A newsletter from the
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
MESSAGE
FROM THE CE
The day after the Authority’s
5th anniversary we held our
AGM. It was tremendous to
have the work of the Authority
with its funding partners
resoundingly endorsed
alongside a strong contingent
fromWaikato-Tainui marae
and management.
Reappointments of two
Waikato River iwi appointees
to the Board of the Authority
echoes the strong support for
the work and direction of the
Authority in its first 5 years.
Work continues on the 5-15
Year Waikato River Restoration
Strategy, and we welcome
the Waikato Regional Council
leading this key project that
will help guide investment for
clean-up initiatives.
On behalf of the Board and
management teamwe wish
you all a merry Christmas and a
safe and prosperous New Year.
The Waikato River Authority
celebrated five years of operation
with its 2015 Annual General
Meeting held on the 26th of
November in Pukekohe.
More than 50 iwi and other
stakeholders attended the meeting.
Authority co-chair Tukoroirangi
Morgan and Hon John Luxton said they
were particularly encouraged to see
such a strong turn-out from local iwi
effectively representing the flax roots
of the area.
The Authority has held its AGM in
different parts of the Waikato and
Waipa River catchment each year
over the past few years in an effort to
communicate the work of the Waikato
River Authority face-to-face.
A feature of this year’s AGM was
presentations from key partners with
the Authority.
These included:
• Mike Scarsbrook and Adrian Brocksopp
fromDairyNZ on the success of the
sustainable milk plan project which
has received significant funding from
the Authority
• Waikato Regional Council chief
executive Vaughan Payne presented
on the close and effective working
relationship between the WRA and
Council with particular focus on the
Vision and Strategy
• Local dairy farmer Stu Muir spoke
on behalf of the Muir Family who
have been instrumental in a number
of whitebait habitat restoration
projects (funded by the Authority)
in the Aka Aka area of the lower
Waikato River
• Waikato-Tainui College for Research
and Development administration
director Tuti Cooper gave a
presentation on the college’s close
relationship with the Waikato River
Authority and the Maanaki Tuna (eel
restoration strategy) which has been
funded by the Authority.
Following the AGM a short field trip
was held to look at the whitebait
habitat restoration work carried out
by Stu and Kim Muir.
Large turn-out for
Authority’s fifth AGM
(L to R) Waikato-Tainui CEO Parekawhia
McLean, Tukoroirangi Morgan, Stu Muir
and Hon John Luxton visiting the Muir
farm to see whitebait habitat restoration
work undertaken. Parekawhia McLean
congratulated the Waikato River Authority
on its successful first 5 years at the AGM,
and commended the work of river iwi and
other funding recipients partnering with
the Authority.