Taupō Lakes and Waterways farewells longtime Trustee Laurie Burdett

Laurie Burdett

Now she has turned 80 there are some pastimes long-time conservationist Laurie Burdett is pulling back from, but her commitment to Lake Taupō and the surrounding environment remains firm.

A long-time member and trustee of Taupō Lakes and Waterways (TLAW) and a Waikato Regional Councillor for four terms (2001-2013), Laurie has been an active participant in, or keen observer of, the initiatives that began in earnest in the 1980s and 1990s to protect lake water quality, initially through erosion control and riparian protection and then the concerted effort to reduce nitrogen inflows.

From Taupō District Council initiatives to encourage community involvement within strategic plans to the collaboration between all the major players including the TDC, TLAW, Department of Conservation, Environment Waikato and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board in producing the 2020 Taupo-nui-ā-Tia Action Plan, to accords and lake water quality projects, Laurie’s involvement spans the years.

During this developmental phase, she recalls one public meeting in which four scenarios were discussed.

“It was basically the lake going back to pristine which probably wasn’t possible, the status quo, letting it deteriorate or improving it.”

Heated debate followed, or as Laurie diplomatically now puts it “a huge amount of consultation.”

“And the decision if I remember rightly was the status quo – which was you’re not going to get it better, but you don’t want it getting worse. And so, the Lake Taupō Protection Project arose out of that and Lakes and Waterways has followed it along ever since.

“Lakes and Waterways is basically about providing a forum for all the parties involved which includes farmers and Tūwharetoa as large landowners, so we always encourage their involvement, but it’s also about providing an educational forum for the general public as well.”

Now though, pointing at a series of birthday cards on a sideboard, she says: “I feel it’s time to move on.”

One of a series of celebrations involved tramping into the Kaimanawa Ranges to a favourite place ‘off track’.

“Some cascades that are absolutely superb. It’s a gorgeous place.”

Horse riding and snow skiing, other keen pursuits over the years, are now however largely off the agenda.

“I’m still submitting on things nationally and TLAW has a lot of work to do; we have redefined our goals and are applying for funding which is a whole new role. We are lucky with Bay Trust and we appreciate that.”

The organisation from which she will step down as a trustee but remain an active member is also grateful for the support of Tūwharetoa, she says.

“They are humble, but the paramount chief was a stalwart when it came to lake water quality and environmental issues, even though they have a huge, vested interest in the land... It gives you a bit of strength to keep going when you are up against it all. They were there. Some of their farms have done huge wetland protection.”

Having already pulled back from civic duties once – when she retired from being a regional councillor just before turning 70 – Laurie admits she has been a ‘sucker for punishment.’

“I will say that very clearly and good measures to all people but if you are really doing the job on the regional council, it’s full time, because you are travelling, and you’ve got half a day to get to a meeting… and there are all sorts of meetings throughout the place.

“I gave up because the travelling got to me. Nearly all the meetings were in Hamilton. And also I was way past retirement age.

“I had two suitcases packed all the time with two of all the essentials. All I had to add in was what I fancied to wear. When I first got elected the first three weeks we were travelling under Project Watershed, consulting around the region. That was a bit of a shock to the system wearing corporate clothes for a month.”

While not everyone is cut out for public life, she says there are little things anyone can do.

“I go out to the Greening Taupō days at Whakaipo Bay - I was incensed once because someone had pitched a tent where I had planted. Sometimes it’s hard to be charitable. But the kids turning up is great because they take ownership of it.”

She hopes the next round of planting will be respected.

“The damage the four-wheel drives are doing is just shocking. They have broken the fences and gone up the gully systems and made an awful mess, and it’s hard to control. I thought it might get better because you had all those campers just across the fence, but it seems to have got worse.”

Rubbish on roadsides and in reserves is another bug bear.

“It’s so simple to dispose of your rubbish responsibly.”

In the past horse rides on bridle trails around Acacia Bay have turned into rubbish collection trips, sometimes involving having to return with a ute.

“Everyone can do something – get to know our unwanted weeds and noxious plants. All these people walking carry a dirt bag for the dog why don’t they carry one for the odd bit of rubbish?”

And she’s not likely to resile from gently letting other people know the part they can play.

“How to protect the water – we can all do our bit there. I was once having a discussion with a gentleman who lived at Watahanui and he liked a green lawn. I had gone into see him about something and he had this nitrogen, and he was living right on the lake front and spreading this stuff all over his lawn. I had quite a strong discussion about it as a regional councillor. He said he liked a nice green lawn, and I said ‘well you’re going to get a nice green lake right in front of you. That’s way too much nitrogen.’ A brown lawn is okay.”