Otago's four runanga (Kai Tahu ki Otago) want assurances from the Otago Regional Council that its proposed water quality regulation changes will safeguard their ability to gather food (mahika kai) safely and use the region's waterways.
"Put simply, continued degradation of water quality threatens a whole way of life," KTO resource management planner Tim Vial said on behalf of Kai Tahu ki Otago.
The runanga submitted together yesterday supporting the council's approach to improving water quality, but expressing concerns about its ability to drive change in rural land practices in Otago.
"The ability of council to link land-use practices to effects in the water is a significant issue of concern to kai tahu."
Evidence showed the receiving water quality standards and the discharge limits would not achieve water quality that safeguarded the life-supporting capacity of ecosystems, he said.
Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki member Suzi Flack said she was concerned the proposed plan change did not provide the certainty required to ensure the region's rivers and waterways were clean enough for "us to sustain our cultural practices and lifestyle".
"It would be tragic if poor water quality meant we could no longer go out and collect our mahika kai. That's why everybody's trying so hard to look after it."
Kiri Fraser, of Taieri Mouth, said the Taieri River was central to her family's lifestyle and it had changed a lot since she was a child.
"We've got to stop that, cows walking in rivers. We need to make the rules tougher so it's harder for those people to pollute our rivers."
Te Runanga Moeraki Upoko (appointed traditional leader) David Higgins said the development of the dairying industry had changed the Kakanui River forever.
"As the river flows have diminished, the water quality has subsequently suffered as a result of overuse and heavier water extraction levels."
Dr Robert Wilcock, Niwa Freshwater Estuaries National Science Centre, programme leader, said on behalf of the runanga, water discharge limits and receiving water standards seemed for the most part to be appropriate to protect or improve water quality in the region. However, the plan would benefit from greater clarification around terminology and specifying how conditions would be met, he said.
"Monitoring diffuse-source discharges at this scale and getting accurate and representative data that can be related to receiving water standards is a demanding task."
Of particular concern was the lack of detail around sampling, sample timing, and reporting of results, so that positive actions could be taken to avoid breaching the limits, he said.
Nutrient concentrations could be reduced to meet proposed limits if farmers adopted the appropriate best management practices, such as a mix of methods to manage loadings to land and methods for intercepting surface and sub-surface run-off from farms, Dr Wilcock said.
"It can be done. The technology is there."
Environmental consultant Dr Terry Broad said almost all of Otago's 31 freshwater species were reliant on river, stream and lake beds free of fine sediment contamination.
He recommended riparian management, including fencing of waterways and the testing of water for turbidity.
The hearing continues in Dunedin today.
Day 17
Where: Dunedin.
Panel: Crs Duncan Butcher (chairman), David Shepherd and independent member Clive Geddes.
Proposal: Changes to Otago's water regulations to prevent run-off in rural areas polluting the region's waterways.
Submitters: Kai Tahu ki Otago (Te Runanga Moeraki, Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki, Te Runanga Otakou, Hokonui Runanga) Matapura Ellison, Tahu Potiki, David Higgins, Myra Tipa, Suzi Flack, Kiri Fraser, Rewi Anglem, Tim Vial, Dr Robert Wilcock, Dr Terrence Broad.
Quote of day: "The resource was handed down to us relatively unpolluted and we have to do our best to do right so our grandchildren can do the same things we have been able to do, to eat fish and the mussels without worrying they are polluted." - Kiri Fraser
