Mass anger at harbour mess

Imran Ali | 13th December 2008

Octogenarian Pauline Smith didn't let her voice or pace lag behind hundreds who took to the streets of Whangarei, demanding urgent action on sewage overflows.

What seemed like a wee gathering of outraged residents soon gathered momentum at Whangarei's Laurie Hall Park about midday yesterday as up to 400 people from all sections of the community marched in solidarity over a basic community problem.

Placards bore messages such as "Save our harbour"; "No poo-luting our harbour"; "Healthy people, healthy harbour"; "1, 2, 3, 4 We don't want your mess no more, 5, 6, 7, 8, Save our harbour before it's too late"; and "We are all downstream".

The marchers chanted "Healthy people, healthy harbour" all the way to the Whangarei District Council where Mayor Stan Semenoff received a public petition containing about 5500 signatures.

The march was in protest over an application by the council to renew its consent to pump up to 24,000 cu m of raw sewage into the harbour in emergencies.

"If they can put money into sports facilities, then surely they can get the basics right," said Ms Smith, who just turned 80.

The Maori Party had a strong representation, although its MP Hone Harawira could not make it to the march.

Police presence was strong as the crowd began marching from Robert St, to Rathbone St then Rust Ave before assembling in front of the library.

Onerahi grandmother Rita Gregory said if the public could not dump sewage into the harbour, why should civic leaders be given the leeway?

"I get fined if I dump a bucket of waste into the harbour but when they do it, it's fine and, worse still, they want permission to continue dumping it," she said.

"Why should they ask for public permission to do something which I as an individual can't do?"

Jiah Thomas, who recently won gold in the World Outrigger Canoe Sprint Championships in Sacramento, said the practice of dumping sewage into waterways had to stop. After coming home from waka ama practices on Whangarei Harbour, the 14-year-old said she stank. It was "absolutely disgusting".

Northland District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Jonathan Jarman said Whangarei had a big problem with contamination of shellfish from human and animal faeces.

Mr Semenoff, flanked by his chief executive Mark Simpson and fellow councillors, was constantly interrupted while addressing the crowd as people demanded answers to the problem.

They didn't want to hear about the council debt and its achievements in other areas or about the ``hidden agendas' of disgruntled ratepayers as claimed by the mayor.

"I respect your march today and salute your passion for the cause. We're listening loud and clear," Mr Semenoff said.

"You need to know we don't have any hidden agendas. This is about the health of the harbour and I can tell you heaps of work has gone into it."

He attracted a torrent of anger while saying there were masses of poor people in areas like Otangarei, Raumanga and Morningside who the council also had to listen to.

The public was then invited to ask questions or comment on the issue.

A furious Terry Burkhardt of Kensington said Mr Semenoff had to listen to the ratepayers because New Zealanders lived in a democracy.

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said polluted harbours, rivers and lakes were not what made New Zealand a fantastic place to live in. "Who will stand up to protect our harbour? We will, because we're the people of this country and we know what's important to us."

Environment consultant Sarah Granich said: "It's disgusting and shameful. Stan doesn't seem to understand what the focus of this whole thing is. It's really disappointing."

Retiree Gord Griffin said the council should look at basics instead of throwing away money on rugby stadiums.