on the bio-diversity of the local and wider marine environment as a result of this proposed dumping have been confirmed by some of the world’s most acclaimed marine scientists, ecologists and biologists.
The appeal against the consent for the dumping (granted by the EPA to CRL) is set to be heard in the High Court on 22 July.
If you would like to contribute financially, please direct your generosity to the Give-A-Little link here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/protect-aotea-great-barrier-island
All donations go directly to the Registered Charitable Trust PROTECT AOTEA (Certificate of Incorporation Number 2737692) and will assist with legal costs in mounting the appeal.
We will keep you posted - meanwhile please do keep signing and sharing the petition as far and wide as possible.
This dredge sludge dump must be stopped. Land-based alternatives are readily available. Time for a re-think, EPA and CRL.
Many thanks again to all our signatories for your ongoing support - together we can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Natalie, Kelly, and the Protect Aotea team (and all those who do give a damn about protecting our oceans!)
MEDIA RELEASE - 17 JULY 2019
RAHUI (PROHIBITION) PLACED ON WATERS AROUND AOTEA/GREAT BARRIER ISLAND BY LOCAL IWI (GUARDIANS)
In February 2019, New Zealand’s government-appointed Environmental Protection Authority (“EPA”) gave Coastal Resources Ltd (“CRL”) permission to increase the amount of contaminated dredge sediment it dumps - from 50,000 cubic metres to 250,000 cubic metres annually for 35 years - just 25km of the east coast of Aotea, Great Barrier Island, New Zealand.
Kelly Klink, of Ngāti Rehua-Ngātiwai ki Aotea, has lodged an appeal against the EPA’s decision in the High Court - the hearing is due to take place on 22 July.
Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea, the local iwi, have a significant and an undeniable interest within the affected area - holding mana whenua and mana moana (internationally acknowledged, long-standing Maori tribal rights to manage, respect and care for the integrity of the land and sea).
With the guidance and tautoko (support) from the kaumatua and kuia (respected elders) of Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea, a rahui (ban/prohibition) was placed, by resolution on Saturday, June 22 at Motairehe marae, over the entire area affected by the EPA’s decision.
The full resolution is as follows:
“The manawhenua, hapu and marae (collective local guardians/inhabitants/community and families) of Aotea / Great Barrier Island lay down a rahuitapu (a ban to prevent access to a sacred area/prohibition) over our rohe moana (customary food-gathering areas of the sea), to restore the mana (integrity/vitality) and mauri (life force) of our moana (sea).
· We oppose the dumping of any and all dredged material into our moana.
· We oppose the cleaning of boats within our moana.
· We oppose any activity that desecrates our moana,
· We oppose any activity that adversely impacts on our mauri.
· We oppose any activity that attempts to extinguish our customary rights to fish and gather kaimoana (seafood).
· We oppose any activity that attempts to extinguish our role as kaitiaki (guardians/authorised caretakers.”
The rahui is intended to protect the areas affected by the EPA’s decision. It was placed in response to the detrimental impact the dumping of marine waste has and will have on the local community’s wāhi tapu (sacred) grounds and the ecology and marine life in the area, in particular, the taonga hapuka (acknowledged treasures, hapuka fish).
Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea whanau have been fishing these areas mai rano (for centuries) and have maintained kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of Te Moana Nui o Toi te Huatahi.
Any toxic dredge sludge dumping will have a hugely adverse impact on other marine species and cause a negative flow-on effect throughout the motu (island), and beyond.
The rahui will be in place until the kaumatua and kuia of Ngati Rehua Ngati Wai ki Aotea decide that the moana will be sufficiently protected and the mauri and the mana of the region restored.
For further information please contact:
Michael Beazley Ngati Rehua Ngatiwai ki Aotea taumata Chairman +64 22 3754974
Opo Ngawaka Kaumatua +64 9 4290709
Valmaine Toki +64 21 357860
Kelly Klink +64 21 501534
RECENT MEDIA COVERAGE
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12247292
http://www.ngatiwai.iwi.nz/our-stories/march-to-protect-aotea-great-barrier-island
https://www.miragenews.com/large-scale-marine-dumping-near-great-barrier-concerning
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/200-protest-over-dumping-waste-near-great-barrier-island
https://www.newsie.co.nz/news/155379-protests-over-dumping-of-waste-near-great-barrier-island.html
https://www.national.org.nz/large_scale_marine_dumping_near_great_barrier_concerning