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11 Feb 2015
To – Northland Regional Council
Whangarei District Council
Fonterra, Dairy NZ, Federated Farmers,
DOC, NIWA, NKONWM hapuu and stakeholders.
Report #115 Waitaua Stream in the Hatea River Catchment – Dairy cows and a butchered sheep carcass and intestines are polluting the stream.
• 04.02.2015 Some 35 to 40 dairy cows were observed and photographed continuing to graze the riparian of the Waitaua Stream. Fouling was photographed up-to, and into the stream. Children and adults were swimming downstream at the Whangarei Falls on that day.
• 08.02.2015 Late afternoon, a sheep carcass was observed in the stream just below the Vinegar Hill bridge and the intestines were located a little further down. The sheep carcass was probably thrown from the bridge by someone (ie. not the farmer). Children and adults were swimming at the Falls early on the same day. The carcuss had been in the water for some three days, but was not there on the previous visit (on 4th).
• 09.02.2015 At 9am ERP reported (#115) the sheep carcass and cattle and location to NRC Hotline next morning At 9am on 11th the NRC rang to advise they will follow up to remove the carcass.
• Three prior reports have been sent to NRC in regard to this same location – Report #036 on 19.11.2013 and Report #064 on 29.05.2014 and Report #085 29.07.2014. The Whangarei Harbour is an NRC “priority catchment” and comes under the NRC banner of “Waiora Northland Water”. This programme takes responsibility for the wellbeing of the Whangarei Harbour and its catchments.
• Dairy cows continue to foul the Waitaua Stream and beef cattle are unfenced on the adjoining Managkino Stream. They are polluting the streams with excrement, urine and sediment run-off. The streams is part of the Hatea River catchment and flows on down to the Whangarei moana. The dairy cows have in the past been crossing the stream to graze the recently “planted riparian” on the opposite WDC managed strip.The cattle up the Mangakino cross and graze both sides of the stream.
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• Please serve a notice to the farmer to cease causing “detrimental effects” to these stream as per the RMA. ERP-A has been reliably informed that the owner of these cattle is a dairy farmer, if so, the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord requires that the farmer must comply with fencing. Fonterra has a duty to perform.
• This is the ninth report on the greater Whangarei harbour catchment where beef and dairy cattle are causing considerable damage to the riparian and causing detrimental effects to the waterways at seven different locations. Please advise what action has been taken to instruct this farmer to cease causing detrimental effects to this stream, the Whangarei Falls swimming hole and the Whangarei Harbour.
naku noa
Millan Ruka
Environment River Patrol – Aotearoa
My hapu
Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau, Te Mahurehure ki Whatitiri
*39x GPS Mapped photos are attached along with previous reports and an internet link to ERP-A web site.
In a Northern Advocate photo article (01.23.2015) a “CODE RED” was issued for the Falls swimming hole. An
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NRC Chairman’s statement to Radio NZ 06.11.2014 said that little can be done, we have no policy and it’s not
realistic to fence cattle from our rivers and streams.
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