Waimea Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 21 July 2021
Drenched, but a lucky escape Jenny Nicholson Reporter
jenny@waimeaweekly.co.nz
A Tapawera farmer says they were well prepared for the rain over the weekend but there was nothing they could do to stop the devastation the flood caused.
David McGaveston has farmed the area for years and says high levels of gravel in the Motueka River has caused the river to “zig zag” and it is at the right angles to allow it it to “jump its banks and destroy farmland”. “The riverbed is so full of gravel. It can’t carry the volume of water
in a flood of this magnitude,” he says. David acknowledges there will always be floods but would like to see the Tasman District Council remove gravel to increase the river’s capacity. He says he has been asking for this for a long time.
David says both homes and farms in the Tapawera region were affected over the weekend, with water flowing through hop farms and bringing down fences. “My son and wife were in tears. They can’t afford to replace all the fences.” Tasman District Council com-
munications and change manager Chris Choat says in June council issued a permit for the removal of 2000 cubic metres of gravel in this section of river, and most of this was removed in the last month.
see page 2
Farmers take protest to streets Jonty Dine
A hoard of tractors, utes, dogs and disgruntled farmers made noise across the country on Friday in protest of government regulations. A convoy drove from the Richmond Showgrounds to the Nelson CBD as part of a nationwide demonstration. ‘A Howl of a Protest’ was held in 20 centres across New Zealand, including Nelson. It was organised by Groundswell New Zealand, an organisation that is dedicated to reversing “unworkable regulations”. Co-founder Bryce McKenzie says those regulations include freshwater and winter grazing, significant natural areas, indigenous biodiversity and the “ute tax” - a new rebate scheme, which would place a fee on
higher-emission vehicles. Richmond coordinator Andrina Cimino lives on a lifestyle block and says she got involved because what is happening to farmers will sooner or later trickle down to lifestylers, too. She was blown away by the support shown by fellow farmers and the community. “I was astounded, it was amazing. The turnout far exceeded expectations.” Andrina was delighted at how smoothly and peacefully the protest ran. “I loved seeing everyone work together and how people came to support each other, it was mindblowing.” She says the highlight was the thousands of approving toots, placards and thumbs up they received along the way. “That was the best part.”
protesters make their way down Queen st on Friday. Photo: Jonty Dine.
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