Agenda
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The Hauraki environment
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Coastal monitoring and studies
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Biodiversity
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Freshwater quality and quantity
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Works and services
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Policy initiatives
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Special project – Tui Mine
Hauraki iwi
boundaries
The Hauraki environment
Whitianga
Land use (2008)
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51% pasture
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38% natural forest
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8% planted forest
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1% horticulture and
cropping
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1% wetland
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1% towns
Pastoral
intensification
(2002-2008)
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64% no change.
26% moderate
intensification.
9% major intensification.
Coastal monitoring and studies
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Regional estuary monitoring since 2001 - ‘benthic’
animal communities and sediment characteristics in
the Firth of Thames.
Beach profile surveys since the 1970s - most of the
Coromandel beaches.
Estuarine vegetation mapping – one estuary every
five years.
Benthic habitat (shellfish) mapping for Tairua and
Wharekawa estuaries.
Sediment contaminants study in the
Firth of Thames.
Sources of
sediment entering the
Firth of Thames
Kaiaua – Miranda
Waitakaruru
Coromandel
Piako
Waihou
7%
8%
8%
15%
63%
Around 150,000 tonnes of
sediment flows through
from the Waihou each
year.
Mangroves
sediment and nutrient
800 metres
Modern day rate of about 19 metres per year.
Past rates, 2 to 3 metres per year.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and natural heritage
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Significant natural areas
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Environment Waikato has completed a desk top exercise to
identify “significant natural areas” of native species habitat in
the Coromandel.
Several hundred potential sites have been identified, but
these have not been ground-truthed.
Natural heritage
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Repeated surveys have confirmed the community highly
values the important natural heritage of Coromandel
landscapes and beaches.
Retaining public access to undeveloped beaches is a
community priority and an Environment Waikato policy
objectives.
Biodiversity and natural heritage
Community biodiversity projects:
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Environment Waikato and the Waikato Biodiversity
Forum have supported groups restoring or
protecting biodiversity sites on the Coromandel.
For example, Kauri 2000 has been supported to
plant thousands of trees, largely on Crown land.
Animal pest control by community groups protects
thousands of hectares of Crown land (e.g., Moehau
Environment Group).
Coastal, dune, and wetland restoration projects
have been particularly active and successful.
Pest plant and animal control
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Examples of work undertaken:
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monitoring of landowners’ compliance with pest control rules
in the RPMS
biological control releases
managing direct control of high threat pest plants through
contractors
providing advice/information to landowners
general surveillance for new pest incursions.
Five years of goat and possum control undertaken so
far - now in a maintenance phase.
Native bird resurgence has been a secondary
spin-off for the programme.
Significant
natural areas
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Identified for biodiversity
prioritisation.
31% of Hauraki iwi area.
Water quality and quantity
Water quality and quantity
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Large dairying influence – approx
550,000 dairy cows.
Nutrients in the rivers are high, but not
rapidly increasing.
Nutrient and contaminant runoff can
potentially have ecological impacts on
the southern firth, aquaculture and
amenity.
River quality
3
Total P
Total N
2.5
mg/L 2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Waikato River Waikato River
Hamilton
Rangiriri
Waihou
Te Aroha
2007 data
Piako –
Tahuna
Sources
of
nitrogen
in
rivers
Nitrogen
Nitrogen sources for the Piako
River sources for the Waihou R
gen sources for the Piako River
4%
Piako River
Waihou River
11%
4%
10%
11%
Point sources
15%
Background
Land use
Point sources
Background
Land use
%
85%
75%
50 – 70 per cent of N in the southern firth is from land use.
Total nitrogen
1992 - 2007
1
Decreasing N levels
Increasing N levels
No change to N levels
Waihou river
compared with other sites - ecology
Waihou river
compared with other sites - swimming
Water allocation
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Piako is over allocated - between 200 and 600
per cent.
Waihou River is about 80 per cent allocated.
Ohinemuri catchment is over 100 per cent
allocated.
EW is investigating new minimum and allocable
flows for the Waihou and Piako rivers.
Variation 6 addressing these issues.
Works and services
Piako stopbank stability
Coromandel
Peninsula Project
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Aims to improve the health of the environment and
reduce flood risks on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Integrated approach to improve water quality and
biodiversity, reduce sedimentation of rivers, harbours
and estuaries and improve community safety.
Multi-agency project – Environment Waikato, TCDC,
DOC, Hauraki Māori Trust Board.
Political management via Coromandel Liaison
Subcommittee with agency, iwi and community
representatives.
