by Russel Norman
My Dirty Rivers Rafting Tour is going so well that I invited the PM to join me.
Since the launch on the Hutt River in late January, I have visited the Waihou in Waikato and the Taumarere in Northland, attracting some good local interest and starting some great conversations with locals about the state of their rivers.
I’m continuing the tour on the Mohaka River in Hawke’s Bay on Friday. A little bird told me that John Key is also going to be in the area on Friday, so I sent him this letter to invite him along.
Sadly “due to pressures on his schedule” the Prime Minister will be unable to join me on this occasion.
Too bad, he could have helped me with his relaxation technique when we went over the rapids.
Published in Environment & Resource Management | Media | Parliament by Russel Norman on Tue, February 16th, 2010
Tags: dirty rivers rafting tour, john key, rivers, Russel Norman, water quality
More posts by Russel Norman | more about Russel Norman
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Russ, you are beginning to look like you’re enjoying this waaay too much!
Can haz Pix of the Mohaka, plz?
Like or Dislike:
2 
1 (+1)
I’m surprised Key didn’t jump at the opportunity to get in some practise for when he’s up shit creek. Won’t be long now.
Like or Dislike:
8 
1 (+7)
katie I’ll see what I can do tomorrow
Like or Dislike:
2 
1 (+1)
How safe are our rivers from exploitation?
Not at all, when industry can pressure councils to weaken protections,
just so they can take more water than they should.
It didn’t take long for the Conservation Order on the Mataura river to
come under threat as a result of the demands of Solid Energy and
Ravensdown seeking to exploit resources in the area.
The giant industrial complex that will process lignite from the giant
industrial hole Solid Energy plans to dig in the area will need a lot of
water, water that has been protected, until now, by the Mataura
Conservation Order. That looks set to be over-turned.
Environment Southland chairman Stuart Collie said the protection order
’might need reviewing or modification’. How delicately he phrases his
statement. Cr Maurice Rodway is concerned that the Mataura Conservation
Order will be compromised, done away with or down graded.
So am I.
Like or Dislike:
5 
1 (+4)
Like or Dislike:
5 
0 (+5)
http://office-humour.co.uk/content/images/2009/02/11087.jpg
Like or Dislike:
3 
0 (+3)
Yep, salsy, good point. Labour’s inaction when it was in office was a large part of the reason the rivers have got to this state.
I guess that means having to hold Tolley’s hand every time she holds a press conference.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
@greenfly 7:57 AM
If only I were better with photoshop!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)
What’s he eating greenfly? I bet it’s a smoked Rata, Kiwi & Kakapo sandwich.
With lashings of roast every and anything!
Like or Dislike:
1 
1 (0)
Poor Gerry, It’s humour like this that makes him want to destroy all the wild places and take his revenge on the thin Greenie’s in the first place
It’s all turning into a bad Japanese Horror movie, he must be stopped !
Like or Dislike:
2 
0 (+2)
Is your tour going to include the Manawatu river?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Shunda – nah!
Babies.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Toad – Photoshop?
I’ve an image of a Mt Rushmore-like scene – one head only, in black -
Gerry ‘Coal-face’ Brownlee.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)
Hi Sophia, yup, Russel is going to be on the Manawatu on 26 Feb. (His first trip there was cancelled due to poor weather a couple of weeks ago).
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Looking forward to Manawatu. The paddle down the Mohaka shouldn’t be as ugly as some of the others – its threatened by dairy conversions in the Taharua catchment that are feeding nutrients into it, but I’m not expecting anything like the Waihou.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Which part of the Manawatu River will you be visiting?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
Good on you. I reckon this is a brilliant thing to be doing. Maybe Gareth and Keith L can take JK’s place? Show them that there are bigger things for Kiwis to be concerned with right now than the Head of State thing.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)