Joe Harawira - Rena Resource Consent

Submission on applications for resource consent:
Astrolabe Community Trust - MV Rena
Person or organisation making submission
Company/Trust/Society/Name of Person: Hohepa Joseph HARAWIRA
Contact person:
HOHEPA JOSEPH HARAWIRA
Postal address:
19 FARNSWORTH CRESCENT
Phone number(s):
308 5949
Email:
[email protected]
Resource consent submission
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resource consent applications you want to make a submission on.
Consent
authority
Application
number
Summary of application
(please refer to applications
for full description)
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for each of the applications
you want to submit on
Support
Bay of Plenty
Regional Council
67891
To abandon the wreck of the MV
Rena, and its associated debris,
on Otaiti (Astrolabe Reef).
Bay of Plenty
Regional Council
67891
To authorise any future
discharges of contaminants from
the wreck and debris to the
Coastal Marine Area.
Oppose
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No
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translator will be provided. (Please )
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them at the hearing (Please )
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Neutral
My submission is:
Summarise the nature of your submission, indicating which parts of the application/s you are
submitting on and giving reasons for making your submission.
I seek the following decision from the consent authorities:
(Give details including the general nature of any conditions sought)
Signature
Name
HOHEPA JOSEPH HARAWIRA
(in block letters)
Signature
(Submitter/person authorised to sign on behalf of submitter)
07 AUGUST 2014
Date
By signing this submission I confirm I have authority to sign on behalf of the submitter/s listed, e.g.
Company/ Trust/Society.
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Submissions close at 5.00 pm on Friday, 8 August 2014.
If you do not wish to lodge your submission electronically please send your submission to the address below.
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address below.
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If yes, number of pages:7
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Please Note: If you are making your submission by electronic means a copy of your submission will
automatically be forwarded to the applicant.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
PO Box 364
Whakatāne 3158
Attn: MV Rena - Submission
Fax: 0800 884 882
Astrolabe Community Trust
C/O Beca
PO Box 903
Tauranga 3140
Attn: Cushla Loomb
Fax: 0800 578 967
SAWMILL WORKERS AGAINST POISONS (SWAP)
KAIMAHI MIRA KANI RAKAU, WHAKA HE PAIHANA
HONESTY IS THE ONLY POLICY
Ma te whakapono, ka taea
Address: 19 Farnworth Crescent, Whakatane
Wk: Ngati Awa Social & Health Services, PO Box 2076 Kopeopeo, Whakatane
Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngati Awa
Ko Te Pou Mataaho
Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku
Facilitation Services
Te Matapihi o Te Matauranga
Before the Regional Council
In The Matter of:
The Resource Management Act 1991
AND
In The Matter of:
The MV RENA Owners (Astrolabe
Charitable Trust) resource consent
for Partial Removal of the wreck on
the Otaiti Reef
Opposing Submission of Hohepa Joseph Harawira
Is for Total Removal
Partial removal of the wreck will leave hazardous substances in
the environment which will have detrimental consequences to
long-term health of our environment and our future generations.
Introduction
My name is Hohepa Joseph Harawira, I am employed as (Project
Coordinator), under Sawmill Workers Against Poisons (SWAP)
firstly, and secondly, Te Pou Tiriao o Papatuanuku under the
mantle of Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngati Awa (NASH). This is a project
unit at Ngati Awa Social and Health Services which has supported
SWAP by establishing a Health services programme that provides
for the particular needs of people and whanau who have been
physically affected by PCP/Dioxins/Furans and other Hazardous
substances. I am a founding member of Sawmill Workers Against
Poisons (SWAP).
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I have been awarded a Queens Service Medal for long services to
the community along with the Whakatane District Councils EBOP
Triple A Awards for Outstanding Community Contribution in
promoting and implementing projects that will meet SWAP’s,
Community and Ngati Awa aims of seeing the cleanup of
contaminated sites, waterways, water tables, rivers, drains, canals
and the health needs of people affected by PCP/Dioxins//Furans
and other hazardous substances being addressed.
