Federated Farmers floats Manawatu River ‘People’s Accord’
Released 31 Aug 2010
Following consultation with members of Federated Farmers, the Federation has drafted the ‘Manawatu River People's Accord', intended to complement the recently signed ‘Leaders' Accord'.
"By deliberately calling it the People's Accord, Federated Farmers wants to put the entire community's focus on the river, given we are part of the community too," says Gordon McKellar, Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei provincial president.
"This is not a rival Accord but a complementary one we are putting to our Accord partners today, because we wish to sit around the same table.
"Farmers made it very clear to us that they were unprepared to sign-up to anything that was driven by emotion and not reason. The public deserve nothing less than the scientific truth so they can come to a balanced and informed decision.
"The process we have run through gives me confidence to present this document to Accord partners in order to get their feedback. It's a document that farmers and we hope, other community groups, will be comfortable joining with as well," Mr McKellar added.
Crucially, the goals for both Accord's are identical according to Federated Farmers Tararua provincial president, John Barrow.
"We all want the same thing and that is a River to be proud of because farmers are part of the community and part of the solution," says Mr Barrow.
"Emotive words that described the River as ‘lacking in life' are at odds with what we farmers know about it. We knew the River is not biologically dead - far from it.
"That's why we have deliberately inserted native fish species into the main goal. The focus of farmers is on aiding our native fauna, so it was odd that word was omitted from the ‘Leader's Accord'.
"As we've written into our People's Accord, for anything to be achieved, the Manawatu River community needs ready access to credible scientific information that identifies the causes, the remedies and the economic costs involved with any solution.
"We've said all along that Federated Farmers takes signing a document seriously and by being thorough, we honestly feel this document is something farmers can put their name to," Mr Barrow concluded.
For further information contact:
David Broome, Federated Farmers communications, 04 470 2160, 027 448 9170
Gordon McKellar, Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei president, 06 323 4792
John Barrow, Federated Farmers Tararua president, 021 0268 0683, 06 374 5153
THE MANAWATU RIVER PEOPLE'S ACCORD
August 2010
Background
Early in 2010, the chairman of Horizons Regional Council invited key leaders with an interest in the Manawatu River to meet and discuss the state of the river. The leaders represent those sectors and groups that have an impact on or interest in the river: local government, iwi, farming, industry and environmental.
The leaders agreed that the state of the Manawatu River is less than desirable and the community wanted it "cleaned up". The leaders decided to continue to meet as a Leaders' Forum and to set goals that will guide a community wide process of improvement.
The Forum's focus was agreed: the whole of the Manawatu River and its tributaries. A vision and overarching goal was decided and key supporting goals and commitments were made. Together, the focus, vision, goals and commitments form an accord between the leaders. It represents a high-level commitment to take action to improve the state of the Manawatu River and to do it in a collaborative way that recognises the Treaty of Waitangi. The accord acknowledges iwi and hapu as indigenous peoples, and the range of interests and values connected with the river.
On 10 August 2010, at the signing of the ‘Leaders' Accord', Federated Farmers expressed its concern with the Accord's emotive language. In response, Federated Farmers Manawatu/Rangitikei and Tararua province's, consulted members on wording that would garner agriculture's support. The result is the People's Accord, designed to stand alongside the Leaders' Accord. The People's Accord signifies that responsibility for the Manawatu ultimately rests with the entire community.
Our focus
Our focus is the whole of the Manawatu River Catchment as it affects the mauri (life force) and ecological health of the Manawatu River and its tributaries.
To take ownership of the issues and solutions.
The rehabilitation and protection of the health and well-being of the Manawatu River Catchment for future generations.
Our shared vision
Kei te ora te wai, kei te ora te whenua, kei te ora te tangata.
If the water is healthy, the land and the people are nourished.
Issues
We note that the Manawatu River flows through a developed Landscape, which provides important social, cultural and economic benefits. We acknowledge factual evidence that the Manawatu River is degraded.
We also understand that people living in and around the Manawatu River want to be able to appreciate and enjoy the river by swimming in it, taking food from it, using it as a water source and protecting its cultural values.
For this to be achieved, people need easy access to credible scientific information that identifies the causes, the remedies and the economic costs involved.
Our main goal
Our goal is to improve the Manawatu River, the mauri (life force) of the Manawatu River Catchment, such that it sustains native fish species and is suitable for contact recreation, in balance with the social, cultural and economic activities of the catchment community. This goal represents a community opportunity to develop leadership in catchment improvement, to capture the social and economic benefits of such leadership.
Goals
- The Manawatu River becomes a source of regional pride and mana.
- Waterways in the Manawatu Catchment are safe, accessible, swimmable1 and provide good recreation and food resources.
- The Manawatu Catchment and waterways are maintained in a healthy condition.
- Sustainable use of the land and water resources of the Manawatu Catchment continues to underpin the economic prosperity of the Region.
1 Noting that some parts of the catchment, by their nature, are not safe for swimming
Commitments
We will:
- Establish, with the Leaders' Accord, a collaboratively owned and implemented Action Plan by March 2011, ready for implementation by 1 July 2011 that will scientifically identify the causes, remedies and the economic costs of:
- targets for improvements
- timeframes for achieving the targets
- actions and opportunities
- indicators and methods for on-going monitoring.
- Work together positively and collaboratively towards achieving our goals and realising the vision.
- Keep the entire community informed of goals and progress inviting participation where practical.
- Advocate for our vision and goals.
- Meet with the Leader's Forum at least twice a year to receive reports on progress, provide guidance to those implementing the Action Plan and to talk with those who may be impacted.
