Current Campaigns

• RAMSAR Application
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• Conservation Order Application
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• Opposition to current hydro application

RAMSAR Application:

The Convention on Wetlands is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their sources. It was adopted in the Iranian city of RAMSAR in 1971 and came into force in 1975, and is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. The Convention's member countries cover all geographic regions of the planet www.ramsar.org


Conservation Order Application:

Conservation Orders are defined in the Resource Management Act, 1991, and can be applied for through the Ministry for the Environment, for rivers that meet certain criteria of outstanding scenic, wildlife, fishery and / or ecological values.

Conservation Orders can be designed to protect a multitude of values including irrigation takes and can reinforce minimum flow provisions of District Plans.


Opposition to current hydro application:

Marlborough's iconic Wairau River is currently threatened by an inappropriate hydro proposal and Save the Wairau River Inc is working to protect the water system by becoming involved in the RMA process.

The endangered, endemic black-fronted tern and black-billed gull are two vulnerable birds that breed on the many shingle bars that form on this variable river. Trout and salmon, as well as four endangered native fish species, long finned eel, dwarf galaxid, northern or Canterbury galaxid and the giant kokapu. All these species will be at significant risk.

The immediate threat to the river is the proposal by Trust Power (the applicant), a power generator and retailer. They have applied to construct a hydroelectric power scheme in the Wairau Valley, where they are proposing to remove around 60% of the river flow near an existing power station at the Branch River and convey the water by canal, typically, 30 metres wide and four metres deep.

This will reduce the flow of the wide braided river to a stream, causing detrimental changes for our wildlife species and impacting on generations of New Zealanders.

As planned, the series of canals runs for a distance of 52 kilometres along the southern side of the Wairau Valley through farm and pasture land and across earthquake fault lines up to 13 times. Electrical power is to be generated by six power stations positioned on the canals, of which the design capacity is 70MW and will produce 415 GWh per annum. According to the applicant, the additional power will allow the Marlborough and Nelson regions to be more self-sufficient in terms of electricity supply, and reduce the reliance on overloaded and inefficient transmission lines carrying electricity from the south.

The Applicant has carried out an assessment of the actual and potential environmental threats arising from the construction and operation of the power scheme. They claim that major risks, such as damage by earthquakes, can be 'designed out', and threats to birds, flora, fauna and people can be 'managed out'. The post-mitigation effects are rated, by the applicant, to be 'minor' or 'less than minor'.

The Applicant has applied to Marlborough District Council for resource consents to build and operate the power scheme. The applications have been heard before a panel of hearings commissioners as per the Resource Management Act.

The panel of commissioners has reached its decision. The decision is to issue consents as requested by the applicant. This is in spite of over 900 objections to the scheme. In the decision, the chairman dismissed the objections of lay objectors as having no foundation because allegedly the objections were based on emotion not evidence. It would appear that the panel's decision may be in contravention of the Local Government Act 2002, at Sec.10, which states that the purpose of local government is:

"to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities"

If the panel's decision is to be believed that the community cannot express its individual or collective views unless these views pass a test that demonstrates the view is admissible in a court of law. A number of subject-matter experts appeared before the panel and presented against consents being granted - these considered opinions received no credence from the panel.

In January 2008 a Conditions Hearing commenced and after concluding in February it took until August before Marlborough District Council released the report. Despite most of TrustPower's demands being met TrustPower has appealed the decision with the Environment Court.

Save the Wairau River Inc has also appealed the decision along with Nelson Fish and Game, Department of Conservation, Jet Boaters Association, Ormand Aquaculture and others. Such a step is a challenge for our group but we have an excellent legal team helping us.

The Environment Court hearing is due to start in early November 2009.

Save the Wairau River Inc needs your help now, in fighting this inappropriate development to protect New Zealand's environment for future generations. Our group is opposing the project, through the Environment Court. You can help by becoming a member or sending a donation. Join the campaign here.