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RNZ News
02-08-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Iwi disappointed council deferring Taupō water management agreement
The draft Joint Management Agreement aims to protect the water of Lake Taupō (Taupō Moana) (pictured) and the Upper Waikato River. Photo: RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod The Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board says it is disappointed the Taupō District Council has chosen to draw out the process for its joint water management agreement with the iwi by deferring it to the next council. Councilors voted on Thursday to defer discussion of the draft Joint Management Agreement (JMA) until after the next local government elections in October after concerns over a lack of public consultation on the agreement were raised. The purpose of the draft JMA is to protect the water of Lake Taupō (Taupō Moana) and the Upper Waikato River. It would see the council and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board collaborate on work such as monitoring and enforcement, district plan reviews, resource consent application assessments, and enabling customary activities. The council has legal obligations to form agreements with Waikato River iwi trusts under the Waikato River Act 2010. Speaking after the meeting on Thursday, Taupō Mayor David Trewavas said he was all for the JMA but felt the community had not been taken along with the process. There had been a lot of misinformation and public debate around the agreement, he said. "For that reason today councilors decided to defer consideration of the JMA till until the new council has been elected in October and that will give them a chance to fully understand the agreement and what's involved." But Trust Board chair John Bishara said the JMA has been co-developed through a process that fully aligned with the legislation and was ready for adoption following endorsement by the Joint Committee. The discussion at Thursday's meeting reflected a clear double-standard, he said. Councillors spent significant time debating whether public consultation should occur, despite receiving clear advice that consultation was not required under the Local Government Act or council policy, he said. "The fact that consultation became the focus, even though it wasn't required, makes it hard to ignore the sense of different standards being applied here. "This decision is out of step with the values many in our community expect and undermines the good work that has been done to this point." In light of the decision, the Trust Board would now take time to consider all available options under the Waikato River Act 2010, he said. The Trust thanked the more than 100 Tūwharetoa whānau who put in a submission of support, and those who showed up at the council vote to tautoko. No matter what, Ngāti Tūwharetoa are kaitiaki of Taupō Moana, and we will continue to protect our taonga, āke ake ake, they said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Council Defers Joint Management Agreement With Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board
Nō te wai te mauriora, water is the wellspring of life. Taupō District councillors met today to consider whether or not to adopt a joint management agreement with the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board. The joint management agreement (JMA) is required by law and brings together Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, representing the district's largest landowner and iwi, and Taupō District Council to ma nage, protect and restore the health and wellbeing of the Upper Waikato River for future generations. It covers a range of mandatory matters but at the request of Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, was extended to cover Lake Taupō and its tributaries. At today's meeting councillors decided to defer consideration of the draft agreement until after the local government elections, which will be held on Saturday 11 October. Councillors felt that more time was needed to fully consider the draft agreement and make a robust decision. While a formal consultation process was not part of the resolution, people are encouraged to read the draft agreement and the FAQs along with the other information available on the Taupō District Council website and contact their elected members if they want to discuss the JMA further. The draft joint management agreement is focused on fostering relationships and agreeing ways for the council and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board to work together better to achieve the JMA vision of protecting and restoring the waterways. Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas says despite the JMA being mandatory under the Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010, the feeling of the council was that it was too close to the election to make a decision on whether to adopt it. However, he also felt there had been widespread community misunderstanding about what the JMA actually involved, with claims that it was more wide-reaching than it actually is. 'We can't protect the Waikato River without also protecting its source, Lake Taupō. That's what this agreement is about – working together to look after these taonga of our district,' says Mr Trewavas. 'It's important to note that under this draft JMA, councillors will continue to make all decisions on work programmes and budgets. The agreement simply asks council staff and trust board staff to work together when it comes to activities that will have a direct effect on waterways. Early iwi engagement on projects like council infrastructure will strengthen council's work, building support and avoiding issues before they arise. 'Council has worked collaboratively with its iwi partners for many years and recognising and acknowledging Māori values when making council decisions is not co-governance, it is about good decision-making.' Following today's meeting council consideration of the JMA will be deferred until as soon as practicable in the next council term.
