Tūwharetoa Disappointed as Taupō District Council Delays Water Agreement

The Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board has expressed disappointment over the Taupō District Council’s decision to delay the discussion of a proposed joint water management agreement until the next local government elections in October. The agreement, aimed at protecting the water of Lake Taupō (Taupō Moana) and the Upper Waikato River, has been a point of contention between the council and the iwi.

During a recent meeting, the council voted to defer the discussion of the draft Joint Management Agreement (JMA) due to concerns over the lack of public consultation. The JMA is designed to foster collaboration between the council and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board on key issues such as monitoring, enforcement, district plan reviews, and the assessment of resource consent applications. It also seeks to support customary activities in the region.

According to the Waikato River Act 2010, the council has a legal obligation to form agreements with the Waikato River iwi trusts. However, the Taupō Mayor, David Trewavas, expressed concerns that the community had not been adequately informed or involved in the process. He noted the presence of misinformation and public debate surrounding the agreement, which led to the decision to defer the discussion until the new council is elected in October.

Trust Board Chair John Bishara, however, emphasized that the JMA was developed in alignment with the legislation and was ready for adoption after being endorsed by the joint committee. He criticized the council for focusing on public consultation, which was not a legal requirement, and suggested that the decision reflects a double standard in how standards are applied.

“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,” Bishara stated. “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 response to the council’s decision, the Trust Board will now consider all available options under the Waikato River Act 2010. Bishara acknowledged the support from over 100 Tūwharetoa whānau who submitted their backing, as well as those who attended the council meeting to show support. He reaffirmed the commitment of Ngāti Tūwharetoa to being kaitiaki (guardians) of Taupō Moana and protecting their taonga (treasures).

The delay in the agreement has raised concerns about the future of collaborative environmental management in the region. While the council aims to ensure community involvement, the Trust Board believes that the process has been unnecessarily prolonged. As the situation unfolds, all stakeholders will be watching closely to see how this issue is resolved.