ECan spokesperson Hayleigh Brereton said the council believed a site-specific cultural impact assessment with or by Te Runuanga O Waihao was required. “This is a very large proposal and the first of its kind in New Zealand, and it would have some wide-reaching potential effects, including many unknown effects on Mana whenua,” Brereton said.
SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the company was considering legal advice on whether this decision was a breach of legal process and whether processing of the other reports that made up the Project Kea application should proceed in the meantime.