The Manawatū River Leaders’ Forum met for their last meeting for the year yesterday. In addition to hearing how projects under the Freshwater Improvement Fund is progressing, Forum members welcomed MidCentral District Health Board to the group.
MidCentral District Health Board’s General Manager Maori Health Tracee Te Huia says the Accord’s vision, “if the water is healthy, the land and the people are nourished”, aligns well with the District Health Board’s vision and mission.
“It will be advantageous for the District Health Board to partner with the Accord in addressing the issues of the awa,” says Ms Te Huia.
“It’s a legislative obligation for us to support healthy waterways and as the largest employer in the district we are well set to take on the responsibility with our expertise and reach into communities.”
Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord independent chair Richard Thompson says that MidCentral DHB is a welcomed member, joining over 50 other Forum members that range from the regional, and city and district councils, to iwi, Department of Conservation, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Fish and Game, and Forest and Bird.
“Collectively, we are all working towards the same thing – improving waterways in the Manawatū Catchment so that they are safe, accessible, swimmable, and provide good recreation and food resources,” says Mr Thompson.
“One of the many ways we are working towards achieving tasks set out in our 2016-21 Action Plan is through $12.3 million worth of Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord projects, assisted by $5.84 million from the Ministry for the Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund in 2017.”
At Thursday’s meeting Horizons Regional Council gave an update on how the FIF projects have progressed since 1 July 2019 for the financial year to 30 June 2020.
