


"It would be a very quick solution if we were to look at just banning them altogether," Toroa said. Karena Toroa, who represents Ngāi Tāmanuhiri iwi on the Kiwa Group, said New Zealand had so far opted for an "educate the public" model to wean people off wet wipes, but this was slow.

It has prompted the Kiwa Group, which provides cultural and technical advice to the council on water management, to seek a mandate to investigate a ban on wet wipes. Wet wipes do not break down after being flushed down the toilet and are a "huge" contributing factor to blockages in the city's sewer pipes, Gisborne District Council lifelines director David Wilson said. Karena Toroa, who represents Ngāi Tāmanuhiri iwi on the Kiwa Group, believes banning wet wipes could help solve Gisborne's fatberg issue.
