Your favourite mountain, beach, or river depends on strong conservation law to be protected – but the Government has announced radical changes to conservation law that put these wild places at risk.
Explore what’s happening across the Manawatū River catchment as councils consider amalgamation options. Find your area, see where each council is up to, and learn how these changes could affect your community. No decisions have been made yet, and community input matters. This is your chance to share your views and help shape the future of local representation, services, and identity in our region.
The membership of ENM agrees with the main thrust of the document. In particular the emphasis on partnership with Mana Whenua and a holistic approach informed by Mātauranga Māori.
The specific focus on Whānau ora is welcome, as the wellbeing of local families must be at the core of all decisions relating to stormwater. The draft strategy allows for a diverse range of interventions that would improve the state of native biodiversity in the city.
For these reasons, ENM supports the main aims and interventions detailed within the draft document.
The ENM membership expressed frustration and disappointment in the diminished range of options offered at this stage of consultation. In particular, the removal of any option to avoid or reduce discharge into the Manawatū river. Full or partial discharge to land has always been the preferred course of action due to the reduced stress on aquatic ecosystems. The wise utilisation of water resources for appropriate irrigation presents a solution on two fronts: (i) we live in an age of climate disruption, which in Manawatū manifests in increased prolonged dry spells and heavy rain events, (ii) investing now in infrastructure that can cope with these predictable extremes while minimising harm to the river is the responsible course of action.
While we acknowledge that horticulture and agriculture are key industries within the Horizons region, our members have particular focus on protecting and restoring the biodiversity of wilderness areas. One of the key tenets of wilderness protection and restoration is a coordinated approach to flora and fauna pest management.
May 7, 2026
Climate resilience and mitigation is crucial for a future-ready and economically stable city. When examining the annual budget, we focused our response on our four pou, our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to recognising and supporting Rangitaane as mana whenua in Pāmutana/ Palmerston North.
