The Pakanae is a traditional rural settlement founded on historical beginnings of being acknowledged as the first and the principle settlement of the famous ancestor, Kupe who discovered Te Ika nui a Maui and also for the establishment of the principle Paa settlement of the founding Ngapuhi ancestor Rahiri. The Pakanae settlement also follows Kororareka, Waitangi and Paihia regions with the first arrival of Pakeha settlers and missionary settlements in the early 18th century.
We are a community based organisation. |
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History
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In 1910 a steam Power saw mill was built at Koutu Point on the Hokianga Harbour approximately 2km from Pakanae. A 75mm galvanised steel pipeline was laid from a makeshift dam on the Matariki Creek in the hills to the south of Pakanae to the Saw Mill to supply it with water. When the Sawmill closed the pipeline was purchased by Archie Fell the first farmer on the land that the present Pakanae water treatment plant is situated. With a 75mm pipe Archie had more than enough water, so water was made available to 5 other Pakanae farmers and thus in 1957 the Pakanae Water Board was born with farmers forming a co-operative amongst themselves with regular meeting and AGM.
In 1999 the Hokianga region was hit with a disastrous flood that brought the declining water quality to a head that affected multiple households, marae, kohanga reo and schools ability to provide safe drinking water. Pakanae was one of the areas hit hard by the rage of the flooding. Water sources and supplies became dangerously contaminated by faecal material yet were still being used as there weren’t any secondary water supplies available.
Our local Pakanae marae became the civil defence post were families displaced by the flood and landslides stayed for almost six weeks before their homes could be accessed or inhabited again following repairs. Health concerns were pushed right to the fore. supplies. Pakanae engaged the pilot and was the first community of two who decided to establish a new treated water supply and in 2001 a treatment system and reticulation was installed by our community.
And not long after a renewed Pakanae Water Board Inc was established to cater for legal requirements of owning and operating the newest community water supply in Northland. Whirinaki followed suit a year later and then in 2006 MOH launched the national Drinking Water Programme where the assistance that Pakanae and Whirinaki utilised years earlier was then rolled out nationally. And now today Hokianga has seven large hapu communities treated water supplies. Since 2001 the old 75mm steel pipeline was discarded in favour of two new 63mm (2”) high pressure alkathene lines, however the dam intake in the awa o Matariki is the same that was built in 1910. Local labour was utilised in laying the mains and household connections. The original raw water lines were upgraded so that potable and raw water was supplied to 64 houses, 1 large marae complex, 2 churches, papa kainga and camping sites. |
A pilot scheme “Nga Puna Wai o Hokianga” was established that provided assistance to Hokianga marae and nearby houses to improve their water
As a direct result of this initiative the health of the area improved all community members of all ages were and are still very delighted to have the filtered water on tap especially as it chemical free with a superb taste. The Water Board has kept the annual water service fee to low as possible and after 13 years in operation the annual costs per household consumer is just $240 per annum. The fee includes a separate raw water line that supplies all outside use, gardens and a couple of live stock. There most probably is no water supply scheme nationally that is able to provide two separate water supplies for such a low costs. Since 2000 the community have embraced the scheme and taken ownership of it and the integration of the water treatment has been successful to this present date. The water service fee itself is a fee that is used to service the whole water supply route to guarantee that every resident in Pakanae receives water. Nobody makes money, however there is allot of voluntary work required to keep up the standard set and the Water Board plans accordingly. Other communities and many whanaunga look on us with envy and even use (with permission) our water from a roadside testing tap, bottling it to take home with them. It is classed indeed as “Te waiora o te kainga o Pakanae” The healing waters of Pakanae, home”. The farm that the treatment plant and water tank reservoir is on has just changed hands and the new owners are very helpful and keen to maintain it sustainability. As the Pakanae Water Board has been running successfully for 13 years we are in the position to advice and mentor other schemes that are being set up around the Hokianga, advising on innovations that were successful. We support these schemes and have proved that they too can be sustainable and successful. The Pakanae Water Board is a legal entity with regular meetings, AGM and audit every year. We have pipeline and plant easements and are accountable to our consumers. Our water is tested monthly and our Risk Management Programme is robust and continually updated. All legal compliances and also all Kaitiakitanga tikanga compliances are adhered too and Pakanae has been compliant to the Nation Drinking Water Standards for small drinking water supplies. The Water Board has also supported many research projects and interviews with organisations, groups, individuals and various university students pursuing degrees. Our favourite university student was Divesh Mistry who masterly completed his thesis for his degree of Master of Science in Environmental Management for Auckland University 2012, on “LESSONS FROM THE PAKANAE WATER SUPPLY.” Please find his book on loan to ASB Trust. Divesh made the whole of Pakanae including the marae very proud, and his thesis is well worth ready. |
