18 Sep 2012

Judge dismisses hapu appeal against dredging

9:49 pm on 18 September 2012

A High Court judge has dismissed an appeal by a Tauranga hapu against plans to deepen and widen the city's harbour to ensure access for bigger container ships.

At the end of last year, the Environment Court upheld a decision by a panel of commissioners to grant the Port of Tauranga consent to dredge the harbour to a maximum depth of 17.4 metres.

Ngati Ruahine was one of a group of local iwi and hapu that made their objections known during the court hearing, by taking part in a 7-kilometre long hikoi from Mount Maunganui to Tauranga.

The hapu was not happy with the dredging going ahead and lodged an appeal in the High Court against the Environment Court decision.