Iwi stand united against dredging

Martin Tiffany | 11th March 2010

The battle lines were drawn as economic growth came face to face with cultural values in Mount Maunganui yesterday.

Tangata whenua made their total opposition known to plans by the Port of Tauranga to deepen local shipping channels by up to 3.3m.

Iwi after iwi and hapu after hapu yesterday  spoke in opposition at a consent hearing which is sitting this week to hear the port's resource management consent application to dredge existing channels in Tauranga Harbour to allow access to much larger container ships.

On the third day of the hearing  more than 60 tangata whenua members of all ages packed a meeting room at Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan Club to finally have their say after two days of listening to support for the plan.

Tangata whenua oppose the dredging, which will see 15 million cubic metres of sediment removed and relocated off Mount Maunganui, because of the effect  on traditional food gathering areas  and the permanent damage to area.

- See today's Bay of Plenty times for full story.