4. Waikato River canal, Alternative 10-Year-Plan Our vision Hamilton, enriched by the Waikato River, a socially and environmentally responsible city and a good place to live: • affordable and equitable, • safe, clean and green, • where people value cultural diversity, • celebrate our heritage, • engage in local affairs, • and develop a sustainable community for our grandchildren and future generations. And regionally: A future where a healthy Waikato River sustains abundant life and prosperous communities who, in turn, are all responsible for restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River, and all it embraces, for generations to come. This is the overall vision that drives this Alternative Plan for Hamilton. Waikato River canal We recommend an independent Business Case be developed for the long-held vision of two canals linking the Waikato River with the Manukau and Waitemata Harbours. The concept is a transformational project in these extraordinary times, to take account of • Climate change, and • The ‘four well-beings’ (economic, environmental, social and cultural), with • Project development oversight by the ‘Hamilton- Auckland Corridor local governments, Waikato River Authority, Mana Whenua, Waikato and Auckland Chambers of Commerce, Ports of Auckland, and other interested parties, with an Independent Chair. Background From the 1860s in New Zealand, many people dreamed of connecting the waterways of Waikato and Auckland with two canals following traditional transport routes. Maori had long carried their waka from the Waitemata’s Tamaki estuary the short distance overland to the Manukau, and then south and north through the Waiuku River 15 km to the Waikato River This project and requirements for locks, is tiny in comparison with current international experience and this nation’s past record on significant public works such as the Main Trunk Railway with the King Country’s Raurimu spiral and massive viaducts in the early 20th century, the Kaimai Tunnel (1978), and the Clyde Dam (1992). Now, the late March 2021 blockage of the Suez Canal has people talking about canals again. 1 In 1910 Hamilton and Auckland Councils and their towns’ Chambers of Commerce held a major conference to agree the concept of canals linking the Waikato River to the two harbours, Manukau and Waitemata. Over decades, they continued to promote the project. Long-term river advocate Cesar Roose with map showing proposed canals (Connections, pg 66. ‘Economic necessities’ In 1965, the Auckland Harbour Board described the pair of canals as ‘economic necessities’ in the development of regional transport services, with greater benefits than either rail or motorway, as well as flood relief. The canal prospect was again raised in 2002 when Auckland’s Watercare obtained the rights to Waikato River water with a $100million project, then again in 2006 during the 100th anniversary of the Waikato Chamber of Commerce. Waikato River now provides for 40% of Auckland's total water supply, and more is being sought with Waikato Regional Council and Hamilton City Council involvement in any consenting process (amidst recent publicity). The world’s longest canal is China’s Jing–Hang Grand Canal, its origins dating back 2,500 years. It was completed in the 6th century, stretching almost 1800 km from Beijing to Hangzhou, and connecting the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. The Erie Canal, linking New York City and the Hudson River to North America’s Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, is the 2nd longest at 380km; opened in 1925 after.40 years in the planning. The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, carving a 193km waterway between Asia and Africa. History tells us this canal’s whakapapa dates back 3,000 years to a waterway cut from the River Nile to the Red Sea - the Canal of the Pharaohs or the Ancient Suez Canal. With today’s daily average of around 50 ships, the late March 2021 canal blockage reminded of Its importance to the global economy. 2 In this 21st century, canals (and the engineering of locks) remain recognised routes world- wide for freight and recreation, and even more so in the search for alternatives to fossil fuel powered transport. In New Zealand, roading has long held the attention (and purse strings) of central and local government. As the big roads have been built, so the traffic has come (as Henry Ford predicted). Yet many attempts have been made to promote alternatives and change priorities in the billions still being spent on transportation. Hamilton City Council is currently spending millions on new Waikato River jetties with plans for more to promote river transport. Meanwhile there has been mounting concern at the silting of the Waikato River (particularly the impact on the river mouth), destabilisation of the banks and bed, and the ecological consequences of the hydro dams, sewerage and stormwater spills, and intensified dairy farming. The interests of Mana Whenua are recognised and their tole as Kaitiaki. We recommend an Independent Business Case now be developed for the Canal Project, taking into account Auckland’s potable water requirements, Four Wellbeing impacts including Mana Whenua heritage, as well as recreational and transportation benefits - Hamilton City Council working with neighbouring councils, the Waikato Regional Council and Waikato River Authority, Mana Whenua, Waikato and Auckland Chambers of Commerce, and other interested parties. There is significant background information available (eg Auckland Museum archives). https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/300047061/agreement-for-auckland-to-take-more- water-from-waikato-river-reached Agreement for Auckland to take more water from Waikato ... https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/124523589/hamilton-to-oppose- aucklands-push-to-increase-water-take-from-waikato-river Hamilton to oppose Auckland's push to increase water take ... https://waiukumuseum.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/waiuku-in-the-news-2/ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PWT19130909.2.19 Canals (Waiuku & Tamaki) 1880s-1970s – ‘Connections’ pgs 56-61, 66-67, 95,96 3 .