While Northland actually enjoys high average annual rainfall, a lack of storage means much of this valuable resource which falls on the whenua can’t be retained for use in times of shortage. By creating reservoirs and distribution schemes, landowners with access to them will be able to plan and implement future land use change with greater confidence.
The Trust’s objective is to develop these two water schemes to enable the establishment of commercially viable and environmentally sustainable horticulture which provides economic and employment opportunities in both regions.
They would also provide additional capacity for municipal water supplies meaning the need for water restrictions in towns like Kaikohe and Dargaville could be reduced.
The Trust will build the schemes but the long-term plan is for control of each of them to transition to separate water companies which are controlled by their shareholders. The groundwork to allow this to occur is already underway.
Trustees at the official opening of work on the Mid North scheme September 2020. L-R Ken Rintoul, Hon. Dover Samuels, Hon. Murray McCully (chair), Kathryn de Bruin, former Regional Development Minister Hon. Shane Jones and local kaumatua Collin Rameka.
Detailed design outlining the footprint of Matawii reservoir
With funding assistance from Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, and support from The Northland Regional Council, Kaipara District Council and Far North District Council, the Trust aims to have stage one reservoir projects underway in both areas in 2021.
At the heart of everything the Trust is doing is the belief that the water schemes are being developed for the benefit of the entire community. The Trust has consulted widely with iwi and the larger community in both areas where developments are planned and will continue to do so as the project moves forward. It’s important to the Trust that the community be informed about what is going on and be able to get answers to any questions.
Members of the Trust at a local community meeting in Kaikohe
The Trust has received $68m from the PGF to complete the first stage of the project. Of this, $8.5m is in the form of a grant, the rest is a loan. The next stage of development, which will see the schemes in both regions enlarged, would be funded by the successful implementation of stage one.
A study of the potential economic impacts of the proposed schemes has shown they could create up to 440 new jobs and lift the value of output in the Mid North by $178m. The Kaipara scheme could create up to 437 new jobs and lift the value of output in the region by $220m.