Other concerns are deep sea drilling exploration, the MV RENA
issues along with New Organisms and Hazardous Substances
applications and decisions on use of Methyl bromide, Antifouling
paints reassessments, 1080, Hi-cane, Aquatic Herbicides,
Insecticides reassessments, timber treatment chemicals containing
copper carbonate and Tebuconazole and a whole host of others
where application decisions are approved with controls. In addition
there are concerns about introduced species to deal to pest
weeds, plants etc versus native species, Councils development on
Contaminated sites – development in active geothermal situations,
subdivisions and a proposed Marina site. The list continues but
what this does to is prompt people like me to recognise and have a
deep concern for the fragility of PAPATUANUKU and to want to do
something about it.
What I am saying is that concerns about the chemicals, toxins and
metals that formed part of the MV Rena cargo as well as the toxins
contained in the marine anti foul paints on its hull are not
addressed by the application.
My concern is derived from my experience in dealing with toxins
and chemicals in the environment and from an appreciation of how
this links to my cultural heritage.
Although we continue to develop technologies to improve our lives
and surroundings, the rumblings from the Atua Ruaumoko –
Tawhirimatea and other Natural disasters reminds me of the
importance of who we are regarding and our connection to
RANGINUI and PAPATUANUKU.
Whakatikatia te he, ka tangi a RANGINUI raaua
PAPATUANUKU e tukinotia e raaua, e taaua te tangata.
ko
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Make right the wrong, Ranginui and Papatuanuku grieve deeply for
mans destruction of them.
Tūa te whakātu ka mohio
Ma te mohio ka marama
Ma te marama ka matau
Ma te matau ka ora.
By discussion cometh understanding
By understanding cometh light
By light cometh wisdom
By wisdom cometh
Life everlasting
Ko te whakapapa tēnei,
Mo nga taonga tuku iho o Io Matua Kore.
Ka moe a Papatuānuku ia Ranginui
Ka puta,
Ko Tanemahuta, Ko Tangaroa, Ko Tawhirimatea,
Ko Tumatauanga, Ko Haumie-tiketike me Rongomatane
Ko enei nga taonga tuku iho o rātou ma
Ko rātou nga kaitiaki mo enei taonga
Genealogy recites for us our divine inheritance,
Through the union of Earth Mother and Sky Father who gave birth
to our resources and entrusted their care into our hands, the Lands
and the Sea, the Forest and the Birds, the Animals and Plants,
right down to marine life and sediment dwelling species. All these
treasures bestowed upon us as nurturers and as kaitiaki.
Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngati Awa
Te Pou Mataaho – (ultimate well being)
Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngati Awa has developed a Maori Model of
service delivery that has transformed the organisation into an
organisation that uniquely reflects its Ngati Awatanganga and
Haputanga (Te Patuwai, Ngai Te Hapu) through the delivery and
management of its services; one that balances infrastructure
development and which provides information and education within
policies based on a Maori paradigm.
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The Model is likened to a journey which recaptures the strand of
cultural identity based on the journey from Te Korenga (state of
dormancy) to Te Pou Mataaho.
Te Korenga
Te Aranga ake
Te Ohonga ake
Te Mohiotanga
Te Maramatanga
state of dormancy
the awakening
the awareness
the knowledge
the enlightenment
4 Pou are interconnected by 3 circles that create a central core of
space representing the overall optimum of well being regarding our
culture and delivery philosophy, recognising the organisations
cultural history
Te Pou Mataaho frame work logo depicts who we are through
these 4 Pou are:.
 Te Pou Ihorangi O Papatuanuku
Provides the spiritual link between Whanau and the source of their
Spiritual origins.
 Te Pou Tataiwhakaheke O Hineahuone –
Provides us with the knowledge of, and connection between
ourselves and others through Whakapapa.
 Te Pou O Hinetitama –
Turangawaewae – is the place you call home, your connection to
the Whenua.
 Te Pou Aoturoa O Wairaka –
Reinforces the importance of the support of your Whanau, Hapu,
Iwi and Waka.
Te Ohu Mo Papatuanuku (a collective response for the remediation of Papatuanuku),
This concept was put together by Nga Hapu o Ngati Awa ki
Whakatane where SWAP moved a motion that the bringing
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together of Matauranga Maori, Western Science, Medicine and
People to determine a diagnosis of chemical sensitivity regarding
the Health of the people and the environment and where the
preservation of the next generation is the ultimate goal.