Scoop
03-07-2025
- General
- Scoop
Taupō District Council Working With Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board On Joint Management Agreement
Nō te wai te mauriora, water is the wellspring of life. Taupō District Council and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board are working together to restore and protect our waterways. In recognition of the importance to the Taupō District of protecting our waterways, Taupō District Council and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board are working on a Joint Management Agreement. The purpose and focus of this draft Joint Management Agreement is to protect the water of Lake Taupō (Taupō Moana) and the Upper Waikato River. This agreement will enable the shared protection and restoration of these waterways for future generations. It fulfils requirements under the Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010 (Upper Waikato River Act 2010), completing the Council's commitments to the iwi of the Upper Waikato River. The Council already maintains agreements with Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (signed in 2017) and Raukawa Settlement Trust (signed in 2013). This new draft agreement also builds on 20 years of successful collaboration through the Lake Taupō Protection Project, which has successfully reduced nitrogen levels entering the waterways. The draft agreement establishes a shared vision: thriving, healthy waterways that sustain abundant life and prosperous communities. Crucially, it recognises that these same communities have a responsibility to protect and restore the wellbeing of Taupō Moana and the Upper Waikato River for generations to come. It will see both organisations collaborate on work such as monitoring and enforcement, district plan reviews, resource consent application assessments, and enabling customary activities. These are all mandatory matters under the legislation. The draft agreement also provides for additional collaboration between the two organisations. This includes the opportunity for working together on submissions to central government, for example, on potential law changes. There could be opportunities for staff secondments between the organisations to build capability, as well as joint work on economic development opportunities and service infrastructure projects. The council and the trust board will jointly agree a three-year work plan that will outline joint projects and programmes. Public access to Taupō Moana for recreation remains under the separate Taupō-nui-a-Tia Management Plan. The draft agreement also creates new opportunities for the community to contribute to waterway restoration, reflecting their shared importance to the people of the district. Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas is welcoming the draft agreement, which he says emphasises that the health of the waterways is intrinsically linked to the health of the wider district, its communities, its economy and its people. 'With the trust board representing Ngāti Tūwharetoa as mana whenua and legal owners of the waterways and the Taupō District Council as the local authority, it makes sense for us to work together to protect and restore our beautiful lake and rivers for the benefit of everyone.' The draft agreement will go to councillors for their consideration at the council meeting on Thursday 31 July.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Taupō Unveils Hotel Investment Prospectus To Drive Tourism And Economic Growth
The Taupō District is set to attract new hotel investment with the launch of its Hotel Investment Prospectus, a strategic initiative designed to showcase the region's development potential, highlight hotel demand in the region and drive economic growth. The prospectus provides insights into Taupō's thriving tourism industry, highlighting investment opportunities for hotel developers and investors and a strong demand for high-quality accommodation. The Taupō district is looking to attract an additional 300 + hotel rooms to the market over the next decade. This would ideally be two 130-150+ room hotels with a 4+ star rating to service the region's growing overnight visitor economy. Mayor David Trewavas emphasises the importance of this initiative, stating, 'Taupō is a world-class tourism destination, and we are committed to ensuring our accommodation offering meets growing demand. This prospectus provides investors with the opportunity to consider our remarkable region for their next hotel development project.' A steady entry of new hotel rooms over the next decade is required to meet the growth of both international and domestic visitors to the region. The delivery of additional quality hotels is an integral part of meeting the expectations of modern travellers. Amplify Taupō CEO, Rick Keehan, adds: 'This prospectus highlights the real opportunities for new quality accommodation to meet growing demand. We're ready to partner with investors who share our vision for the region's future.' In recent years, the Taupō District has consistently ranked as one of New Zealand's top tourism destinations, thanks to its unique geothermal landscapes, lakefront attractions, and growing adventure and events sectors. The region's commercial accommodation consistently positions Taupō as a top performing destination during peak visitor periods. As the region grows in popularity, there is an undeniable market opportunity for the right investor. 'Visitor demand in Taupō continues to grow, and high-quality hotel accommodation is key to unlocking the district's potential,' adds Patrick Dault, General Manager of Destination Great Lake Taupō. 'This prospectus is a call to investors who see the opportunity in being part of Taupō's next chapter.' To further explore opportunities or expand your brand presence in the Taupō region, Amplify is available for a confidential discussion about the opportunities available, the support we can provide, and connections to relevant parties. Contact a development lead at Amplify, Taupō District's economic development agency. Email: sarah@ The Hotel Investment Prospectus is now available for download on the Amplify website here. About Amplify Taupō's Economic Development Agency Amplify is the Taupō District's Economic Development Agency. Our role is to leverage Taupō's natural advantages and work with businesses and stakeholders to champion sustainable growth throughout the district.
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Taupō District Council Adopts Its Annual Plan
Taupō District Council yesterday adopted its Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year. The Annual Plan process provides Council the ability to set both the rates and the fees and charges for the next year. In its Long-term Plan 2024-34, Council forecast an 8.3 percent rates increase for the financial year beginning today. The final rates increase is 0.1 percent higher at 8.4 percent. In the nine months between the Long-term Plan being adopted and the Annual Plan, there have been a number of unplanned increases to essential business costs, mostly driven by central government requirements as well as rises in contract costs. Staff worked hard to find budget reductions and trade-offs to find a balance. The changes mean there will be a slower pace of delivering some projects although key commitments in the Long-term Plan, such as water treatment plant upgrades, will still be delivered. Councillors said putting up rates was a difficult decision because many of the unplanned costs have arisen due to new central government requirements. Councils are primarily funded by rates and therefore have no other way to pay for the increased costs involved in projects such as government water reform. Mayor David Trewavas summed up councillors' sentiment towards unfunded government directives, saying 'stop flogging us at every opportunity'. After rates were charged in three instalments last year due to late adoption of the Long-term Plan, rates instalments for the 2025-26 year will revert to the usual quarterly pattern of August, November, February and May. There are also various options for people to pay monthly, fortnightly or even weekly. For people struggling to pay their rates, Department of Internal Affairs administers a rates rebate scheme which was extended to more SuperGold cardholders in last month's Budget. You can find out more information about the scheme here:
