In a first for an Otago Regional Council resource consent hearing, submissions by Dunedin's two runanga, Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki and Te Runanga Otakou, were heard at Otakou marae yesterday.
Otakou runanga Ngai Tahu representative Tahu Potiki said Otago Harbour was a site of singular importance to the Kai Tahu, Kati Mamoe and Waitaha people of the district.
"The profound changes that have occurred since European settlement have degraded the nature of this relationship and we are now at a point where further degradation would be not be acceptable."
It was the runanga's view more modifications must not further degrade the human or natural systems of the Otago Harbour, he said.
The runanga had concerns about the development of the harbour because it did not have faith that scientific predictions, "no matter how sound", could adequately provide the guarantees it required to exercise its guardianship responsibilities to protect the environment for future generations, Mr Potiki said.
Mr Ellison said the disposal of sediment and sand, if science and modelling were in any way wrong, had the potential to affect "our valued mahika kai [customary food gathering], our kai moana", which was physically and spiritually important.
"We are concerned that the coastline from Aramoana to Matakaea [Shag Point] will be swamped with moving sediments and sand, smothering our kai moana and coastal reef systems, destroying ecosystems."
Otakou runanga manager Hoani Langsbury said he was not opposed to the proposal, subject to appropriate conditions being put in place to meet his concerns about the adverse effects, which were "potentially significant and uncertain", especially on shellfish populations.
If the assumptions made in the specialist reports proved incorrect, "there needs to be an ability to stop the activity until such time as the effects can be mitigated", he said.
He was also concerned any impact on tuaki [cockle] beds would affect the ability of the local marae and whanau to provide kai moana for their visitors.
A working party should be established to review the monitoring and to ensure effects could be addressed in a timely manner, Mr Langsbury said.
Resource planner Tim Vial, on behalf of both runanga, said an active role for mana whenua (traditional guardianship over an area) should be a prerequisite for these consents given the significant relationship the runanga had with Otago Harbour and the Otago coastal marine area.
Granting of the consents should be subject to conditions that provided for the cultural, spiritual and environmental outcomes sought by the runanga, he said. That included being able to undertake their customary practices, ensuring an abundant supply of mahika kai resources were available and preventing further degradation of the area.
Otakou chairman Edward Ellison said it was the "continual slicing and, in some cases, carving away at the basic elements of the harbour that we are concerned with, one on top of the other, leading to greater and unforeseen changes".
The "tipping point" for the lower harbour and ocean dumping site from a cultural perspective might not equate easily with the environmental and ecosystem measurements and needed to be incorporated into any decision, he said.
PORT OTAGO HEARING
Panel: John Lumsden (chairman), Hugh Leersnyder, Dr Mike Johnston.
Proposal: Upgrade channel berth and swinging areas disposing 7.2 million cu m at sea. Extend multipurpose wharf by 135m. Construct fishing wharf at end of Boiler Point walkway.
Where: Otakou marae, Otago Peninsula.
Day 7: Submitters give evidence.
Giving evidence yesterday: Tahu Potiki, Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki - Tama Smith, Aroha Ellison, Hinerangi Heath, chairman Matapura Ellison. Te Runanga Otakou - Hoani Langsbury, Riki Harris and Eleanor Russell (not present, read out), Toni Evans, Paul Karaitiana, Moana Wesley, Tangi Russell (not present, read out), chairman Edward Ellison. Resource planner Tim Vial.
Quote of day: We are concerned that the coastline from Aramoana to Matakaea (Shag Point) will be swamped with moving sediments and sand, smothering our kai moana and coastal reef systems destroying ecosystems - Kati Huriapa Runanga ki Puketeraki chairman Matapura Ellison.
