As part of our work on freshwater, ORC wants to find out how people use the Manuherekia* River, what they love or value
about it, and how they want it to be managed in the future. Feedback from the community will help ORC develop a
Manuherekia Rohe Plan framework as part of our review of the Water Plan.
As well as public consultation online and in meetings (details at www.orc.govt.nz/manuherekia), ORC has formed a Manuherekia Reference Group (MRG) with representatives from Kai Tahu, the Department of
Conservation, Forest and Bird, Central Otago District Council, Fish and Game, the Central Otago Environmental Society
and irrigators.
The MRG meets monthly to facilitate discussion about community and stakeholder interests and aspirations for the
Manuherekia, and to assist ORC with the development of community objectives (which is another way of saying how the
river will be managed) for the catchment. The MRG is aiming for an intergenerational vision for managing water in the
future, and will be asking the wider community for their input.
The MRG has an independent chairperson, Alec Neill, whose role is to facilitate discussion. Mr Neill commented at the
last MRG meeting in Alexandra that “Each member of the group brings an understanding of the Manuherekia catchment to the
table, including environmental, social, economic and cultural perspectives, from the past, the present and for the
future.”
He also recognised that the conversation “is not starting from scratch” – considerable work was undertaken by ORC and
the community around values-gathering and discussion in 2017. Mr Neill also noted that the community itself has spent
considerable time articulating its values through the Manuherekia River Strategy process chaired by Allan Kane.
A key role of the MRG is to identify a range of possible solutions for improving the environmental and economic state of
the Manuherekia, including—if necessary—a view on the rate and scale of investment required to progress positive change.
Technical information on hydrology, ecology, water quality, farm systems, climate change and future land use is provided
by a separate Technical Advisory Group.
“The group discussion will include a debate on the benefits and costs of a range of regulatory scenarios for both the
catchment as a whole and specific areas within the catchment,” said Mr Neill. “This may involve identifying common
ground and points of disagreement, and the reasoning behind these points.”
The group will ensure that the concept of Te Mana o te Wai—putting the needs of the river first—is considered in the
development of the Manuherekia Rohe Plan. This concept reflects the recognition of fresh water as a natural resource
whose health is integral to the social, cultural, economic and environmental well-being of communities and is required
under the Resource Management Act. Te Mana o te Wai is also an integral part of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2014.