Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.envbop.govt.nz

Beneath all the populist rhetoric associated with government, changes to the RMA and water management such as reducing compliance costs, de-cluttering planning frameworks and commercial mechanisms for allocating water lies perhaps the greatest challenge of our times: finding the right balance between economic development and environmental protection and enhancement.

In my opinion the balance needs to be found using all the tools we have available, like cost benefit analysis, science and community values. Are we as a community here in Tauranga clear about the values we would want to see added to the mix of decision making? What are we prepared to see happen to our environment to benefit economic development? Do we care?

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the Tauranga Harbour Seminar and a Rangitaiki River Forum. I can't imagine many people living in Tauranga who don't feel a deep connection with the Harbour, whether as the backdrop to their day and or for recreational purposes. For iwi it is simply part of who they are.

The Tauranga Harbour Seminar was an example of science working hard with community values. It's hard to argue the wider community wouldn't get in behind the effort of more than 40 community volunteer organisations who work tirelessly to protect and enhance the Harbour and its margins, and who are supported by the exemplar work of the marine science professionals and students. It seems to me to be a good example of where it would be relatively easy to understand community held values. Can the same be said for the rest of the environment? If it's not so central to our lives, do we care?

The Rangitaiki is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty. It begins near the centre of the North Island and flows out to sea at Thornton Beach in Whakatane.

It is a hugely important resource used by many key industries including hydroelectricity, agriculture and forestry but it is also hugely important for recreational users and an important treasure for iwi and hapu that live alongside it.

For many years there has been increasing concern about the health of the river. A good presentation by Fish and Game demonstrated the actual degradation in water quality, plant and fish life over time. The changes are serious and will not be easy to resolve. A co-governance forum representing iwi and Regional Council is in place to manage the river going forward. It is a model likely to be replicated across the Bay in line with the water management changes.

The degradation in the Rangitaiki hasn't happened overnight – it has been a long process due to a number of matters. These processes have effected all the Bay's waterways –be it the Rotorua Lakes, the fresh water rivers, streams and the salt water harbours and estuaries. Most people will be aware of the huge work and resources that have gone and are continuing to go in to the clean-up of the Rotorua Lakes.

The cleanup of the Lakes is a fundamental value held by Rotorua communities and to the wider Bay. We are facing needing to apply significant resources to the two harbours in the Bay and the seven rivers.

In endeavouring to manage the waterways of the Bay, a balance will need to be found between environmental and economic interests. It won't necessarily be easy but the real challenge is working out how local communities, both present and future, want that balance to be. I would expect any person interested in being an elected representative to have a good understanding of the challenges.