Direct action on Kaituna River

Forest and Bird, Issue 280, 1 May 1996, Page 8

Direct action on Kaituna River

IN LATE FEBRUARY, a large gathering of local residents watched the locks on sluice gates on the Kaituna River in the Bay of Plenty being illegally forced open with an axe. The action, aimed at restoring some of the natural flow to the Maketu estuary, was in breach of

a High Court injunction. It has, however, received wide support in the Maketu community, both Pakeha and Maori, and even sympathetic editorials in the regional press. Forty years ago, as a flood control measure, the Kaituna River was diverted away from the estuary, straight into the sea. The estuary, with no river to flush it, began slowly filling with sand and today is no more than a large puddle, unable to support its former rich populations of sea and shore life. There was no consultation with the large local Maori community over the original diversion, and, about 18 years ago, residents began the fight to have the river restored to the estuary. Six separate inquiries over the years recommended the diversion of river water back into the estuary and, since 1987, the Department of Conservation has overseen a plan for the gradual reintegration of the river with the estuary. In what was thought to be the final stage of the restoration plan, a channel with four culverts and gates was completed last October. But the department had failed to sort out a dispute with the owner of the land involved in the rediversion. He took out an injunction and the High Court ordered a halt to any rediversion of water pending a full hearing of the dispute. There matters stood, with residents increasingly frustrated at the delay, and no date set for the hearing. Finally residents opened the locks on the gates thus allowing the river to enter the estuary. DoC has withdrawn a complaint to the police, two of the four sluice gates have been left open and the case, which three months ago did not even have a hearing date, has now been heard. The decision, which will determine whether the local estuary can be given a new lease of life, is eagerly awaited in Maketu.