Protecting Waitaha River: FMC co-signs open letter
FMC is calling for the permanent protection of the Waitaha River in a joint open letter sent on 14 April 2026.
FMC has co-signed an open letter with Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, NZ Canyoning Association, Buller Tramping Club, and former Whitewater NZ President Kev England, urging the Fast-Track Panel to protect the Waitaha River in the Morgan Gorge – one of New Zealand’s last pristine wild river gorges.
The letter follows draft approval of Westpower’s fast-track application to build a 23-megawatt hydro scheme in the largely untouched river, calling on the Fast Track Panel to reconsider the decision given the severe threats to the area’s ecological and recreational values.
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Following significant changes and extensive consultation on the Winstone Pulp application to discharge waste into Whangaehu River, FMC has lodged a neutral submission.
FMC has lodged its submission on the National Conservation Policy Statement (NCPS), which is enabled through the Conservation Amendment Bill and will guide all the area planning over public conservation land.
Since we collated a list of closed tracks and huts earlier this year, we’ve had very positive meetings with the Department of Conservation about the issues involved.
