24 Mar 2019

Wharf plan on hold after local iwi object over sewage

11:21 am on 24 March 2019

Plans for a cafe and toilets on the Russell wharf are now on hold - after strong objections from local Māori.

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Photo: Bay of Islands Information Centre

Council-owned company Far North Holdings has consent to revamp the old wharf, pipe sewage and build a boat sewage pump-out station facility on it.

Kororareka marae trustees told the company last week the idea of toilets over water was culturally offensive and they hadn't been consulted.

Far North Holdings said it would delay the construction of the cafe until a new community trust had been set up to co-manage the wharf.

Marae chair Deb Rawiri said tangata whenua looked forward to co-designing wharf facilities that reflected community needs and Māori concerns.

Far North Holdings said other work planned for the wharf, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund, would begin next month

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