Hundreds march in Auckland CBD for hīkoi protesting Dome Valley dump proposal
Friday, 17 July 2020
Hundreds of people marched through central Auckland as part of a hīkoi protesting the proposed new Auckland Regional Landfill site.
Private waste company Waste Management wants to build the rubbish dump in Dome Valley, on land between Wellsford and Warkworth in north Auckland.
It would replace the Redvale Landfill and Energy Park in Dairy Flat, which is predicted to reach capacity between 2026 and 2028.
The Chinese-owned company promised its new dump would be both environmentally sound, and said it was necessary for a growing Auckland.
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But the valley's iwi and landowners worry any breach in the dump's lining could spill poisons into the Hōteo River. The Hōteo empties into the already beleaguered Kaipara Harbour, where sedimentation plays havoc with marine life.
People had gathered at Albert Park on Friday morning for the hīkoi, before the 500-strong crowd set off from Albert Park to Aotea Square, led by Te Runanga o Ngāti Whātua, hapū and community leaders from Fight the Tip, Save the Dome.
In June 2019, about 150 Ngāti Whātua representatives and members of the Fight the Tip Committee placed an aukati rāhui (political rāhui) over the proposed site.
However, it appears the rāhui has been ignored, with Waste Management and Auckland Council announcing dates for the resource consent hearing over five weeks in November and December on Thursday.
Fight the Tip Māori liaison Mikaera Miru told Stuff on Friday the consequences of the rāhui being ignored were “devastating”.
“It just shows how out of touch Waste Management actually is.”
He said Auckland Council had ignored its statutory regulations by having no regard for the rāhui and called on it to protect the environment.
“Siltation is one of the biggest problems of the Kaipara Harbour.
“This is the second biggest harbour on the planet, we need to look after it. It's Ngāti Whātua food basket, we need to look after it and that's why we're here.”
The landfill was predicted to add 300 return trips by waste trucks and 150 by light vehicles to SH1 per day, with this number set to increase to 500 waste trucks and 250 light vehicles return trips by 2060.
This is a concern for locals as at least 11 people have died on the 12km stretch of SH1 in the Dome Valley since 2006, and it has been dubbed as one of the deadliest roads in the North Island.
“We’re going to continue fighting until we stop this dead in its tracks,” Miru told protesters following waiata.
“There are thousands of us that live beside the Kaipara that care for it.
“We want to stop the paru [filth] going into the Kaipara.
“Being able to feed our tamariki into the future? It’s not looking good.”
“Mana whenua abuse”, “Honour the rāhui and the Treaty,” and “Incinerate toxic waste, save NZ” were some of the slogans on placards carried by protesters.
Kaipara District Mayor Jason Smith said Kaipara District Council was unanimously against the landfill.
“This is on a scale that New Zealand has never seen.”
“For all of NZ, we need to be doing better than what is proposed for this landfill.”
“We are also hoping Auckand Council will make a decision for people here today and the people of the future.”
He said Waste Management contacted Kaipara District Council with its proposal in 2018, however their board chair could not meet Smith in person as they lived in China.
A police spokesman said police were maintaining a small presence to ensure protesters were safe and to minimise traffic disruption during the hīkoi.