Ngaruroro & Clive Rivers Water Conservation Order
with Fish & Game NZ | HAWKE’S BAY
The why!
Water Conservation Orders (WCOs) give our country’s best waterways the equivalent of National Park status. Fifteen waterways are currently protected by WCOs in Aotearoa and TCG worked on creating the sixteenth.
How did we assist?
TCG was engaged by Fish & Game to prepare a WCO application for the Ngaruroro & Clive Rivers. This involved project management, preparation of technical information, consultation, encouraging other parties to join as co-applicants, and coordinating their contributions.
TCG contributed an additional and significant pro-bono investment (in the order of $40K) to ensure the success of this project, because we believe our special wild places should be protected.
What happened?
The application was lodged in late 2015 and the process has been a lengthy and contentious one. TCG took it through the Special Tribunal proceedings and then to the Environment Court who issued a decision that protected both the upper and lower reaches of the river. It was the first decision that ensured source-to-sea level protection and the first to deal with both water quality and water quantity issues.
The process is now all but complete and currently awaiting ministerial approval.
Read More: October 2021 Stuff Article