Battle to save island

BY ROMY UDANGA

Two iwi groups have vowed to continue fighting plans to dump biosolid waste on Mangere's Puketutu Island.

Te Kawerau a Maki and Makaurau marae say the Manukau Harbour island is waahi tapu and they've lodged an appeal with the Environment Court against Watercare Service's plan to rehabilitate it with biosolids.

In May Auckland Regional Council and Manukau City Council commissioners heard evidence from all parties affected by Watercare's plans.

The Manukau council recommended in July that the company withdraw its notice of requirement to designate land on the island for its activities.

The council said the island as a whole does have and would continue to have waahi tapu status and the effects of Watercare's proposal on Maori cultural values would be more than minor.

But Watercare rejected the council's recommendation last month.

Its position is based on the advice of its cultural expert Wira Gardiner. He says the island in its entirety isn't waahi tapu and that its project would specifically ensure that small specified waahi tapu on Puketutu won't be affected.

But Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority chairman Te Warena Taua says that "cultural advice" can be likened to "one person going to another village and telling the villagers that what is sacred to them is no longer sacred".

"Te Motu a Hiaroa (Puketutu Island) is deemed waahi tapu by the iwi.

"It is at the centre of our ancestral, spiritual, historical and cultural world and is fundamental to our identity as a people.

"We must therefore do everything in our power to save it from the massive and irreversible desecration that this proposal would inevitably bring," Mr Taua says.

The iwi's appeal was lodged by Kirkland Enright partner Rob Enright.

"Watercare's decision raises a number of jurisdictional and cultural issues," Mr Enright says.

"The appeal challenges cultural paradigms relating to the effect of bio-sludge on ancestral lands and waahi tapu."

Makaurau marae chairwoman Janice Roberts says the island is iconic "not only to us who live under its shadow but for the people of Tainui".

"It is the first place where the Tainui waka stopped in the Manukau Harbour to relash itself. And the place where it stopped is of huge cultural significance to the people of Tainui."

She says Watercare's proposed activities will have an irreversible impact on the community.

"Unlike any of the past activities on the island - farming, forestry or quarrying - dumping human waste will have an irreversible adverse impact on the spiritual, cultural, historical, ancestral and environmental values," she says.

Iwi environmental spokesman Saul Roberts says the iwi now have to prepare for the appeal hearing.

"We have to start writing our evidence and assist witnesses to prepare theirs.

"We have to hold tribal meetings to inform the rest of our people about what is going on and the position we are taking.

"We have to go back to our network and tribal alliances and get their support," Mr Roberts says.

The hearing is likely to take place in the Environment Court early next year.

- © Fairfax NZ News