http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/3963088a7693.html

 

EW sleuth probes cull of mangroves

By ESTHER HARWARD - Waikato Times | Thursday, 15 February 2007

 

Environment Waikato has hired a private eye to find out who cleared protected mangroves at Whangamata �- but wants to clear more of the plant itself.

Yesterday the regional council unveiled plans to start cutting mangroves if it could reach an agreement with Hauraki Maori.

The illegal late-January cull of about 2ha of mangroves prompted a furious reaction from pro-mangrove groups and a warning from Nathan Kennedy of the Ngati Whanaunga Environment Unit that if the council did not take action "I will personally start organising some punishment".

Environment Waikato chief executive Harry Wilson said the investigator would interview people to try to identify who was involved.

He said criminal charges would be laid under the Resource Management Act if enough evidence was gathered. The crime carries a maximum fine of $200,000 and two years in jail.

He urged the protesters to "please stop any illegal (removal) now because there's a proper legal process for you to have your concerns addressed".

Whangamata iwi Ngati Whanaunga says the mangroves are an important fish habitat, particularly for flounder. Others say the mangroves are spreading and destroying the harbour.

Environment Waikato has received complaints about the protesters' actions from Ngati Whanaunga, Hauraki Maori Trust Board and Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.

Ngati Whanaunga had accused the council in a letter of failing to take action but Mr Wilson said that was incorrect and he would meet iwi groups next week to discuss what the council was doing.

Pressure from the community prompted yesterday's decision by its policy and strategy committee to fund its own resource consent application to remove mature mangroves from the harbour.

Mr Wilson said if there was no opposition from the community, the council could process a non-notified consent in 20 working days for about $3000. If the application was challenged, costs could rise to $250,000 and there would be delays.

Protester Simon Friar said the decision was "a step in the right direction" but he did not expect it to go through unopposed.

He said people would continue with unauthorised culls.

"There will be more cuttings in future. The townsfolk are sick to the back teeth of Environment Waikato saying `trust us'."

National MP Sandra Goudie commended the council but said it should go a step further and make mangrove removal a permitted activity regionwide.

Councillor Ian Balme said he was concerned the council would be asked to lodge further consent applications on behalf of other communities who wanted to get rid of mangroves. A council report showed mangroves were likely to spread in the Firth of Thames, Manaia, Otahu estuary near Whangamata, Wharekawa and Whitianga.

"The biggest myth is that the removal of mangroves will return the harbour to a pristine white beach. The harbour is being degraded by the changing land use around it." he said.