Unanimous for JMA

A unanimous decision by Gisborne District Council yesterday will see the development Joint Management Agreement (JMA) formed with Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou for the Waiapu Catchment.

“A JMA is a logical progression of the existing Waiapu Accord and the Waiapu Kōkā Hūhua joint collaborative project to address erosion in the catchment,” says Mayor Meng Foon.

“Heading into development of a Waiapu catchment plan and notification of the proposed freshwater plan for the region in October,

“Council recognises the fundamental role Ngati Porou have as kaitiaki, as a source of knowledge, and acknowledges their interests in the future management of the awa.

“In establishing a JMA, we will be the first in New Zealand to jointly share the functions, powers and duties under the Resource Management Act.”

Council has been exploring options for co-management and co-governance of Waiapu with the runanga since January.

A JMA would enable the runanganui and Council to join staff resources for research and development of a catchment plan for the Waiapu River and its tributaries, as well as joint decision-making on how water is used within the catchment.

Catchment plans contain water quality and quantity objectives, limits and targets for individual waterways and wetlands.

“From here, staff will draft the agreement with Ngati Porou representatives and attend a meeting with landowners to make sure they’re comfortable.”

A paper will be submitted to Future Tairāwhiti on 24 September for discussion before heading to the October 8 full meeting of Council to be adoption.

The proposed Freshwater Plan for the Gisborne Region is also due to be approved for public notification at the October 8 meeting. The document is available to view atwww.gdc.govt.nz .

ENDS

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