Key issues – inappropriate development, climate
change, pressure on coastal environment.
Waihou Piako
Waihou-Piako Zone
works and services
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Historic and significant whole of catchment schemes.
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Annual spend - $7.8 million.
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Retiring land, improving land stability, reducing erosion and
sediment runoff.
Maintaining stream channels, controlling erosion, riparian
plantings.
Significant flood protection works protecting 60,000ha of land from
river and tidal flooding (incl. Thames, Ngatea, Paeroa, Te Aroha).
Political management via Waihou Liaison Subcommittee with
agency, iwi and community representatives.
Key issues – land use intensification, sea level rise,
water quality.
Kaimai Mamaku catchment
management
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Kaimai Mamaku catchment management project
underway with Environment Bay of Plenty and DOC to
protect and enhance catchments on both sides of the
range.
A state of the environment report was commissioned
between the parties with a view to determining priorities.
Goat control in the southern Coromandel ranges is a
joint effort with DOC for catchment and biodiversity
enhancement objectives.
Dedicated possum control in upper Piako catchment
in Te Tapui Reserve for biodiversity enhancement joint funding with DOC and NZ Deer Stalkers.
Consenting
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Water takes.
Dairy factories.
Meat works.
Piggeries, chicken, dairy and marine farms.
Regional landfill at Tirohia.
Aggregate quarries.
Forestry.
Municipal sewage and stormwater discharges.
Peat mining, Waihi gold mine, Tui Mine and
Golden Cross closed mines.
Timber processing operations.
Navigation safety
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Ensures Waikato waterways are safe and
navigable by:
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developing policy instruments
ensuring compliance with the relevant policy
instruments
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navigable waterways
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Promotion, education and compliance activities.
Aids to navigation - lights and daymarks to identify
hazards.
Removal of obstructions that are hazards to navigation.
management of moorings.
Policy initiatives
Regional Policy Statement
review
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Contributions to the RPS review process
from the Hauraki Māori Trust Board (HMTB)
have given Environment Waikato a greater
sense of their priorities, both locally and
regionally. RPS will be notified in the next
few months followed by the document going
out for consultation.
Hauraki iwi will have the opportunity to
submit as part of the public consultation
process.
Coromandel Blueprint project
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Growth project for Coromandel Peninsula - has
developed district wide strategy and local area
plans currently being developed.
Joint project with Thames Coromandel District
Council (TCDC), Department of Conservation and
Hauraki Whaanui.
Will be implemented via TCDC’s district plan,
Environment Waikato’s RPS and Regional Plan,
DOC’s Conservation Management Strategy and iwi
management plans.
Aquaculture
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Aquaculture contributes $27 million to the region’s
GDP on a turnover of $44 million (2007).
Estimated 40 per cent of marine farming space is
operated by Māori owned or part-owned
businesses.
Environment Waikato is trying to amend the coastal
plan to allow the introduction of new types of
aquaculture, such as fish farming, within existing
farm sites and the zone.
Environment Waikato intends to uplift the prohibition
on aquaculture and replace it with discreet
exclusion areas over sensitive sites.
Marine farms (red) and
Wilson's Bay zone
(blue)
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B
1000 hectares
consented for mussel
and oyster farms.
Another 520 hectares
will be consented this
year (Area B).
20% of Area B will be
allocated to the Takutai
Trustee (104 hectares).
Hauraki Gulf Forum
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Environment Waikato is a big participant in this
forum along with iwi, Auckland Regional Council,
territorial authorities, DOC, Ministry of Fisheries and
Ministry of Māori Affairs.
Works to integrate management across the Gulf and
its catchments.
Must complete a state of the environment report
every three years.
Environment Waikato is a major contributor to this
report.
Special project:
Tui Mine remediation
Tui Mine remediation
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A contaminated site from acid mine drainage and two
contaminated streams.
$9.89 million budget allocated by MfE in 2007 to initiate the
remediation works.
Project objectives:
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contain the tailings within a stable and secure location
reduce the release of contaminants into the Tui and Tunakohoia
streams
improve the geotechnical stability of the tailing impoundment
improve the safety and security of the site
improve the visual appearance and aesthetics of the site.
Minister for the Environment is now assessing funding options
for an additional $7.62 million needed to complete the remedial
work.
Tui mine
Tui Stream
Waihou River
Tunakohoia Stream
Champion level 4
portal and waste
rock stack
Champion level 5
portal and waste
rock stack
Process area
Tailings dam
Access road