Hawke's Bay water security project head hits back at Greens' dam opposition

The Green Party's commitment to prohibiting conservation land swaps for economic purposes has drawn the ire of the head of a project to build a massive dam in Central Hawke's Bay.

Tukituki Water Security Project is aiming to construct a dam on the Makaroro River, the site of the failed Ruataniwha Dam.

Chair Mike Petersen said it was vital to Hawke's Bay's future prosperity, and the Greens were ignoring Hawke's Bay's need for water security.

The Ruataniwha dam failed mainly because its reservoir required part of Ruahine Forest Park to be removed from conservation-park protection and exchanged for other land. In 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that the land swap was unlawful.

Green Party Napier candidate Roy Boonen said their strengthened opposition would be "welcomed across Aotearoa".

"New Zealanders have made their collective voices heard against sacrificing our conservation land for economic development," Boonen said.

Petersen said a point missed by the Greens was the rigorous process required for projects going through the Government's Fast Track Process, with independent assessment by an expert panel before decisions are made.

"The project has to clearly demonstrate that any proposed land swap enhances conservation values, and we are very happy for any water storage project to be judged on the evidence it provides.

"We are confident that the proposed land swap of 29.7ha in six small parcels on the sidlings of the river, for 170ha adjoining the conservation estate, is a good conservation outcome and will enable this consented project to proceed."

Petersen said the new dam project had the environment at its core, followed by water for people and communities, then higher value food production and processing across the region.

"At a time when the cost of living is being debated daily, surely higher-paying jobs and regional prosperity should be a top priority for whoever forms the next Government," he said.

In April 2026, the Government made an $18 million Regional Infrastructure Fund loan for detailed design, engineering, environmental and commercial work, with the final investment decision intended for 2028.

A separate proposal, the Heretaunga Water Storage Project, is investigating a 27-billion-litre reservoir at Whanawhana. The proposal's backers have also applied to use fast-track legislation to get underway.

Boonen said the Greens were waiting for the outcome of the Whanawhana Dam's feasibility stage to decide the party's position on the project.

He said he understood it was likely to have a smaller environmental footprint than the Tukituki Water Security Project, but opposed public funding for large commercial irrigation schemes and major dams.

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Will Foley said campaign periods were an opportunity for people across the political spectrum to discuss ideas, and the Ruataniwha Dam and Tukituki Water Security Project had been a well-canvassed topic this election.

"Water storage is one solution for water security, which we desperately need in Central Hawke's Bay, and we look forward to working with the Greens on any other solutions for water security they may have," Foley said.

Boonen said the Greens supported small-scale, on-farm water storage solutions with sustainable farming practices.

He said an example was Kereru Station, which recently completed a 650,000 cubic metre dam to provide irrigation for 200 hectares of farmland.

Boonen said the party's long-term plan for water security included using existing water resources more efficiently and changing land use to better suit local conditions.

"Only after all these improvements have been fully investigated and implemented should we be investigating industrial-scale water storage dams which would impact our environment.

"Any such projects should be fully funded by the end-users without taxpayer money," Boonen said.

Earlier this month, the National Party pledged to commit $300 million in loans to water storage projects, including in Hawke's Bay, if elected in November.