A dispute over Gore’s district plan will be played out in court, after lobby group Groundswell filed an appeal against the council in the Environment Court.
In a statement released at the weekend, Groundswell NZ said it had filed the appeal because local iwi were "given a say on anything someone might do" and "the usual litany of unworkable, counterproductive and intrusive land classifications" in the plan that failed to strike a balance with property rights.
When the district plan was released two years ago groups including Groundswell and Federated Farmers took issue with the Māori cultural values portion of the plan.
The council’s plan said it "recognises and protects the historic and contemporary relationship of Māori with the natural environment and places where cultural practices are undertaken within the Gore district".
Groundswell said these were "very broad" and constituted "vague bureaucratic speak under Māori headings" but were "worded to mean that the cultural values are affected by everything".
"After talking to Gore District Council directly and having over 10% of Gore residents sign our petition against these parts of the proposed district plan, they still won’t stop these outrageous changes and we’re now at the point where legal action is necessary," the group said.
The group said they were "not having a go at Māori" and said they did not blame Hokonui Rūnanga for "pushing their luck", but rather were asked what they wanted and said so.
Groundswell said the present proposed plan did not meet the goals of the Resource Management Act (RMA) because it turned natural, cultural and historic values on property into a liability rather than an asset, it impacted property values and it forced councils into conflict with their communities "and their most conservation-minded constituents".
Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said as the matter was now before the courts, he was unable to publicly comment on the appeal, but said he would try to work with the parties to come to an agreement where appropriate — and "hopefully resolve this".
Hokonui Rūnanga was approached but declined to comment.
