2015: Establishing community values

From February to September 2015 the Ruamāhanga Whaitua Committee organised discussions in country halls, marae and event centres to understand how waterways in the Ruamāhanga whaitua are 'valued'. The questions asked were:

• What were the waterways like in the past and how were they used?
• What are important issues currently facing your area's waterways?
• What would you like your waterways to be like in the future?

The Committe used these conversations to establish what importance people place on water for its life sustaining properties as well as for its recreational, economic and cultural uses. A summary report outlines what was discussed at each meeting. 

The Committee developed what they heard into a final set of community values that underpin all decision making. The Committee considered different options for land and water managament depending on how these community and mana whenua values were provided for.