It's okay to tell them - TURN THAT TAP OFF!
Water restrictions for Kaitaia and Kawakawa
Level 2 water restrictions are being applied to Kaitaia and Kawakawa-Moerewa due to low flows in rivers and little prospect of significant rain over the next two weeks.
The restrictions being applied from today ban the use of unattended garden hoses, sprinklers and irrigation devices by households and businesses connected to Council water supplies.
Acting Council CEO William Taylor says the restrictions recognise that Kaitaia’s Awanui River and the Tirohanga Stream at Kawakawa have not recovered well from the 2019/20 drought. “While both water sources are running above minimum consent levels, flows are trending downwards which is cause for concern. We know demand for water is likely to increase over the Christmas and New Year period, so as a precaution we need to reduce demand now to avoid the need for even tighter restrictions in coming weeks.”
He says the restrictions are a reminder to all Far North residents to use water sensibly over summer and the need to adopt simple conservation measures. These include:
· Shorter showers
· Flushing less often
· Only washing clothes on a full load
· Turning off taps while brushing teeth
· Fixing leaking taps, toilets and other fittings.
Mr Taylor says an increased holiday season population will increase pressure on water supplies. “I am asking all residents and business owners to remind visitors, friends and whanau of the need to conserve our precious resource.”
He says work to develop secondary water supplies for Kaitaia and Kaikohe – the two communities most seriously impacted by the recent drought – are progressing well. A bore site at Sweetwater near Kaitaia is due to supplement supplies from the Awanui River before next summer. Meanwhile, a second bore at Monument Hill in Kaikohe should be operational soon and could meet up to 45 per cent of the town’s summer water needs if required. The Council is also undertaking detailed research on the Tirohanga Stream near Kawakawa. It is hoped new evidence will show it is safe to take water for Kawakawa and Moerewa residents even when flows in the Tirohanga are lower.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
⛰️ Is Bream Head the ultimate Northland spot?
According to The Press, the Bream Head Scenic Reserve at Whangārei Heads has it all: the best views, the best forest, and the best adventures.
Do you have a hidden gem that gives Bream Head a run for its money?
We’re on a mission to find Northland's best "Secret Spots" 🤫
We want to hear from you! What is your go-to spot when you want to show off the best of the North to friends or family? 📸
Drop your recommendations (and photos!) in the comments below! 👇
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