Two wahine speak up for Makaroro River in response to question, ‘do you support Ruataniwha dam?’

Only Amiria Nepe-Apatu and Te Ata Kura Huata provided clear responses to this question, both emphatically opposing the dam and acknowledging their kaitiaki responsibility to protect and nurture our shared awa. 

This question was posed to all CHBDC candidates by Advocate for Wise Water Use, Shona McDonald. 

Kia kaha to both Amiria and Te Ata for showing strong leadership on this issue, and best wishes to them both in the current local body elections for the Ruatahi ward seat!

Both responses are reproduced in full below: 

 Amiria Nepe-Apatu:

“I do not nor will not ever support/agree to the building of a dam on the Makaroro River. It is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Culturally it will block the flow rate into our waterways and I don't agree that the resources of the river should be handed over to greedy farmers who want their own waterpark.

I also disagree that CHB District Council allows the application for Resource Consent to a project that has wasted money and time on it. It needs to be put to rest.”

Te Ata Kura Huata:

 “Proposal in the True Spirit of Te Tiriti o Waitangi , We as tāngata whenua and our allies, stand united like a mighty kauri tree against the idea of a dam at Site A7 on the Makaroro River, nestled in the Wakarara Block. This proposal threatens not just the soul (mauri) of the river and its lands but also tramples on the promises of Te Tiriti o Waitangi which vows to protect our treasures — our lands, waters, and ecosystems.

The Makaroro River is far more than a mere stream. It’s a revered ancestor, a crucial thread in our whakapapa, and a treasured gift that nurtures the spirit and body of our people. Damming this river is like cutting off a vital family member, silencing its song, and forgetting the sacred duty of partnership, protection, and participation embedded in Te Tiriti.

Flooding conservation land — home to native creatures, sacred spots, and ancestral memories — is a direct slap in the face to Māori values and environmental kaitiakitanga. It undermines our role as the land’s guardians and dismisses the ancestral wisdom of living in harmony with these ecosystems.

Consider the recent collapse of a landslide dam on the Kaiwhata River in Wairarapa. This event is a big, flashing neon warning about the risks of messing with natural waterways in shaky regions. The potential hazards to downstream communities, including Māori settlements, are real and downright unacceptable.

We urge the Crown, local authorities, and developers to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi not just with empty words, but with real action. This means entering into a genuine partnership with iwi and hapū, respecting our right to say "no thanks," and safeguarding the mauri of our rivers.

Ko te wai he taonga tuku iho. Let the Makaroro River dance freely. Our whakapapa, our future, depends on it.”