I wasn’t sure what to write about this week—”the environment” is such a vast and nuanced topic that I felt overwhelmed by the range of possible discussions. However, I then came across the news regarding the failed bid to halt construction in Rotokākahi, a project that aims to route sewage from 440 properties through a sacred site significant to the local Māori population. These sites include ancestral burial grounds, holding the remains of those who perished when Mount Tarawera erupted.

While the project’s stated objective is to improve environmental conditions and reduce local pollution, is it acceptable to disregard the concerns of the affected communities? This issue has seen protest and action, not only from local residents but also from many who traveled over to show their support. Their primary demand is to reroute the sewage infrastructure to a different location that does not disturb sacred land.

It is disheartening to see how this situation has unfolded, and the seeming lack of care for the local communities’ plight. And though the Council has acknowledged the need for proper resource consents—permissions they initially lacked—the court ultimately ruled that this issue was insignificant. The decision was based on the argument that objections were raised too late in the project’s timeline, influencing the court’s ruling.

This case serves as just one example—among many with different contexts, stakeholders, and implications—where environmental initiatives cause harm or disempower. It highlights the necessity of thoroughly considering all affected parties and ensuring that solutions not only benefit the environment but also respect the rights, histories, and values of the communities involved.

(Te Ao Māori News) Anti-pipeline protest erected at Lake Rotokākahi. Photo / Laura Smith