Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa lodge appeal on water consent
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has lodged an appeal in the Environment Court opposing the consents granted to Creswell NZ Ltd to extract 1.1 billion litres of water per annum for water bottling.
This extraction is from the Awaiti aquifer in the Rangitāiki and Tarawera rivers catchments, and in the rohe of Ngāti Awa. There are three existing water bottling consents taking water from the Awaiti aquifer, held by Otākiri Springs, Oravida and Distinction water bottling companies.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is appealing the whole consent for the following reasons, specifically that the Commissioner’s:
- Concluded that there are no adverse effects on the Awaiti aquifer;
- Concluded that there are no adverse cultural effects;
- Had a lack of regard to Ngāti Awa relationships with Tarawera river, Awaiti aquifer and Otākiri springs;
- Had a lack of regard for the Mataatua Declaration on Water which is an iwi planning document.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is seeking:
- That the consents be declined;
- If the consents are granted, that appropriate conditions are developed with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa to address the adverse effects Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa has identified.