Hokianga people are calling for action on the problem of raw sewage in their harbour.
Hokianga harbour Photo: 123RF
They have told the region's Maori Advisory Committee the Rawene sewerage plant is pumping out untreated waste - not just in emergencies but on a regular basis and they want it fixed.
The committee's chair Dover Samuels said the harbour was the food-basket for the Hokianga community and it was unacceptable that it was still being polluted.
He said it was not just Maori complaining about it: Pakeha were also upset at the toilet paper and faeces they saw bobbing around when they were out fishing.
Mr Samuels said the Maori Advisory Committee would be asking its parent body the regional council to investigate if the Rawene treatment plant was operating within its resource consent.
And he said the Far North District Council needed to explain why in this day and age it was running a plant that was polluting Hokianga harbour.
