Genesis’ management practices, including its failure to lower the lake level, were far more destructive than Gabrielle — all while the company was publishing $523.5m in annual profits, TUT said.
The company needed to step up, develop a more caring attitude towards the lake and make a greater contribution to it, TUT said.
It was “following up” on the situation.
Genesis Energy chief wholesale officer Tracey Hickman rejected the allegations.
“This year’s weather events have been particularly challenging for many in the region,” she said.
“However, data does not support the suggestion that the management of lake levels by Genesis led to the damage and subsequent closure of the walk.
“High lake levels this year were due to the number of successive weather events in the catchment. This is highlighted by data that includes the average inflow to Lake Waikaremoana being higher in the 12 months to June 2023 than any other 12-month period since records began in 1930, and almost twice the long-term average.”
Genesis was contributing to an independent review commissioned by the Hawkes Bay Regional Council, she said.
“Genesis has tried to engage constructively in discussions about the walk over recent months with Te Uru Taumatua and Department of Conservation (DoC).
“This has included the offer of financial support to help get it open for later this year. This was in recognition of the unprecedented weather events and our desire to work together to address this challenge. That offer was initially rejected but still stands.
“There are ongoing issues around the location of some portions of the track which require further discussion, especially in the context of future wet years, and Genesis remains open to constructively participating,” Ms Hickman said.
TUT chief executive Kirsti Luke told The Gisborne Herald that Tuhoe wanted a commitment from Genesis’ chief executive for a higher standard of hydro management at Lake Waikaremoana.
“Paying for repeat repairs is not sustainable or affordable. This was proven after repairs were undertaken following Cyclone Hale only to be undone by Gabrielle — not directly from the weather event, rather the holding of the high water level in the lake.
“The lake is not being allowed to regulate itself naturally, thus all animal and plant life and structures on and at the lake are being negatively affected repeatedly.
“We are wanting to see a more authentic, caring attitude by Genesis to Lake Waikaremoana.
“The Genesis CE (chief executive) last met with us in March, agreeing to a further discussion on Gabrielle impacts.
“Offers of a financial contribution were made but were absent of a responsibility to causing the destruction and thus there has been no commitment to improving their standard of care at Lake Waikaremoana.
“That is not accepted. We will continue to work for a changed Genesis attitude.”
Ms Luke said the task of repairing the track had also been delayed by the slow transfer of allocated funding.
TUT was yet to receive money it had been allocated from a regional DoC Gabrielle recovery fund and a tourism levy fund.
It was also still waiting on annual operational funds.
In its pānui, TUT said the funding delay was “(again) causing another last-minute approach to repairing the Great Walk for the summer season”.
Management’s aim now was to bring all its biodiversity teams together to work through the next eight weeks towards the proposed January opening date.
Meanwhile, hikers keen to get into Te Urewera this summer could try out its other hotspots at the lake and in Te Urewera’s wider reaches, TUT said.
* A High Court hearing to decide whether TUT should be allowed to continue having workers decommission old DoC huts throughout Te Urewera will be held next month.
