Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Turia Tariana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:638;Page:8537] 
10.  
TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Maori Party) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Will he take any action to ensure consultation with NgatiPareraukawa and the Muaupoko Tribal Authority regarding the decision of the Horowhenua District Council to allow the transfer of rubbish from the Kapiti district to the Hokio Beach landfill in light of the Crown’s responsibility to maintain and improve opportunities for Maori to contribute to local government decision-making processes? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 Under the Local Government Act 2002 decisions relating to a council’s waste management plan are for a council to make within the requirements of that Act. Decisions relating to specific resource consents such as those at the Hokio Beach landfill fall under the Resource Management Act 1991. Accordingly any questions relating to the council’s decision-making process under that Act are the province of the Minister for the Environment. 
Tariana Turia 
: What consultation has there been with the Muaupoko Tribal Authority about the decision to open up the Hokio Beach site as a repository for nationwide rubbish—a site that has sacred significance for the people in terms of its close proximity to traditional burial grounds? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I indicated in the opening answer the decisions and the executing of those decisions under the Local Government Act are the province of the local council in question. I am advised that the long-term council community plan for that district provided for out-of-district waste to be dumped at the Hokio Beach landfill. Of course that plan was as is required by law a matter of consultation. 
Tariana Turia 
: In light of section 4 of the Local Government Act 2002 which places a very clear requirement on local authorities to consult with mana whenua what consultation has been undertaken with NgatiPareraukawa given that the landfill is literally on the backyard of their tribal marae at Ngatokowaru? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I have answered twice already this is a decision and responsibility under the very Act that the member is referring to of the appropriate territorial local authority. It is of course potentially judicially reviewable under that Act should the conditions for such a review be met. 
Nandor Tanczos 
: Does the Minister agree that building a landfill on a highly porous base such as sand then relying on a plastic liner to catch all of the leachate on the assumption that it will never fail which is what is happening at Hokio is a stupid and unnecessary risk that leaves the council exposed to future liability and directly cuts across the ability of NgatiPareraukawa and the Muaupoko Tribal Authority to exercise their kaitiakitanga or indeed of the Pakeha community to care for their waterways? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I have tried to explain—three times now—this decision is properly made by the territorial local authority which among its staffing expertise should have drainage and disposal engineering expertise. That is not expertise that I would ever claim to have. 
Tariana Turia 
: Is the Minister aware that NgatiPareraukawa as a party directly affected by this activity have raised their concerns over subsequent decades about the longstanding pollution caused by the sewage discharge which has compromised the health of their streams affected their marine environment and impacted adversely on the health of their tuna; and what initiatives will he take as a result of this to ensure that waste disposal policies do not at the same time create environmental hazards? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: As I also indicated in the substantive answer the aspect that the member now strays on to deals more with the resource consent which is a matter for the Resource Management Act which is the province of the Minister for the Environment.