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partnership with the Maniapoto Māori
Trust Board and with support funding
from the Authority, not only provides
a prioritised plan for environmental
restoration of the Waipa catchment but
it may also be used as a blueprint for
similar planning work to be carried out
across the whole of the Waikato River
catchment.
The review and updating of the
Authority’s Funding Strategy for clean-
up projects has also been a significant
milestone this year. The latest strategy
sees a more directive approach around
clean-up priorities. As with many new
funding agencies, the Waikato River
Authority after an establishment phase
of 3 years has now signaled a move
from a broad all encompassing approach
to the setting of more targeted and
focused priorities. We are pleased to
see this progression.
During the year the Authority made
decisions for its third funding round.
This saw 33 projects receive funding
of nearly $5.5 million. Two of the
biggest projects to be funded are both
in the lower Waikato River catchment,
the most degraded area of the river.
The first of these projects is the major
riverbank clearance of exotic and pest
plants north of Huntly. The Tainui
The 2013 – 2014 year has been especially
important for the Waikato River Authority
in large part due to the development and
strengthening of significant partnerships
for the benefit of the Waikato River.
of the Co-chairs
Report
Foremost among these partnerships
has been the establishment of the
Waikato River Restoration Forum,
bringing together industry, iwi as well
as central and local government. This
strategic river leadership group has
come together under the guidance
of the Authority to facilitate greater
collaboration, working jointly on major
clean-up projects, and with an overall
strategic approach to the task of
restoring the Waikato River catchment.
The Authority was also instrumental
in forming an Economic Impact
Joint Venture during the year. The
Joint Venture has been involved
in developing a model to provide
information on the economic impacts
of freshwater policy targets both
nationally and for the Waikato region.
The Waikato River Authority was also
very encouraged to see the start of the
Waikato Regional Council’s Healthy
Rivers Plan process in the past year. The
Authority sits on the project steering
group Te Roopuu Hautuu with River iwi
and the Council.
Another strategically important step
forward during the past year has
been the work carried out on a Waipa
Catchment Plan. This project, conducted
by the Waikato Regional Council in
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River
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