Members "informed" after agreement signed

Veronica from Levin

Horowhenua's ratepayers and residents association was criticised for calling a public meeting after signing a controversial Levin landfill agreement with Horowhenua District Council.

Long time ratepayer association member Bryan Ten Have said, "I feel blindsided. I take exception to being told after the event, as I can't do anything about it. Why are you now doing deals with the Council? You know Council are not to be trusted yet you signed a gagging order and in our name. I feel like I've been sold out."

At the public meeting on 17 March organised by Horowhenua District Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc (HDRRAI) Mr Ten Have was referring to gagging clauses in the agreement that prevent the five parties who have signed the agreement from speaking publicly about the landfill.

The five parties who have signed include HDRRAI, three parties to an Environment Court appeal against leachate and odour concerns at the landfill Horowhenua Environmental Kaitiaki Alliance (HEKA), Ngati Raukawa hapu Ngati Pareraukawa, Peter Everton of Everton Farm Ltd and Lakeview Farm Ltd, and appeal respondent Horowhenua District Council.

HDRRAI chair Christine Moriarty who fronted the meeting said people could not speak about landfill matters as members of the ratepayers association but could speak as individuals.

Conflict of interest questions were raised after the meeting as Ms Moriarty has a dual role as HDRRAI chair and she is also one of three lead negotiators for HEKA. Ms Moriarty is also standing as a candidate in this year’s local body elections.

HEKA's lead kaitiaki negotiator Vivienne Taueki spoke and abruptly announced her resignation from HEKA and HDRRAI.

"I have been treated as absolute crap. You,” she said referring directly to Ms Moriarty, “used to be passionate about ensuring rights. It's shameful because we are talking about the legal rights of private property owners. We thought we had someone who would have our backs," she said before walking out because she was so upset.

Ms Taueki said she was side-lined from negotiations even though she was the lead Kaitiaki negotiator representing MuaUpoko interests as the owners of the bed of Lake Horowhenua and Hokio Stream which is affected by Levin landfill.

Billy Paki of Pareraukawa said Ms Moriarty made a submission to the Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council (MWRC) in 2016 saying the tip should close immediately which differed with her position now.

"I always listen to my grandmother and she talked to me about Lake Horowhena. She said as long as man has a rotten heart the lake will be rotten. If not pure of heart the lake and waterways will always stay rotten."