Taharua / Upper Mohaka

Action to improve water quality

The Regional Council is working in partnership with Taharua stakeholders to tackle the adverse effects of land use in the catchment on water quality in the upper Mohaka and Taharua Rivers. These outstanding rivers are nationally recognised by the Government’s Mohaka Water Conservation Order.

Background

The Taharua catchment [Map] has had significant changes in land use over the past 3 decades. Initially developed for extensive sheep and beef farming in the 1980s the catchment has seen significant dairy expansion over the last decade.

The Council began water quality monitoring of the Mohaka River during the 1980s with Taharua River monitoring starting in 1999 – at the same time as dairy expansion. Water quality concerns became apparent by 2005 leading to a comprehensive Science Investigations Project that is still ongoing and due for completion in mid 2010.

Council’s Strategy

The Taharua Policy Development Strategy sets out Council’s plan to build up effective, long-term solutions in partnership with stakeholders. Key milestones will include the setting of environmental targets in mid-2010 and notification of a draft plan change in mid-2011 (timescales may need to be adjusted, depending on science investigation outcomes). In the meantime, action is commencing now with landowners on reducing nutrient losses from their farms.

Taharua Stakeholder Group

The Taharua Stakeholder Group (TSG) will play a key role in helping develop management objectives, environmental targets and then a policy framework.

The TSG has been established to work in partnership with the Regional Council to build up effective, long-term solutions to water quality issues in the upper Mohaka and Taharua Rivers.

Present TSG representatives are:

All Taharua landowners
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Fish & Game
Fonterra
Dairy NZ
Federated Farmers
Ngati Pahauwera
Ngati Hineuru
Ngati Tuwharetoa
Mana Ahuriri Incorporated
Department of Conservation
Taupo District Council

The TSG enables key stakeholders to share knowledge and openly discuss ideas for improved catchment management, encouraging joint ownership of catchment issues and effective enduring solutions. The Group will make an important contribution to Council’s Taharua Policy Development Strategy, including a values, objectives and target setting process, followed by policy development. Actions by landowners are occuring in parallel with this process and will be refined to achieve agreed targets and outcomes.