Clive Bibby: The inquiry that failed to get to the truth

I have never reacted to a Government sponsored inquiry (the Parata led review of land use in the Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay regions) with as much shear disappointment as l do having watched the TV reports and the published comments from those who will most likely oversee the recommendations for changes that are necessary to avoid a repeat performance.

 In some ways, l am a reluctant responder to a “review” (note the different label which is a more accurate description of the one former Forestry Minister Nash obviously wanted) that had all the information it needed, including that gleaned from important “ground zero“ submissions ie. those whose farms were partially destroyed during the cyclone.

There is no question that Hekia Parata and her team tried to push the boundaries of the terms of reference for the inquiry in order to establish the truth about - what actually happened, who or what was to blame and most importantly of all - what needs to be done in order to prevent a similar event every couple of years or so in the future.

However, having pre-warned the likely result of the committee not being brave enough to seek the truth, no matter what it takes (which is what a real government initiated “inquiry” like the Mahon inquiry into the Erebus disaster but unfortunately, not this one, would have done) it gives me no satisfaction in taking on the role of stating the failings of this report. Someone has to do it.

So, what can we take from the findings of this Inquiry that suggest it is “incomplete” and as such,  a black mark on all those involved in producing it.

For a start, in order to make constructive decisions about what needs to happen as we attempt to pull ourselves out of the mire, we need to prosecute those who were responsible in a way that forces them to change the way they do things.  Fines with unintended consequences are not the answer.

It is rather ironic that one of the three entities who must share responsibility for the carnage is the one (the Forestry Industry) who is the least culpable for the damage.

And even though the Mayor has understandably defended her Council’s actions or inactions in this unfortunate saga, her protests would pale into insignificance if the main culprit (ie the Government) had been exposed and forced to clean up its own house before indirectly accusing other lesser authorities and participants of being the only ones to blame.

This commentary may seem out of kilter with the mainstream media, local farming representatives and of course Government’s endorsement of the Inquiry findings.

That is a pity because the only way we can move forward is by accepting the challenges of the future with a commitment from all parties (including the Government) to change the way we do things.

Foremost on the list of ill advised policies that should be repealed, is the government’s obsession with its use of an unrestrained carbon economy to help it achieve its GHG emissions reduction targets. As l have said many times, those creditable targets can be achieved within the boundaries of a law limiting forestry plantings to classes 6 and 7 marginal hill country. The Government could easily have achieved those targets without the help of the rampant, unrestrained Carbon Economy that has destroyed some of the country’s most profitable farming land or the need to slaughter a single belching cow. 

It is vandalism on a grand scale and our current leaders need to be held to,account.

Go figure.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.