I’ve had a month now to process the Clutha District Council’s ‘Vehicles on Beaches Bylaw’ ruling. While it is a step in the right direction; unfortunately, as the Bylaw stands, pakake and hoiho populations will continue to decline in the Clutha Region.
Many of us were passionate about a meaningful Bylaw being adopted to conserve two endangered, unique and taonga species. But it was a case of David vs. Goliath.
When pakake, who fought their way back from the brink of extinction, and hoiho who adorn our 5 NZD, disappear from the Clutha Region, we will know we stood to be counted. When Papatūānuku is tattooed with tyre tracks and debris, we will know we spoke on behalf of species who cannot speak for themselves. When a pakake wanders onto a road and gets hit by a vehicle, we will know we warned the powers that be that pakake did not evolve with vehicles and have become accustomed to seeing them in their habitats.
David did not give up, and neither will the thousands of people who understand that we do not borrow Papatūānuku from our ancestors, but from our tamariki.
Photo: Clutha Region October 2022, by Sian Mair. Taken from 10 meters away and zoomed in.