Watercare settlement offers short-term relief for Mahurangi oyster farmers
Aquaculture New Zealand (AQNZ) and the New Zealand Oyster Industry Association (NZOIA) have reached an agreement with Watercare regarding financial relief for the Mahurangi oyster farmers following the 29 October wastewater overflow and its devastating impacts on the farmers and the marine environment.
The agreement provides for a $1 million payment to be shared between the affected farmers. Work is ongoing to quantify the full extent of losses resulting from Watercare’s system failures, including long-term reputational impacts on the Mahurangi oyster industry.
AQNZ and NZOIA acknowledge Watercare’s constructive engagement, commitment to initial financial relief, and an agreed process to determine total losses for the farmers.
“This incident has struck at the heart of our oyster farming community,” says Tee Hale Pennington, Chief Executive, Aquaculture New Zealand. “Our farmers have endured immense stress and uncertainty through no fault of their own.”
While this agreement provides some immediate relief, AQNZ will continue to pursue a financial settlement of the farmers’ total losses and for systemic changes that prevent such failures from ever happening again.
“It is vital that Watercare learns from this disastrous incident and takes appropriate actions and decisions that restores confidence, protects livelihoods, and ensures the ongoing sustainability of the region’s marine environment and aquaculture industry,” says Hale Pennington.
“We remain steadfast in our support of the Mahurangi oyster farmers as they confront both the immediate and long-term consequences from failures in Watercare’s systems and infrastructure.”
AQNZ and NZOIA will continue to advocate for the farmers total losses to be financially settled by Watercare by the end of the 2025.
“We remain steadfast in our support of the Mahurangi oyster farmers as they confront both the immediate and long-term consequences from failures in Watercare’s systems and infrastructure.”