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A key outcome for the Waikato River Authority in
its first five years has been to partner with river
iwi as they individually establish environmental
blue-prints for the future. These Environmental
Management Plans and Fisheries Plans not only set
an iwi direction but provide overarching master
plans for others working within iwi boundaries.
An iwi
direction
The Waikato River Authority has
funded eight planning projects
of this nature to date with a
combined investment of nearly
$1.3 million. In recent times
three river iwi Environmental
Management Plans have been
in the spotlight with Raukawa
Charitable Trust and Te Arawa
River Iwi Trust completing
plans while Waikato-Tainui has
been recognised for its plan
which was launched 2013.
The Waikato-Tainui plan –
known as Tai Tumu, Tai Pari,
Tai Ao – won the New Zealand
Planning Institute Best
Practice award for Excellence
in Strategic Planning and
Guidance.
Te Arawa River Iwi Trust has
also completed its Fisheries
Plan as has the Raukawa
Charitable Trust. The Maniapoto
Maori Trust Board has its
Environmental Management
Plan and Fisheries Plan
in progress.
The Waikato River Authority
gives special weight to
the priorities in the iwi
Environmental Management
Plans when making funding
decisions for clean-up projects.
The Plans are also intended as
tools to provide clear high-level
guidance on iwi objectives
and policies with regard to
the environment for resource
managers, resource users and
activity operators, and those
regulating such activities.
The funding of these plans
has ensured that the river
iwi perspective has been
captured and documented at
the beginning of the Waikato
River Authority journey for
a healthier and protected
Waikato River.
“The Waikato-Tainui plan – known
as Tai Tumu, Tai Pari, Tai Ao – won
the New Zealand Planning Institute
Best Practice award for Excellence in
Strategic Planning and Guidance.”
Case study
28
Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River