Val Faulkner hopes future generations of her family can still enjoy Patuwairua Stream's Jurassic World-like spaces - but a potential $150 million Ruatangata airport could put paid to that.
Val Faulkner (fourth from left) at Patuwairua Stream with (from left) Anne-Marie Franks, Mike Franks, Lynda Franks, Theo Taylor, Wendy Taylor, Izzy Whitehead, Ryan Whitehead and Sam Whitehead. Photo: Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
Faulkner says the waterway might be called a stream, but is more of a river and bounds her family's dairy farm - in the footprint and flight path of a potential new Whangārei airport.
"The river's part of who I am. It's a really special, beautiful place," Faulkner says.
WDC is looking at Onerahi airport's future via shifting to a new site or staying put. Four options, including Ruatangata, are now on the table in public consultation ending on May 25. The others are Ruatangata West, One Tree Point West and Onerahi.
The council's third face to face 'have your say' public airport location meeting is at 4.30pm today at Whangārei's Forum North. Three hundred people have attended two previous meetings.
An online consultation meeting will be held on 18 May. More than 200 submissions have been received to date. A public hearing will be held on 9 June.
Faulkner is concerned about what might happen to the waterway and whether new generations of her family will still be able to learn life lessons and enjoy its treasures as it flows through the 174 hectare, 220-cow farm.
Val Faulkner Photo: Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
Whangārei District Council (WDC) has said Ruatangata is its preferred new airport site. It has spent more than $7m buying properties around the location.
"The council is more likely to choose Ruatangata as the new airport location, given it has already bought land around here," Faulkner says.
"I am opposed to the airport coming here if it means losing this river."
WDC says Patuwairua Stream is a key consideration in weighing up Ruatangata's new airport suitability.
"It would be incredibly sad to lose this place. I would hate to see it spoiled by an airport runway," Franks says.
Patuwairua Stream Photo: Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
As young girls, Faulkner and her sister explored the river every weekend. Friends from town often joined them, enjoying the farming world freedom of roaming the bush beside the river.
"We'd all camp in an old canvas tent. At night, we had to be careful not to leave anything out because weka would race off with things - teaspoons, boxes of matches," she says.
"We'd swim. We'd cook our baked beans and potatoes on the camp fire," Faulkner says.
"As 10-year-olds, we made a raft up at the cowshed and wheeled it down the hill to the river on the frame of an old pram," Faulkner says.
Her father would bring fresh farm milk to the campsite daily from the morning's milking, probably to check on proceedings.
Ruatangata airport location map Photo: Whangārei District Council
The waterway is Faulkner's heart place, still a spot to visit and to stay almost six decades after she first discovered it after her family shifted to the property. New generations now camp beside the river during summer holidays.
Patuwairua Stream begins in Matarau hills north of the potential new Ruatangata airport location. It flows through the site, onwards into the Mangere River and eventually into the Kaipara Harbour. WDC has described the Mangere River as a protected conservation area.
Kererū swoop and fantails flit through kauri, totara and rimu naturally regenerating after the river being fenced off 50 years ago. There are native orchids that cannot been seen except when flowering starts in November.
"It was unusual, back in the day to fence off waterways. Farmers saw it as loss of grazing," Faulkner says.
Freshwater mussels in Ruatangata's Patuwairua Stream Photo: Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
Freshwater mussels, crabs and kōura (crayfish) live in the water.
Waterfalls slide over rocks, dappled light shines into deep pools. "WDC will make a decision based on a line on a map," Faulkner says.
"Patuwairua Stream is so much more than that."
Mike Franks, Ruatangata airport action group spokesperson Photo: Michael Cunningham/Northern Advocate
Farm neighbours Mike and Lynda Franks also connect to the waterway.
"We've been here 35 years and have taken our family to the river too," Mike Franks, Ruatangata airport action group spokesperson says.
"Our son is 40 now and living in Brisbane. He still remembers going to the river."
The group will be at today's Forum North meeting. "The airport should stay where it is, at Onerahi," Franks said.
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