We know that health of our waterways is a big topic for many people. Freshwater is managed by Horizons Regional Council, however, it doesn't mean that we don't play our part.

It's accepted that the Ōroua River, which is the longest in our district at 131km, is in poor health due to human development and activities. However, since 2015 there have been improvements to the water quality thanks in part to the Ōroua River Declaration. This was signed between Mana Whenua Ngāti Kauwhata and Manawatū District Council, which agreed that both would be responsible for managing the river's health moving forward.

One of the areas that council does have a responsibility for is how wastewater is treated and discharged into our waterways. We're working on a number of projects and initiatives, which you can read more about by clicking on the tiles below.