Larry.N.Mitchell. Finance & Policy Analyst. Larry produces this league table for the 67 local authorities in NZ. It measures economic sustainability and affordability but check it out and you will get a shock at what Horowhenua District Council is doing & now wants to spew more sewerage waste in Shannon but not on their $4m farm they just bought- June 2013??.

(Local Government). PO Box 404 103, Puhoi 0951, Auckland, NZ. Ph 09 422 0598 Mobile 0274 792 328.

Click here to download the 2nd to worst District

Council in NZ---yes Horowhenua District Council has won the prize [OPEN pdf: ]

They are second to last so if you are in Levin on the 7th July at 2pm listen to Larry Mitchell exposing the District Councils blatent spending spree.

The lakebed, dewatered zone, islands and the Hokio Stream are owned by beneficial members of the Muaupoko tribe 1511 of them in 81 shares, as determined by the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act (ROLD) 1956. The lake waters Muaupoko Domain, dewatered zone and one chain reserve strip in front of the Muaupoko Domain are vested under the Reserves Act 1977 in the Horowhenua Lake Domain Board. To date they have achieved nothing and even today sewerage is released into the Horowhenua Lake by the Council when it is overloaded? The Horowhenua Lake has sediments on the bottom so pronounced with toxins that the Council and Horizons have neglected in their responsibilities over many years. Algael blooms form which are caused by super dangerous cyanobacteria and are everywhere and weeds choke the Lake-- you cannot swim in this Lake let alone walk in it as one of our Kaumatua nearly drowned near the Weir by the oulet to Hokio Stream due to the sludge that has piled up in this Lake.

Pipes run into the tributary ways into the Lake Horowhenua & Council is not policing

[ Read Domain minutes ] & will the Minister for the Environment check the minutes & see if any action or inaction by the Domain Board is apparent which it is??? Has the council listened to speakers; to Maroi owners??? is our private land ours or the Councils. Then say to yourself what if the Council dumped sewerage on your land over a period of 62 years & this same Council lead by Mayor Duffy want to lead an Accord to clean it up---- but owners need to have a say as well??? The council polluted our awa--waterways, they have dessecrated our spiritual lands--- they neither accept responsibility and Iwi reps do not report back to us owners saying need more scientific research on the environmental impact at the Feb 2013 meeting--how long does it take to clean this Lake??

Independent Niwa Fresh water Scientist Max Gibbs in Feb 2012 said if a kid drank the water they would probably die? Due to what Mr Gibbs did nothing has been achieved since with the Domain Board & the Maori members of this Board still do not have input of their own???? The Lake is choked with weed, sediment and manures from horticulture and dairy farm run offs account for 50% of the water runoff and this Lake is No 107 of a total 114 most contaminated Lakes in NZ by the Ministry of the Environment. Once rich in food sources from mussels / kakahi it has now been reduced to a contaminated mess.

Other Lake reports come from Barry Gilliland, Vant, Sarah Williams & Horizons compliance manager Alison Russell & more--so why in 2013 still no clean up?? no plan on how to clean it up, no Council wanting to say they owe us Maori owners not just an apology but also compensation, nothing for the benefit of Horowhenua citizens.

Taken by the Evening Standard News editors on 22nd March 2013 shows the water in the Lake

The weir which runs into the Hokio Stream

Pākehā settlers would occupy the confiscated land while successive governments would bring in new laws like the Public Works Acts to confiscate even more lands. The Government in 2012 will not negotiate with the direct descendents hence urban authorities with indirect links to our direct descendent lines are now taking place yet it is an injustice to Maoridom. Letters to Ministers as of March 2nd 2013 have gone unanswered with even our Maori MP's turning a blind eye. All efforts to address the Horowhenua Lake have fallen apart due to too many committees & trustees who are not skilled at enacting the necessary plans to focus on the recovery efforts of this Lake.

The Maori Domain Board members have utilised their positions to further their own self gain; Lake Trustees are never united; Horizons interested only in the farmers & Horowhenua District Council who would rather not talk about the issues of sewerage and overflowing of waste into the Lake. There are no meetings of all parties rather individuals are notified within Trusts while others are left out. eg. the Secretary of the Lake Trustees doesn't write up agendas for meetings before meetings are held nor presents minutes from last meetings as has occurred?? These are ongoing issues that should have been sorted out years ago--- the Chairman of the Lake Trustees needs to liase with his Trust before comments are made to the media --- which has occurred in articles in the Horowhenua Mail and Chronicle.

But efforts although positive continue to flounder as each organisation does their own thing. We are awaiting comments from the Ministers..................!!!!!!!!!!

Source: Horowhenua Mail 16th Feb 2012

The blame is on all Maori not thinking and getting their act together. Too much bickering and nothing being achieved. Disgraceful.

All are too blame