protect the Kaipara

Our energy question cannot be answered by building water turbines, as tall as a 747 areoplane is long, and placing them at the entrance to Kaipara harbour - one of the largest and beautiful natural harbours in the world, with potential risks to Maui Dolphins and the major hatchery for West Coast snapper, and against the wishes of the local community and māori worried about sacred sites and kaitiakitanga.

That is not the answer but will only cause more problems.

The answer is reduction of energy demand. I'm afraid it is the only answer really, in combination with energy projects that are in harmony with the land, sea and people. The environmental effects of putting the initial 3 turbines in (total expected 200), over 2 years will be monitored. They don't get it - it will be too late to mitigate the environmental and ecosystem effects after they have occured. Once things are gone they never come back, at least not in the way they were. Too much risk and too much at stake - for what? To light up auckland's advertising signs?

I've posted about this before.

So just a little recap. 98% of snapper on the westcoast of te Ika a Maui are spawned in the Kaipara. 98%. The Five-story high turbines would have no environmental effect says Crest. They want exclusive occupancy for the entrance of the harbour.

Māori oppose the turbines

Mikaira Miru, a spokesman for the sub tribe Te Uri O Hau, fears the proposal will have a detrimental effect on the sea and coastal areas sacred to his people. He says ancient burial sites could also be at risk and encourages residents to make their voices heard before the deal is signed off. Mr Miru says there are 3000 pa sites on the Pouto Peninsula and a number are considered sacred. "Many areas are wahi tapu with the scattered remnants of our people all over the place." He is also concerned about the marine life. "There are huge holes in the Kaipara Harbour where there are snapper – yet they are talking about putting 25 metre high turbines in there," he says. "And they say the effects on the environment are minimal? It's an absolute joke," he says. "We've got money men playing their games in our backyard and there's no way I'm going to let them do that."

Mr Miru is among opponents to Crest Energy's proposal to set up 200 submerged turbines around the harbour's entrance at an estimated cost of $600m over ten years. He joined 500 people who filled the Dargaville Town Hall to express their concerns during a public meeting this month.

The minister has said yes to the proposal

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson granted approval yesterday for Crest Energy to begin installation of up to 200 tidal turbine generators in an 8-square-kilometre submarine field in Northland's Kaipara Harbour.

It's not over yet - the community is opposed - they don't want the turbines and we are getting to action time.

Some will say we need renewable energy to get away from oil and gas and yes that is true. This massive project does not stack up, it puts at risk the environment and ecosystem and disregards the wishes of the community, particuarily tangata whenua. It is supposed to benefit the people not alienate or override them.

will the media bite

I have blogged before about my opposition to the sea turbines suggested for Kaipara harbour - it is not the way to go and is likely to have severe impacts upon the snapper fishery.

Hone has waded into the debate.

From NZH

"The outspoken Maori Party MP told members of the Kaipara Harbour community in Dargaville they should drop chains and anchors into the harbour to protest against a planned sea-turbine power project.

And he suggested illegal action was sometimes necessary to get the message across, citing the case of a man who fired shots from a rifle at a fishing ship.

"My view is that they [the community] have got to send very clear signals about their opposition to the proposed turbine," Harawira said.

"If people are not listened to then they should take the action they want to. If they do, it's their business not mine.

Now the fact that Hone, as a member of parliment, is suggesting that illegal action is sometimes necessary, doesn't really bother me but it is a problem. And that is because we are about to have another media show -that is where everyone is up in arms around hone and whether he should have said it or not. It provides a distraction for fake outrage that focuses attention away from other issues - like mining our national parks for instance or raising gst. It gives the gnats some breathing space.

Hone is one of our leaders with charisma, courage and mana and we need them.

Sometimes less is more.