Puatahi Marae hosted an excellent hui on Sunday regarding continued opposition to the proposed Dome Valley Landfill.

Ngati Manuhiri and Ngati Whatua are no longer opposing the landfill but many of the smaller Marae and Fight the tip, Save the Dome are resolute in continuing to stop this travesty from occurring. To be fair I'm not sure anyone else in the Kaipara and North Rodney area wants the landfill either.

A big thank you to Mikaere Miru and Mina Henare (Tinopai RMU) and the Fight the Tip team for your tenacity and perseverance.

Puatahi Marae is right next to the Hoteo River and would be the most impacted if future discharges of landfill leachate were to occur.Both the landfill site and the Puatahi Marae are in the Auckland Council area. But the precious Kaipara Harbour doesn't care about boundaries - we are all connected by the rivers that flow into the harbour regardless of where we live.

The conversation got me thinking - if Auckland Council won't supply rubbish to the landfill, then maybe the landfill won't be needed.

So, what am I going to do about it?

I am going to ask my neighbouring Mayor Wayne Brown and Greg Sayers - Councillor for Rodney to meet with me, Fight the Tip, Tinopai RMU and Puatahi Marae. I am going to ask them to talk with us about finding an alternative that protects our harbour.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on.

Also in attendance at the hui were Rachael Williams - KDC Councillor Kaiwaka - Mangawhai Ward Denise Rogers - for Councillor, Otamatea Ward, Kaipara and Huhana Melanie Lyndon