New era in resource management for Lake Taupō
A landmark addition to the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) between the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board and Waikato Regional Council, will see the parties working closely together over Taupō Waters.
Taupō Waters includes Lake Taupō and the tributaries flowing into and out of the lake. Previously the JMA solely addressed the upper Waikato River catchment.
Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Vaughan Payne said the natural resources under the umbrella of Taupō Waters would benefit from the new co-management arrangement.
The JMA sets out how the regional council and the trust board will work together when carrying out specific legislative duties and functions, including exercising powers under the Resource Management Act.
Waikato Regional Council and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board have also agreed to develop a framework over the next 18 months. This framework will consider transfer of duties, functions and powers pursuant to section 33 of the Resource Management Act.