Environment

Removal of River Banks - 11th Oct 24.png

Issues, include but not limited to:

Extraction and permanent removal of riverbanks within the "Cultural Landscape Zone Alert Area," intended to protect 50 meters on each side of the waterway.
Discharge of treated water from sediment control systems into New Zealand waterways that feed into the Waikato River.
Diversion and discharge of water related to extraction activities.
Extraction occurring within 10-15 meters of the Karapiro Stream, which feeds into the Waikato River and lies within a protected landscape area.
Extraction within the catchment area, including key priority zones in the Karapiro and Mangaonua Stream catchments.
Extraction occurring adjacent to wetlands.
Extraction and permanent removal of land within a 500-meter Biodiversity/River Stream Corridor.
Extraction and removal of vegetation within an Indigenous Forest Corridor.
Presence of long-tailed bats, classified as "Nationally Critical" (one step away from extinction).
Presence of long and short-finned eels, with long-finned eels classified as "At Risk – Declining."
Extraction of 1.2 million liters of fresh water per day, amounting to up to 360 million liters annually.
Discharge of overburden materials.
Discharge of RCS silica cancer causing dust into the environment and waterways - refer Silica section of website.

The Karapiro Gully is a rich and diverse natural environment located near Lake Karapiro in the Waikato region of New Zealand. This gully is characterized by its lush native vegetation, including ferns, mature trees, and native understory plants. The area is home to a variety of bird species such as tūī, fantails (pīwakawaka), kererū (native wood pigeons), and long-tailed bats (pekapeka-tou-roa), as well as other wildlife that thrive in the forested and riparian ecosystems.

The waterways flowing through the gully contribute to a vibrant ecosystem, supporting aquatic life such as tuna (shortfin and longfin eels), koura (freshwater crayfish), and toitoi (Cran's bully). These species play crucial roles in maintaining the ecological balance, with eels acting as top predators and koura contributing to nutrient cycling in the stream. The health of these waterways is essential for maintaining the water quality of nearby Lake Karapiro and supporting the broader network of streams that feed into the Waikato River.

The gully itself serves as an important ecological corridor, connecting various habitats and allowing the movement of wildlife through the region. The dense vegetation and open spaces of the gully act as navigational aids for birds and bats, guiding them through the landscape. Species like pekapeka (long-tailed bats) use the gully as a flight path, relying on its forested edges and open areas for hunting insects. Similarly, birds depend on the gully’s structure to find food, shelter, and breeding grounds. The presence of endangered species, such as pekapeka and tuna kuwharuwharu (longfin eels), highlights the gully's critical role in biodiversity conservation.

However, removing a large section of the riverbank and extracting minerals just 10-15 meters from the waterways would have severe negative impacts on this environment. Such disruption would degrade water quality, harming species like tuna, koura, and toitoi, which depend on clean streams. Additionally, the loss of vegetation and habitat would interfere with the flight paths of birds and bats, disrupting their navigation and reducing access to food and shelter. For species like pekapeka, which rely on the gully for hunting, such habitat destruction would threaten their survival. This combined impact on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems would significantly weaken the biodiversity and ecological balance of the Karapiro Gully.

In addition to its ecological value, the Karapiro Gully offers recreational opportunities for walking, birdwatching, and connecting with nature. Its scenic beauty, with towering trees, serene streams, and diverse wildlife, makes it a treasured natural resource for the local community. The gully also plays a significant role in the cultural and environmental heritage of the Waikato region, embodying principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and mauri (life force) that are central to the preservation of the natural world.