How might local government reform impact the Lake Taupō and Waikato River Catchment?
Local body reorganisation vs measures to protect the environment
With experience in local government and environmental advocacy, Forest and Bird Waikato Regional Conservation Manager Elvisa Van der Leden (also a South Waikato District councillor) says local body reform proposals currently before Cabinet are only proposals.
“They're not necessarily reflective of the final decision that this government will put forward. And so, the councils that chose to go with Back Stop or who have submitted a proposal that is not in line with the criteria presented from the government under the Head Start pathway guidelines are very unlikely to have their proposal seriously considered by the minister.” (The Minister of Local Government is Simon Watts.)
RMA reform
Of more import, says Van der Leden, is what safeguards will be built into the two pieces of legislation that will reform the Resource Management Act (1991) – the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill are currently under scrutiny by Parliament.
“I think the public need to be aware that, regardless of the outcomes (on amalgamation), from a Forest and Bird perspective, it is the legislation, at the end of the day, that guides how councils will need to regulate their environment, including biodiversity, biosecurity, relationships with mana whenua…”
“Forest and Bird want to make sure that the strongest environmental regulations are built into these bills, to ensure that however the natural environment is managed and regulated, the highest protections are in place.”
Structures that emerge from the local body reform process will be responsible for implementing the legislation that is delivered through those bills, she says.
“And that high level guidance of how our natural environment is managed, including ensuring mana whenua are involved in that oversight, that is the space Forest and Bird are working really hard on, making sure that we're not working with the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, but ensuring that there are safeguards for the environment.”
Strong relationships with mana whenua will be critical, Van der Leden, says, because they often have their own environmental management plans, based on matauranga Māori.
Mana whenua “know the history of those environments, they know the biodiversity. And… they have to manage the relationships with other iwi as well, along catchments and around lakes and rivers.”
Environmental concerns pushed down the list
She worries focus on the environment is being lost.
“Right now is an incredibly chaotic and legislatively exhausting time, for all those involved, including local government, environmental groups, community groups and I worry as a local advocate that a lot of the environmental issues are being put on the backburner because of the confusion that's being caused. And it's hard for media to articulate as well because there's so much change happening at such a fast pace. It's confusing for communities.”
Different regions have come up with very different ideas of what their area might look like.
“As much as the government is imposing this, I don't envy them in having to work through these proposals.”
“The other thing is that all these reforms are diluting local voices in terms of the consent processes… where locals have a say in the consent conditions.”
Resource management legislation with wording strong enough to protect the environment and prevent climate damage is crucial, she says, so industries are compelled to be responsible corporate citizens.
“This current chaotic period of legislative reform is creating an environment where loopholes can occur, if groups like Forest and Bird and the Environmental Defence Society are not working incredibly hard to ensure those loopholes are closed up…”
RMA reform, however, is not the only legislative concern…
Above article written by Chris Marshall. Funding for this work was provided by BayTrust. A follow up article will be published next week regarding safeguards under threat.