Advocates 24/3

 Welcome. 

 Please find below the date, time and location of the 2024 Advocates for the Tongariro River (AFTR) Annual General Meeting. Please come along and join us.  

There are some complicated and important issues on the river currently (see previous blog) and the more engaged membership is, the better equipped the AFTR will be to help ease the way for optimal outcomes for the river and its stakeholders. The river and its surrounds are vulnerable to deterioration unless solutions are found to ease the way for the Waikato Regional Council (WRC) to proceed with its scheduled River Plan Works. The AFTR have a part to play in agitating and enabling progress. 

 The AFTR committee will also see some changes amongst its ranks. 

 Date : Saturday 1st June 

Time : 10am 

Location : Parklands Motor Lodge- The conference room. 

 

AGENDA 

  • receive the minutes of the 21st Annual General Meeting
  • receive the President’s report 
  • approve the financial statements 
  • Approve the Constitution 
  • consider motions of which due notice has been provided. The full rules of the Advocates for the Tongariro River Inc. are printed in the 2023 Annual Report and are also available on the Advocates website www.tongariroriver.org.nz
  • appoint a committee of no more than 15 members.
  • From the elected committee elect an executive comprising; Chairman, Deputy Chairperson, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer. 
  • consider any other matters.

 

 Warren Butterworth passes.

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of former AFTR vice president Warren Butterworth on May 5th.  Warren was a valued member of the AFTR committee. He was smart and articulate, but above all, a real gentleman. We pass on our joined condolences to Warrens family and feel fortunate to have spent time with him on the committee since 2014. 

 From the Auckland Herald: 

Warren BUTTERWORTH Obituary

Butterworth, Warren Langley. Warren passed away on Sunday 5th May, aged 83. Much loved and cherished husband to Karen for 43 years, adored father of James, Victoria and Nick, loving grandfather to Amy, Flynn, Zoe, Stella and Sarah, loved brother of Guy and Joan, brother inlaw to Vicky, Steve, Caroline and the late Rob, Father inlaw  to Gerda and treasured uncle to David, Nicky, Suzanne, Jonathan, Ana and Leanne, and dear friend to many. Special thanks to the staff of Ward 31 at Auckland hospital for their care and support. A celebration of Warren’s life will be heald at St Mary’s in Holy Trinity in Parnell, Auckland on Satrurday 11th May at 11.00am.

 

 

Scheduled water release on the Tongariro River:

 Genesis will be releasing water into the Tongariro River this weekend for the second recreational release weekend of 2024, from: 

  • Poutū Intake (Access 10) on Saturday 25 May and Sunday 26 May; and 
  • Rangipō Dam (Access 13 & 14) on Sunday 26 May.  

  

Please note:  This release weekend includes an addition Poutū release on Sunday, as arranged with White Water NZ in recognition of the cancellations over the last year due to forecasted flood flows.  This release will start once the flow from Rangipō reaches Poutū Intake, at approximately 10 am (compared with the usual Poutū release start time of 9 am). 

  

Flows are on the Genesis website: 

 DOC making some good progress around access to the river. 

It has been a pleasure to see the recent efforts from DOC Turangi staff with regards to fishing access tracks on the river. It is always a pleasant surprise to arrive at a favourite pool to find much improved access. Often this involves cutting of tracks through dense blackberry and scrub, so the benefits are two-fold, better access for anglers and a form of weed control. 

The photos below are of work on the track to and along the true left bank of the Judges Pool , via the reserve at the end of Te Aho Rd. (photos-Richard Kemp)

The Advocates have paid for access through private property in the lower reaches of the river. A sign is still to be erected advising this. We have called the access reached Jock’s Reach.

More at the AGM.