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Tom
Skerman, Erin Harford-Wright and Amanda Langley presented an update on the Regional
Water Security programme. Discussions traversed:
· Regional Water Assessment (RWA) report
(2021) provided valuable information about how much water is being used now, by
who, how much we will need in future, what climate change impacts it have,
and how to better manage demand given the forecast
impacts of climate change.
·
In 2019-2020, a
total of 161 million cubic metres of freshwater was taken from our
rivers, streams and aquifers for all domestic, industrial and irrigation
needs and there is a growing gap between freshwater supply and demand.
·
In future,
we’ll need to find another 32 million cubic meters more water by 2040
and by 2060 an additional 45 million cubic meters will be required
·
Agriculture accounts
for 54.4% of water use, followed by Municipal water supply (18.5%), Manufacturing
and processing ( 13.2%), Electricity (10.2%), Non-reticulated households (1.8%)
and Service industries (0.9%)
·
Indications are
that Hawke’s Bay rivers are at most risk to the impacts of
climate change and will be more severely affected than rest of New Zealand,
particularly the Tukituki River.
·
Te Mana o te Wai
introduces a hierarchy of priority for freshwater allocation across New
Zealand, where first allocation of water goes to the environment, followed by
human health and lastly to social, economic & cultural wellbeing
·
The RWS
programme presents options for decision makers on water security and the goal
is to ensure Hawke’s Bay has long-term, climate-resilient and secure
supplies of freshwater, for all.
·
How we engage
with iwi/Māori, as a partner, is going to be critical to success and
need to think regeneratively about water use.
·
Great engagement
with mana whenua in Central Hawke’s Bay with the Managed Aquifer
Recharge (MAR) pilot project.
·
Currently investigating
whether above ground water storage is viable for the Heretaunga Plains.
·
Funding
available in the Long Term Plan to support regenerative solutions to manage
water resources.
·
Water security
is a sub-set of Kotahi, with dedicated communications and engagement around
various workstreams for supply and demand.
·
The RWA is
almost complete – and it’s now time to start talking to
Treaty Partners, key stakeholders and the wider community about “why”
water security is at risk, the future and options to build resilience. A
Regional Water Assessment summary report will be made available to the public
at the end of July.
·
Proposed
approach is to build an understanding of the issues and seek mandate for a
long-term strategy.
·
RPC Tangata
whenua appointed Keri Ropiha to actively participate in Water security solutions
and discussions and will report to the RPC for updates.
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