f9eccc8898448811e4af0c53e55964e2
Subscribe today
© 2025 The Gisborne Herald

Aerial mapping project wraps up

3 min read

A major aerial mapping project intended to gather information on the region’s underground water resources concluded with a survey of the Poverty Bay Flats at the weekend.

The project was carried out by Aqua Intel Aotearoa (a partnership between GNS Science and Kānoa, funded by the Provincial Growth Fund) which is working with Gisborne District Council to plan the survey, in discussion wit...


1 comment

commenter avatar
Simin Williams
0
21 February 2024
Last Saturday (Feb 17th), we were at a friend’s place at Awapuni road, where Aqua Intel (AI) helicopter hovered over us, more than once, slowly scanning our friends' property, around 10 minutes or so.
While looking at the big loop, a conversation evolved around the subject. Some commented that these scanning technologies that can penetrate depths of several hundred meters can’t be safe going over people. We listened to this with much concern while the helicopter flew over us and kids in the swimming pool.
One of the guests said that in spite of helicopter not allowed to go over people’s houses, they did go over her house.
Back at home, I checked websites of Aqua Intel Aotearoa and SkyTEM. I learned that this technology can be used for Mineral exploration too.
My question is who owns the collected data? Can the collected data be used for mineral information as well as underground water survey?
Will my friends get a copy of collected data and any analysis of it?
Also, I would never take the words of technology owners regarding the safety of their own product.
Did Gisborne District Council ask for independent safety assurances and a peer-reviewed paper regarding the safety of such technology?
Also, it seems to me that in future, consent of any property owner should be sought in advance of them being exposed to any such technology.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Read and post comments with a
Newsroom Pro subscription.

Subscribe now to start a free
28-day trial.

SUBSCRIBE TO PRO
View our subscription options
Top Stories
To read the full story, subscribe to The Gisborne Herald .
Click here to view our subscription options.