Check out my recent Baybuzz article on the Ngaruroro Water Conservation Order appeals decision https://baybuzz.co.nz/say-hello-to-the-wco/

Literally and figuratively, water is heating up in Hawke’s Bay right now, and we can look across New Zealand and the world to see what that could mean for us. Devastating floods in the South Island, and crippling droughts across Europe and Asia. Literally, the seas surrounding us right now are 1-2°C warmer than normal, according to NIWA. Temperatures on land are similarly way above average. Officially our local climate is now 1.1°C above its long-term average and, according to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, July temperatures in Hawke’s Bay were 1.3-1.7°C above normal. Ominous new weather phrases such as ‘atmospheric river’ are entering our lexicon. Whilst New Zealand and Australia struggle with the impact of too much rainfall, USA, Europe and China are all experiencing critical water shortages and drought-induced crop failures on an unprecedented scale. But we only need to look back 18 months in Hawke’s Bay to remind ourselves what two consecutive years of drought. Extreme is the new normal for our weather. Multiple factors are at play on these weather events but there is now near-universal consensus that climate change is driving the extremes. Figuratively, water is hot right now in Hawke’s Bay too. The ex-Ruataniwha, now Makaroro water storage scheme has revved back into the headlines, with the consent holders applying for a six-year extension, citing need for further consultation, against strenuous objection from Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. Both parties acknowledge ‘Te Mana o Te Wai’ as the new Government framework under which consents need to be assessed; prioritising water for the environment first, essential needs of people second and other needs, such as irrigation, food processing and industrial production last. What isn’t clear is whether both parties have fully recognised that Te Mana o Te Wai hands mana whenua the overriding say about what it means. Mana whenua are local Māori who have the best ancestral connection to their local waterway. It is not at all clear that either the dam consent holders, or Kahungunu, actually have the mandate to speak for the people of Central Hawke’s Bay and the Makaroro River. At the same time, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is now consulting on a new regional plan, called Kotahi. Every regional council across the country is required by law to produce a new plan by December 2024, setting water quality and quantity limits on all the water bodies in their region. Many water bodies in Hawke’s Bay don’t yet have any such limits, while the few limits that are in place are often highly contested, fully-allocated or over-allocated already. All the limits must give effect to the new ‘Te Mana o Te Wai’ water framework. Setting new water quality and quantity limits under the Kotahi Plan is going to be confrontational, potentially pitching Hawke’s Bay’s productive sector against iwi and environment sectors in a struggle for competing resources and competing values. Like the Ruataniwha Dam, contention over limit setting for Hawke’s Bay waterways has not gone away, it has just been simmering under the surface. Kotahi will bring the contention to the surface once more; this time under the pressure of a heroic timetable to achieve resolution by the Government’s deadline. Getting the new water limits right for Hawke’s Bay will require collaboration, compromise, the ability to engage with different world-views and reaching agreement on the pace and scale of environmental improvements across Hawke’s Bay. Two new(ish) factors will put a whole new spin on these issues since they last dominated our consciousness – the urgency of responding to the weather extremes of climate change and the requirement to ‘give effect to’ Te Mana o Te Wai.

New limits dramatically restricting the amount of fresh water able to be drawn from the region’s water sources will be set in the Kotahi Plan by December 2024, and the setting of those limits is going to require real community buy-in, says Hastings resident Xan Harding. Mr Harding announced today that he is standing for the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council in the upcoming local body elections, vying for one of the three Heretaunga/Hastings seats. His considerable experience in environmental planning, development and advocacy will see him prioritise Climate Action, clean streams, water security, regional parks and support for Hawke’s Bay’s dedicated environment volunteers. Well-known in the rural community as a long-time spokesperson for the Hawke’s Bay wine industry, Xan achieved wider recognition for his role chairing the Te Mata Peak People’s Track Society, helping to broker a solution to a polarising public issue whilst representing the local interest in increased access to Te Mata Peak. Water use is just one of the critical environmental issues coming up, all of which will require collaboration and strong leadership. “We will need input from every sector of our region: our councils, iwi, urban communities, primary producers and manufacturers. I’m firmly of the belief that if we all work together, we can achieve the changes we need to protect our environment and our standard of living, whilst responding to the pressures of climate change.” Over the past 10 years, Xan has been involved in every major regional water issue, including central roles in the TANK Plan Change and the Ngaruroro Water Conservation Order. He combines a detailed technical understanding of regional water issues, with regional and national governance experience in finance, water and environment, including longstanding directorships of Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers and New Zealand Winegrowers. More recently, Xan spent 18 months on the staff of HBRC, supporting the development of water catchment groups across Hawke’s Bay. He has an honours degree in horticultural science, along with postgraduate qualifications in banking and environment management. He resigned from HBRC at the beginning of July, to focus on his campaign. “Hawke’s Bay needs firm, focused, collaborative leadership to enshrine strong environmental bottom-lines, support residents to respond to climate change, and provide certainty for primary producers so they can continue to innovate and generate the returns that underpin our HB community.” ‘Better Together - Kia Honoa (Let’s Connect)’ is Xan’s campaign slogan, which encapsulates his commitment to collaborative governance, the importance of looking for common ground amongst opposing views, and the power of people working together for the environment. Xan and his family settled in Hawke’s Bay in 2000 and planted a vineyard at Haumoana, after a career locally & internationally in banking. In 2014, they moved to their current vineyard at Bridge Pa. Detailed information about Xan’s priorities for the Regional Council can be found at Xan-for-HBRC.nz and on Facebook at Xan-for-HBRC. For enquiries, please contact Xan Harding at xan.harding@xtra.co.nz or on 027 6127927. Photo: Xan Harding (left) is congratulated by nominator and avid fly-fisherman Gerard Guillen