The word is that we'd all like our rivers to run clean and fresh, like they used to before there were so many of us doing things to mess them up.

Think swimming in them and fishing – looking at clear water, rather than brown.

But we also don't want to see chunks of our most useful industries go belly up, because there either wasn't enough water to make them work properly, or the way they did things had to be changed so drastically they couldn't see a way to be profitable.
So the Waikato is giving collaboration a try on behalf of the Waikato and Waipa rivers. It won't be a fast process, and it won't be cheap, but if the Land and Water Forum can do it successfully, it's worth a shot.
And if it works, and our rivers are cleaner and our people are comfortable with how it was achieved, then it's got to be better than years of court cases.
It took a while to get agreement to try, even within Waikato Regional Council. But recently nearly 130 stakeholders, representing a very large number of vested interests, turned up at the Hamilton Racecourse for a day of discussion and decision making on the formation of a representative group. Formation of a much smaller Collaborative Stakeholder Group signalled hope in the air, despite some fears of a major stoush occurring at the meeting.
A lot of homework had been done, and facilitator Helen Ritchie was there to make us work, not argue. So the process was divided into specific steps, and discussion groups (of four) worked on one session of eight; the results from each group made plain each step.

Comprehensive
After a comprehensive introduction, which ensured we were all on the same page in the process to achieve a Regional Plan Change, we put forward a substantial list of stakeholder interests, which we thought should be involved. Then we followed with grouping like with like, which is a good indication of just what collaboration might entail.
Then we tackled just how big this group should be – small (say 12) and chatty, or a bit bigger and more inclusive? We came up with the size 20, of which 16 would be stakeholders, and maybe four would represent other parts of the Waikato community.
Having shortened the list of stakeholders, we then tackled the tricky task of how many seats each block of stakeholders would get of the 16.
Some would probably have expected to get a greater number, but democracy prevailed; and when the numbers were offered, averaged and presented, there was tacit agreement at least.
Next we looked at what skills would be needed by each of the future 20 members. A visitor from Canterbury (which went through this a while ago) emphasised once set up as a group, members' efforts should focus entirely on clean rivers, not on barracking for their specific needs.

Hot debate
A later session hotly debated was how nominations should be made. Canterbury had opted for individual nominations and interviews. Waikato eventually opted for stakeholders to choose their own representatives, which for some groupings will be an interesting process.
Initially the choice of having four members from the community, or whether the 16 should become 20 from the already nominated groups, has been left for the council and its committees to decide, along with its river iwi partners.
If this is agreed on, then a nomination process from the community or individuals will be undertaken.
It may be that not every single one of the 130 stakeholders attending was totally happy with the outcome, but smiles and enthusiasm exhibited at the meeting's end, and the secret relief of the progenitors of the collaborative idea, indicated the process had worked.
Stakeholders have until October to come up with their nominees, and the Collaborative Stakeholder Group will get to work in February next year.
The plan is they will toil for several days each month until they achieve consensus. At that point their suggestions will be put to those who are appointed (either by legislation or office) to make decisions.
A plan change will then be drafted and go through usual consultation process.
Hopefully without too many objectors,
or days in court.