Viewpoint – Environmental Challenges

Kia ora tatou. Environmental issues are certainly to the fore as I write this article, none more pressing than the Fast Track Bream Bay sand mining proposal. I congratulate the Mangawhai community on their successful challenge to stop further sand mining off the Mangawhai spit, a result which will help protect this very fragile environment, not only in the immediate future, but for many generations to come. I would especially like to thank the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) for their ongoing work to protect the Mangawhai Harbour, which is the focal point of this great community.

Environmental protection can be a thankless task especially when money is scarce and legislative requirements seem to put many barriers in the way. As your currently elected Councillor, be assured I am doing everything I can to assist the MHRS negotiate the many legislative and regulatory roadblocks that seem to pop up at every corner they come to.

To the rest of the Mangawhai community, I am with you on confronting and mitigating the continuous stream of environmental issues which seem to confront you on an almost daily basis – water security, both fresh and estuarine water quality, and mangrove removal are just several of the many that arise.

Recent extreme weather events have hit this community hard, please rest assured that everything that can be done in preparing this community for future events is being worked on by the members of the Northland Emergency Management team. Mangawhai has a Community Response Group which can always do with new members, so if you are keen, contact me and I will steer you in the right direction.

Following one such event, the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Surf Lifeguard Service building was hit exceptionally hard. I have assisted and supported the club where possible and look forward to this building being up and ready as soon as possible to patrol this wonderful beach.

Since being elected in 2016, I have also worked beside many organisations in the Mangawhai area to understand the issues and help where I can. In addition to my work with the MHRS I have particularly enjoyed attending the Mangawhai Museum AGM’s and many fundraising dinners. The Mangawhai Business Association has evolved over the years to provide not only assistance to old and newly-arrived businesses, but also a platform for supporting the many issues which confront a fast-growing community such as Mangawhai. Environmental issues are well represented in this business forum and I suggest joining this organisation to support environmental improvement.

Finally, to the growing organisation that is the Piroa Conservation Trust, what an amazing group of people. On behalf of this community, I thank you for your tireless work on pest control and habitat restoration over this huge area, almost 25,000 hectares.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or issues that you would like clarification on.