Peter Matcham - - Whaitua Te Whanganui-a-Tara Committee

Community Engagement Advisor from Greater Wellington Regional Council

Kia ora koutou, I’m Pete, a member of the Whaitua Te Whanganui-a-Tara Committee tasked with making recommendations to Greater Wellington Regional Council on the future of our coastal and freshwater quality, and how our water is used. Our waterways and all the fish and species that live in them are precious taonga, so we have set out to understand how they are valued and what should be done to provide the future we want for our water.

My wife and I have been living at the edge of Belmont Park for over 30 years and I consider it my responsibility to pass on a sustainable healthy catchment to my grandchildren. We can’t do this alone and need your help in protecting the health and mauri of our water.
Increasing population and changing land use is putting pressure on our water, from our rivers and streams to the supply of drinking water, and management of storm and waste water. Fixing these problems is going to cost a lot, and we need to find solutions that are fair and equitable based on sound evidence and knowledge.

To do this we need to understand your views and to work with you and your community. Let’s shape the future of this place and our precious freshwater together.

Connect with us to talk about what we can do together. You can reach us at whaitua@gw.govt.nz. To see what we have been doing visit our Facebook page, and to share what you value about our water and your solutions have your say down below.