An update for members: Waitaha
For over ten years, FMC has been involved in efforts to protect the Waitaha River. FMC made its first submission opposing the scheme in 2016, celebrated it being declined in 2019, and has spent the past 12 months fighting for a voice through the Fast-Track process. Throughout it all, FMC has been advocating for the Waitaha, publicly and behind the scenes.
The Fast-Track Panel did its best to exclude FMC from the process but was ultimately forced to consider FMC’s comments via DOC and the New Zealand Conservation Authority, both of which recognise FMC as a responsible and central voice for recreation.
The Panel was also compelled to commission an independent peer review after FMC publicly raised serious concerns about a 2025 recreation assessment prepared for Westpower by Greenaway and Associates. That assessment had used a decade-old document as a supposed peer review, without the original author’s knowledge, and had been finalised without correcting factual errors about access to the valley.
The decision to approve the project is deeply disappointing, and one FMC believes was reached through a fundamentally flawed process. The Waitaha case is a stark example of why the Fast-track Approvals Act is cause for concern, concentrating decision-making power in ways that can sideline public input and undermine proper scrutiny of, in this case, conservation values.
FMC has sought legal advice. Entering into a legal challenge would carry significant risk for FMC as a largely volunteer-led, non-profit organisation, and may be better pursued by DOC in fulfilment of its duty to protect recreation on public conservation land. To date, FMC is not aware whether DOC has taken that step.
FMC will continue to highlight any further updates regarding the Waitaha and keep members up to date on advocacy efforts.
Pictured: A Westpower sign up the Kiwi Flat and a new structure at the beginning of the Gorge. Credit: Masha Oliver, May 2026.
NOTE: We are unaware of what the structure is for or if it belongs to Westpower.
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We’re excited to share the new FMC Executive Committee, taking office on June 1 2026.
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For over ten years, FMC has been involved in efforts to protect the Waitaha River. FMC made its first submission opposing the scheme in 2016, celebrated it being declined in 2019, and has spent the past 12 months fighting for a voice through the Fast-Track process. Throughout it all, FMC has been advocating for the Waitaha, publicly and behind the scenes.
FMC has submitted on a proposed land exchange that would see 29.7 hectares of conservation land in the eastern Ruahine Forest Park swapped for 170 hectares of private land, to enable the construction of a dam and reservoir on the Makaroro River.
