Tania Taspell: we're fixing the wrongs from the past council.

Rotorua's Mayor, Tania Taspell, says a new water plan in the city addresses past wrongs. 

The plan will see Karamū Tākina Springs co-managed by Ngāti Kearoa-Ngāti Tuara and Rotorua Lakes Council and land nearby will be returned to Iwi. 

The springs provide 60 percent of Rotorua's drinking water. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bran Bread.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
So do we have a case of co governance on
our hands, That's what some are saying this time. In
order to do it, it's a new deal struck with council. Locally,
we will get co management rights over the Katamu Takina Springs,
which supplies sixty percent of us drinking water. Tania Tapsle
is the mayor there and joins me. Now, Hi, Tanya, sure, Ryan,
good to you on the show. So who's what was

(00:23):
the reason for this deal being done?

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, Look, and I want to address the co governance
or co management. I think, you know, you really need
to look at the history and the facts, and the
really sad case in this instance is that this spring
and the surrounding land was forcibly taken by a previous council.
So we are actually correcting a lot of wrong. We
have managed to give back land surrounding the springs to

(00:50):
the area, but most importantly, this spring supplies sixty percent
the majority of our city's drinking water. So actually working
alongside them, and I've ever said, hey, are you we're
going to hold you to ransom, They've never done it.
They've always been really happy to support the continual drinking
water supply for our community, which we're very grateful for.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
So now that you have returned it, did they get money.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Yes, so there will be an ongoing operational grant to
support the trust capacity much to be So it's two
hundred and eighty four thousand that includes restoration, monitoring of
the river. And I've got admit this is the cheapest
option as well. There were other options looked into, but
as part of holding the consent to take water, there

(01:35):
is always going to be ongoing operational cost and the
rate that we can work alongside.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
There And this is yours. This is a council. It
is not part of a treaty settlement. It's not part
of a government director of This is just a council
doing this out of its own back with the EWI yep.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
The source of the council that said, hey, actually we
acknowledged that previous council seventy one years ago did something
pretty bad. But this drinking water supply is very crucial
for our city. So this what we've done, secures the
next thirty five years. I've got to say some of
the country's best drinking water.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Good on your tiny, tiny tips or mirror't to do it.
For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, Listen live to
news talks It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio