Latest news with #WaikatoRegionalCouncil
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Heavy rain could overwhelm north Waikato's drainage schemes, regional council says
The Ngati Maru Highway, which leads into the Thames township, flooded after heavy rain from Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ / Luka Forman Forecast heavy rain could overwhelm north Waikato's drainage schemes, the regional council is warning. All of Waikato is under a heavy rain warning or watch, and severe wind watches are in place for some areas. Regional flood coordinator Rick Liefting said the heavy rain, which was expected to arrive early Tuesday morning, could "exceed the design" of Waikato Regional Council's land drainage schemes in the north. "That means surface water may not be removed within the three-day level of service. So landowners are advised to ensure stock is moved to higher ground or away from areas which may be isolated due to floodwaters," he said. "The Waikato region has received its fair share of rain over recent weeks and while the sunny weather over the past week has provided a welcome reprieve, our catchments remain saturated and river levels elevated. Any further rain will flow off the catchments and result in water courses rising quickly. "All our land drainage schemes are operating as they should, but will be working hard, with some potentially taking longer to drain water from paddocks." He warned that localised heavy rain could cause landslips, surface flooding and water courses to rise quickly, while the combination of saturated catchments and severe winds would increase the susceptibility for tree fall. "The forecast strong winds will cause coastal water levels to rise along with increased waves likely causing some minor coastal impacts along the southern Firth of Thames and eastern Coromandel Peninsula coasts," Liefting said. "We are also monitoring long-range forecasts, as any further events will compound impacts of this week's rain. "We have been working with our partner agencies, including civil defence emergency management, to ensure they are informed of the potential impacts of this week's forecast heavy rain." The council said people could visit its [ website] for further information, including links to water level and rainfall data. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
23-07-2025
- Scoop
Effluent Mismanagement Attracts Large Fine
Press Release – Waikato Regional Council Arrick Limited was convicted and sentenced by District Court Judge Melinda Dickey on 4 February 2025 on a charge filed under the Resource Management Act, with the sentencing decision received this week. A prosecution taken by Waikato Regional Council has resulted in a Taupiri farming company being convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment. Arrick Limited was convicted and sentenced by District Court Judge Melinda Dickey on 4 February 2025 on a charge filed under the Resource Management Act, with the sentencing decision received this week. In November 2023, council officers conducted a compliance inspection at a farm owned by the defendant at Taupiri, north of Hamilton. They found the dairy effluent storage pond was overflowing, with effluent ponding in the surrounding paddock at such a depth and volume that it posed a risk of contaminating groundwater. In her sentencing decision, Judge Dickey found that the system was poorly managed in the time leading up to the offending and concluded that the defendant had been highly careless in its management of proper effluent disposal on the farm. 'Unfortunately, this is a case where the defendant has failed to address effluent management on the property despite repeated requests by the council since 2012 for the farm owner to upgrade the farm effluent system and previous discharges from the same pond,' said acting Regional Compliance Manager Evan Billington. 'The rules are very clear, and do not permit the discharge and ponding of effluent from effluent holding facilities. That's because large volumes of ponded effluent can pose a real risk of contaminating groundwater.'
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pre-Election Report Now Available
The 2025 local body elections present an exciting opportunity to begin a national conversation about the future of central and local government services, how they are funded, and how we can best deliver positive outcomes for our environment, our communities and our economy. That's the word from Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay, who has released his pre-election report to promote public discussion about the issues facing the council ahead of the local government elections. 'Whether you're considering standing for regional council or not, you'll no doubt have heard discussions about the future of regional councils on the back of the Government's Resource Management Act reforms,' says Mr McLay. 'I say yes, it is time to talk. Let's have conversations about the public services provided by local and central government, iwi and other stakeholders, and the scales at which each might be delivered more efficiently and effectively.' Regional councils were established through the 1989 local government reforms to bring together some 600 catchment, rabbit, pest and drainage boards as it was recognised that biosecurity, land management and flood protection services were best managed at a regional scale. Public transport systems, civil defence and emergency management, maritime safety, and resource use management are also among the portfolio of functions of regional councils. 'By undertaking these services, we shape this country's future. We create the right conditions for the growth, resilience and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand. We're big enough to deliver services efficiently and effectively, yet we're small enough to have place-based knowledge of our landscapes and communities,' says Mr McLay. 'However, we do see the need for change. We're a growing nation and our future demands a smarter, more connected system of national and local government, one that aligns functions with the right scale, empowers local voices, and invests in long-term partnerships.' Key issues facing Waikato Regional Council include: the cost of food, rent, power and interest payments are hitting households hard, and with the Waikato median weekly household below the national average, it is a challenge to fund essential public services impacts of the Resource Management Act reform on the council's responsibilities in managing natural resources and the environment. helping communities prepare for and respond to natural hazards and the impacts of severe weather events funding of flood protection asset renewals, and implementing sustainable solutions maintaining and improving indigenous biodiversity on private land and the coastal marine area long term management of invasive species such as freshwater clams (Corbicula) and exotic Caulerpa seaweed improving water quality, particularly in the Waikato and Waipā catchments, and safeguarding sustainable access to quality fresh water into the future the rapid expansion of urban areas and the impacts on three waters infrastructure, transport infrastructure and land use. 'These are just some of the big issues the new council will need to factor in their decision making,' says Mr McLay. 'Councillors are provided with technical expertise to guide informed decision making, and always with our communities and the environment in mind.' Mr McLay notes that, in general, participation in local government processes is low. 'It's important that community views are heard in order to inform the work of the council. This can occur in two ways – by standing as a candidate, or by voting in the elections. 'I really urge all Waikato region residents to be informed on the matters of the regional council and to participate in the local elections, either as a candidate or to vote for the person who you think will best represent your views and interests.' Local elections information for candidates and voters, including the pre-election report and what the regional council does, can be found online. The names and contact details of candidates are being added to the council's website as nominations come in. The council will also be inviting all candidates to film a video profile to go online after nominations close on 1 August.
1News
17-07-2025
- 1News
Forestry firm, director fined $112,000 for ongoing pollution of stream
Slash and sediment polluted an important stream in Waihī for over a year and despite six inspections, and two abatement notices, a logging company refused to change its behaviour and continued to cause environmental damage. Forestry company Seaview Logging Limited and company director, Graeme Howard Savill, who carried out the harvest, were convicted and sentenced by Environment and District Court Judge Lauren Semple in the Huntly District Court in April on five charges of breaching National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry and fined $112,500. After the conviction, the defendants appealed the sentence to the High Court. However, this week that appeal has been abandoned and RNZ can now report the original sentence. The summary of facts showed that on October 6, 2022, Waikato Regional Council enforcement officers visited the 18-hectare plantation forestry block on Thorn Rd, Waihī to inspect the harvest operation. The council found several breaches of the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry, including a lack of stormwater and water run off control, exposed areas of soil which had not been stabilised, and unmaintained and ineffective erosion and sediment control measures. ADVERTISEMENT This was the first of six inspections over 2022 and 2023 which all found sediment and erosion control measures were deficient in protecting the environment from discharges. In her sentencing indication, Judge Semple said during each visit to the site the council told the defendants that the sediment and erosion control measures were unsatisfactory to prevent the discharge of sediment to waterways. "Rather than work with the council to ensure that appropriate sediment and erosion control measures were put in place and appropriately maintained, Mr Savill determined that such measures were unnecessary or could be undertaken in a perfunctory manner or at a later date." Judge Semple also wrote that Savill was an experienced operator who knew, or should have known, that effective sediment and erosion control mechanisms are a fundamental component of a forestry harvesting operations. "I accept the prosecutor's submission that the offending was deliberate and sustained. I find the defendants' actions to be highly careless bordering on reckless and the culpability in this matter to be high." Waikato Regional Council's acting regional compliance manager Evan Billington said the Waitaheke Stream, which was affected by the failure to control sediment and erosion, should be protected. He said the effects of sediment and forestry slash on waterways was widely known. "The harvest and earthworks management was done very poorly, with Mr Savill failing to take his responsibilities seriously, despite the intervention of council officers," Billington said.
NZ Herald
17-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Waihī logging company fined $112,500 for stream pollution, breaching environmental standards
The council found several breaches of the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry, including a lack of stormwater and water runoff control, exposed areas of soil which had not been stabilised, and unmaintained and ineffective erosion and sediment control measures. This was the first of six inspections over 2022 and 2023 that all found sediment and erosion control measures were deficient in protecting the environment from discharges. In her sentencing indication, Judge Semple said during each visit to the site, the council told the defendants that the sediment and erosion control measures were unsatisfactory to prevent the discharge of sediment to waterways. 'Rather than work with the council to ensure that appropriate sediment and erosion control measures were put in place and appropriately maintained, Mr Savill determined that such measures were unnecessary or could be undertaken in a perfunctory manner or at a later date.' Judge Semple also wrote that Savill was an experienced operator who knew, or should have known, that effective sediment and erosion control mechanisms are a fundamental component of forestry harvesting operations. 'I accept the prosecutor's submission that the offending was deliberate and sustained. I find the defendants' actions to be highly careless bordering on reckless and the culpability in this matter to be high.' Waikato Regional Council's acting regional compliance manager Evan Billington said the Waitaheke Stream, which was affected by the failure to control sediment and erosion, should be protected. He said the effects of sediment and forestry slash on waterways were widely known. 'The harvest and earthworks management was done very poorly, with Mr Savill failing to take his responsibilities seriously, despite the intervention of council officers,' Billington said. – RNZ
