It is understood that drilling commenced today as part of the Rotorua Lakes Council sewerage project.

This drilling has been met with protest by local iwi and their supporters, who have maintained a constant presence on the whenua since Monday 26th August.

The pipeline is being constructed on wāhi tapu (a sacred site), where some 120 people perished in the Mount Tarawera eruption of 1886.

By law, such a project must have a cultural monitor, who in this case would be expected to be in communications with Rotorua Lakes Council, Waka Kotahi, and mana whenua.

However, Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith (Tūhourangi) says that there has been no such presence in the project.

“We are aware Fulton Hogan have commenced work without having a iwi liaison and waka kotahi observer onsite.”

“They have broken the law and illegally continued with commencement of this destructive work to the environment and whenua.”

Fulton Hogan have been contracted to the Council for this pipeline, and have attracted criticism during their time on the project due to an alleged death threat against a protestor.

Skipwith says that the iwi are calling for support from the public.

This right here in Rotokākahi is Te Arawa's Ihumātao, Te Arawa's Bastion Point”.

“We urgently need people on the whenua with us mana whenua holding our whenua peacefully.”

Sources:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519859/we-ll-kill-you-claims-of-death-threat-in-clash-over-sacred-lake

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