Iwi unveils climate plan
An ambitious Nga¯ i Tahu plan to create a zero-carbon future will provide a pathway for innovation across many industries, commentators say.
The iwi revealed its 88-point action plan to tackle the causes and effects of climate change and a host of other environmental issues at a ceremony in Queenstown yesterday.
It also unveiled a world-leading prototype electric Shotover Jet boat, which it says is the first to be designed solely for tourism.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai said the escalating effects of climate change across the Nga¯ i Tahu takiwa¯ (tribal area) were having a profound impact on the iwi’s interests, activities and wha¯ nau.
‘‘We need to rapidly evolve if we are to adapt and thrive in this brave new world.’’
The iwi would take major steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions, embrace renewable energy, optimise resource use, and reduce water and ecosystem impacts over nine years.
One vital element of the plan, known as Te Kounga Paparangi, was powering marae with solar energy to make them more resilient and self-sufficient, a process that was already under way at 18 marae.
Other key aims are to emit netzero greenhouse gas emission from operational activities and energy consumption. This includes making tourism operators carbon-neutral by 2050 by having the jet boat fleet fully operating on alternative fuels by 2035 and a move to electric vehicles.
Changes in agricultural practices would include a 17% methane reduction from farm animals by 2035, reduced water use, regenerative farming and a 10% year-on-year reduction in synthetic fertiliser from this year.
Otago University professor of agricultural innovation Craig Bunt said the agricultural targets were achievable because they were the right mix of radical change and caution. ‘‘They make a lot of sense,’’ he said.
The introduction of electric jet boats would illustrate the capabilities of technology for all types of vehicles that were not conceivable 10 years ago.
‘‘They will not just address the carbon emissions for tourism. It’s going to be a proving ground for all vehicles,’’ he said.
All industries would benefit from the example the iwi was establishing with the plan, he said.
Freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy said he was impressed by the plan and its holistic approach, linking greenhouse gas emissions, water and human needs.
‘‘They’ve got some timelines that aren’t far off. They will show what is achievable. Hopefully this will spur on other organisations and maybe even the government to speed things up a bit,’’ he said.
Another plan is to be actively exercising rangatiratanga over freshwater by 2030, which the iwi is currently pursuing in court action against the Crown.
The case would seek to establish ‘‘shared authority’’ with the Crown over policy and practice, the iwi says.
It would also require supply chain vendors to provide emissions reporting data and collaborate on emission reduction plans and require all new developments to have ecosystem enhancement plans to protect wai and mahinga kai sites by 2030.
It aimed to have 100% biodegradable and recyclable packaging on all consumer products by 2030.
Tumahai said it was a plan looking 100 years into the future.
‘‘For my mokopuna, I want to ensure they can experience the things I did, my father did and my grandparents ... It’s our responsibility to take action to preserve those things.
‘‘We don’t claim to have all the answers, but our size and influence gives us the freedom to innovate.’’
Ngāi Tahu Tourism general manager Jolanda Cave said that once the jetboat prototype was put into service, the experience would be quieter and more environmentally sound, running on rechargeable electric batteries rather than fossil fuels.
Pre-Covid the jet boats accounted for 53% of the tourism company’s emissions.
The prototype project began in 2019 when Ngāi Tahu Tourism entered a co-founding agreement with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and was awarded up to $200,000 to convert one of their petrolpowered jet boats to run on electricity.
It would take several years to confirm the commercialisation of the electric prototype, Cave said. It took 17 hours to charge a battery, which would operate 2.5 trips, about the same as a tank of gas.