At the hui at Wairaka Marae this concept was approved and put
into practice. The first outcome has been with the Kopeopeo Canal
where an estimated 85% success rate was achieved.
32 Dangerous Goods Containers;
SWAP was seconded on to the RENA Long Term Environmental
Recovery Plan Committee by one of the concerned Iwi, with
particular emphasis on the dangerous goods containers. We were
asked to do this because of our Hazardous substances knowledge
in environmental and health terms. I personally raised my
concerns from the very first hui that I attended and have
maintained that position right up to today,
I have had issues all along beginning with the ICC deployment and
the very first shoreline cleanup brigade; both before and after the
Corexit drop to disperse the oil and fuel, the empty and lost
containers, the containers that are still in the wreck as well as what
is the possible long term environment and health risk. Just as
important are the hazardous substances and chemicals and the
possibility of an accumulation and interacting of these substances
which could present a long term threat to marine life and the
marine environment around the reef as well as risks to humans.
Some of these chemicals and substances known to have been in
the cargo or (as with Corexit have been used subsequently); –
Hydrogen peroxide 10,000 kgs, - Trichloroisocyanuric acid TCCA
5,400 kgs - Potassium nitrate 24,096 kgs – Ferrosilicon 21,700 kgs
– Alkysulphonic 23,240 kgs. Tributyltin TBT, Cryolite, Copper,
Linear alkybenzine, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAH,
Corexit 9500, Aluminium Trisodium Hexafluride bi-product Cryolite,
Plastic Beads possible oil saturation.
Evidence given at the recent Waitangi Tribunal Hearing mentioned
the Nairobi International Convention 2007 where it was mentioned
that the Government needs to look at international maritime
agreements such as the Nairobi convention which requires foreign
5
companies to not only remove their wrecks but to also meet in full
clean up and recovery costs, Anything less than full removal of the
wrecks tells shipping companies they can act with impunity and
have no fear of any serious consequences.
The Stockholm Convention Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutions
(POPs), was adopted by 151 of the worlds governments in
Sweden in May 2001. NZ is one of the 151. This a major
achievement, This Treaty calls for immediately targeting 24
particularly Toxic POPs for Reduction and eventual elimination,
more importantly, it sets up a system for tackling additional
chemicals identified as unacceptably hazardous. The chemicals
identified here in Whakatane were all dumped into local Historic
sites with unknown long term health effects and where the
possibility of harmful interaction between these chemicals and the
environmental impact of their collective toxicity had not been
considered. My concern is that we face a similar situation with the
dumping of the Rena on Otaiti reef.
Factored in to this as well is the Deep Sea Exploration for
Petroleum and Minerals off shore waters in this area and around
NZ where the CMT meets with the EEZ, is there a disaster in
waiting here in comparison to the MV RENA disaster?
Climate Change;
Global Warming, Sea level rising, The Antarctic, Ice Land, Glazier
melt downs, Earthquakes, Floods, Green House effects, Weather
issues the list just goes on and on but shouldn’t these be matters
we take into account?
Man is at the forefront of all this, when is it that we will recognise
that Global Warming is here and we need to do something to
rectify what we are doing.
Monitoring;
Has the monitoring from day one regarding the health of marine
life, people and the environment continued? Is there a long term
monitoring mechanism in place, will the seabed be part of the
ongoing monitoring long term as well?
I puta mai te tangata I te Whenua, ko Papatuānuku tera, ko tā
mātou, hei tiaki te Whenua tae noa ki te wā e hoki nei mātou ki ā
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ia. E kore te tangata e whakararu ki tana Whaea. Ko au te
Whenua, ko te Whenua ko au.
To us, Land or mother earth is like our mother. We are destined to
be her care takers until we finally return to be laid to rest. No man
would ever consider desecrating their mother. I am the Land, the
Land is me. People of the Land.
Ma te manāki a Papatuānuku, ka tutuki nga mahi
Mauri Tu - Mauri Ora, - Mauri Noho – Mauri Mate.
Hohepa Joseph Harawira QSM
Te Pou Tiriao o Papatuanuku
Project Coordinator
Te Tohu O Te Ora o Ngati Awa
Ngati Awa Social & Health Services 7

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