A hui at Pehiaweri Marae in Whangārei to navigate the Government's proposals to clean up fresh waterways highlighted the need for everyone to be in the same waka.
The multi-stranded "Essential Freshwater: Healthy Water, Fairly Allocated" report's impact on Māori water and land users, inherent values and future safeguards were discussed at Thursday's meeting between iwi representatives, local hapu, freshwater campaigners and advisers, Ministry for Environment (MfE) officials and Northland Regional Council staff, among others.
The document proposes immediate action so water quality improves within five years, and waterways and ecosystems return to a healthy state within a generation. It also addresses water allocation issues and commercial interests.
The Māori perspective, ''Te Mana o te Wai'' — defined as the integrated and holistic well-being of the water, is key for the success of the kaupapa, Dover Samuels said.
Among speakers at the hui, he is one of two Te Taitokerau representatives on Kahui Wai Māori, the Māori Freshwater Forum which works with the Cross-government Water Taskforce. The other member from Te Tai Tokerau, Millan Ruka was also there.