Cultural considerations

Working with mana whenua

• • Watercare works closely with Mana Whenua through the Mana Whenua Kaitiaki Forum which you can read about here: https://www.watercare.co.nz/About-us/Who-we-are/Mana-whenua. This relationship is ongoing. Part of the reason Watercare wants to start talking about our next water source 20 years in advance is that we have learned from mana whenua to engage early.
• • The assembly will be able to talk more about the views and relationship with mana whenua kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) on Saturday.  University lecturers and hired experts are unable to answer these questions on behalf of tangata whenua and it was felt that a face to face meeting was more appropriate for this.
• • Tame who heads the mana whenua kaitiaki forum has agreed that the mana whenua kaitiaki forum will review the draft set of recommendations after day three and provide questions and feedback by the 24th of September.
• • What happens to the waste by-products from wastewater is well illustrated in this video: https://www.watercare.co.nz/Water-and-wastewater/Wastewater-collection-and-treatment which is already up on the website. The disposal of brine would be out at sea unless better technology came along OR our citizens insisted that we do something else with it. Rob from Watercare’s resource recovery group will bring in some new fertiliser products on Saturday for anyone who is interested in beneficial recycled products of our waste.