Wairoa District Council has resolved to withdraw from the Hawke’s Bay Climate Action Joint Committee effective at the end of this triennium.

Mayor Craig Little commented: “While our Council has committed to continue to collaborate on regional climate action initiatives, we also need to focus on Wairoa specifically and are pursuing offers around how we can achieve this, which includes less cost and more up-to-date information.

“It is crucial that the HBRC performs its core function rather than having this work done and funded by a combined committee. HBRC is the regional unitary authority and should be doing the work of the Climate Action Joint Committee, in discussion with the Hawke’s Bay councils.”

Little said the Council recognises climate challenges and is committed to climate resilience action but questions how well the committee is serving Wairoa.

“Our Council has made a commitment to climate resilience and still wants to collaborate on regional climate action initiatives and to have regional conversations.

‘However, it is important that Wairoa is recognised as being a large catchment of Hawke’s Bay and that we are given the same priorities as the rest of the region. The HB Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment report predominantly uses data that already existed, it did not involve a visit to Wairoa that we are aware of, or discussions with our relevant staff.”

Mayor Little added to his dissatisfaction, noting that “HBRC has collected very little information on the Wairoa district, eg the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazard Strategy 2120, which doesn’t carry on into the Wairoa district, and the fact the Wairoa River was never included in the HBRC’s ‘outstanding water bodies’.”