Recent councillor engagement across the Waikato and King Country has reinforced a simple but increasingly urgent point: if we are serious about good decision-making, we need more time on the ground and less time in council chambers.
Recognising this, I organised a recent field visit across the region, bringing councillors together to see first-hand the environments, communities, and challenges we are making decisions about.
Waikato regional councillors Gary McGuire and Liz Stolwyk with chair Warren Maher at Lake Ngā Roto.
The group at at Lake Ngā Roto.
Lake Ngā Roto, a lake that is clearly calling for help, was the first stop on the visit, where regional councillors discussed the future of the reserve and its surrounding environment. While the conversation was constructive, it also highlighted how important it is to physically see and understand the pressures facing this place. There is no substitute for being there – standing on the land, seeing the condition of the lake firsthand, and understanding the cumulative impacts that are not always obvious in reports alone.
With long-term financial planning for the reserve and surrounding catchment commencing shortly, it is a timely opportunity to properly understand the issues on the ground and ensure investment decisions are well-informed and targeted.
King Country River Care’s co-ordinator Lana McCormick, second left with her colleague Matt Sherriff, beside her with Waikato Regional Council staffers Greg Ryan, left and Grant Blackie right.
Diggers working in Pirongia
From there, we travelled to Pirongia and Kiokio to assess flood-affected areas. Standing in those landscapes provides a very different perspective to reading summaries of damage. The scale of impact on land, infrastructure, and livelihoods becomes immediate and real. It also highlighted how impractical some aspects of Waikato Plan Change 1 can be when applied in real-world situations. In Pirongia especially, it was clear that any climate or resilience policy must also prioritise the fundamentals – improved clearing of drains and waterways, alongside ongoing investment in infrastructure that can better cope with extreme weather events.
Over lunch with Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow, discussions reinforced the ongoing challenges rural communities face – not just in recovery, but in building long-term resilience.
In the King Country, engagement with King Country River Care provided valuable insight into the environmental work being undertaken on farms. Visiting Reon and Wendy Verry (sheep and beef) and Brian and Paulette Johns (dairy) showed firsthand what is being achieved, what is possible, and where policy intersects with practical farming systems.
Otorohanga mayor Rodney Dow, centre, hosted the group.
Seeing their plantings and the results of their work on the ground was particularly powerful and, importantly, is aspirational for other river care groups across the region. Standing in their paddocks, it was clear that progress is being made – but also that policy must remain grounded in reality.
Discussions also touched more broadly on Waikato Plan Change 1 and the need for a common-sense approach that recognises both environmental outcomes and the realities of farm viability. We hear you, King Country farmers, and once decisions are released, we are committed to working closely alongside you to ensure workable solutions.
Beyond the formal programme, I attended the Kāwhia Community Board meeting, where support was given to government funding for an EV charging station – an important step for connectivity and local development. Kāwhia beach access was also discussed at a recent hui. As indicated there, vehicle access on Kāwhia Beach is a complex legal issue, involving several overlapping pieces of legislation that must be carefully considered together.
Separately, I visited Mōkau to assess the resilience of State Highway 3 alongside Taranaki Regional Council. In my role as Regional Transport chair, I have since written to Minister Chris Bishop advocating for SH3 to be prioritised as a critical lifeline route for the region.
The conclusion from all of this is straightforward: we cannot govern effectively from behind desks alone. Boardroom discussions have their place, but they must be matched with consistent, structured, and meaningful engagement on the ground.
Our communities, farmers, and infrastructure challenges are complex, local, and constantly evolving. They require councillors who are willing to get out, see it for themselves, listen directly, and fully understand the real-world consequences of the decisions we make.
Visiting Brian and Paulette Johns’ Piopio farm on a glorious King Country day were regional councillors, staff and others
Visiting Brian and Paulette Johns’ Piopio farm on a glorious King Country day were regional councillors, staff and others, from left: Jake Van Leirop (KC River Care), Garry Reymer, Brian Johns, Robbie Cook, Gary McGuire, Warren Maher, Matt Sherriff (KC River Care), Liz Stolwyk, Charles Taituha (KC River Care), Keith Holmes, Chris Irons (KC River Care), Greg Ryan (Integrated Catchment Management director), Reon Verry (KC River Care), Ben Dunbar-Smith, Tim Stokes (KC River Care), Grant Blackie ( Catchments, Integrated Catchment Management manager).
