Iwi stands firm in opposing use of Otaki River water

A prominent Otaki Maori leader says the iwi totally opposes Otaki River water being used to supplement Kapiti water supplies.

Ngati Raukawa Runanga chairman Te Waari Carkeek told Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan and councillors at a council meeting this week that taking water from the river was not an option.

The council had previously looked at drawing water from the river to supplement Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati's troubled main water supply.

"I want to remind council that taking water from the Otaki River is non–negotiable," Mr Carkeek said.

Ms Rowan replied: "We will not go there if you say no."

However, later in the meeting, the council decided to ask local communities and tangata whenua whether out-of-catchment solutions, such as a pipeline from Otaki River, should be considered.

Council staff called a public meeting in Otaki nine years ago and said they were looking at taking water from Otaki River to supplement the district's town supply in times of drought. The announcement sparked strong opposition from the community, including iwi, environment groups and fishing clubs.

Bore water, used to supplement the town supply when Waikanae River flows fall to low levels, has been criticised for its "foul" taste and was blamed for blowing up kettles and other electrical appliances because of its high mineral content.

The council decided this week to investigate six possible solutions to its water problems – a lower Maungakotukutuku dam, Kapakapanui dam, both of which are in Paraparaumu, a dam in Reikorangi, aquifer storage and recovery, extending the council's borefield, and storage and groundwater recharge.

The aquifer storage and recovery option involved taking water from Waikanae River when flow levels were high and pumping it into the borefield. Groundwater river recharge involved taking water from the borefield and pumping it into the river.

The council planned to hold water tastings to see if some if the water options were palatable.

Council consultants would investigate the six options in the next two or three months and options would be put out for community consultation after June.

Ms Rowan said the council's goal was also to reduce water use to a peak target of 400 litres a person per day.

In the Waikanae-Paraparaumu-Raumati catchment, the peak use last summer was about 525 litres a person per day in Paraparaumu-Raumati and about 755 litres in Waikanae.

- © Fairfax NZ News