Waikato River and Waipa River co-management

Rangatahi (youth) prepare their waka at the annual regatta celebrations at Ngāruawāhia

On this page: What's happened so far, important legislation and documents, news updates and media releases

What’s happened so far

Arrangements between the Crown and iwi ushered in a new era of Crown-iwi co-management of the Waikato River catchment. Co-management provides iwi with mechanisms to manage the river in partnership with central and local government.

Legislation was passed in 2010 covering Waikato-Tainui and its involvement in co-managing the Waikato River from the Karāpiro Dam to Te Puaha o Waikato (Port Waikato).

Later that year legislation was passed covering Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa and Te Arawa river iwi (specifically the hapū Ngāti Tahu - Ngāti Whaoa, Ngāti Kearoa - Ngāti Tuarā and Tuhourangi - Ngāti Wahiao). The co-management arrangements under this bit of legislation covers the Waikato River from Te Toka a Tia near Taupō through to Karāpiro.

A third piece of co-management legislation covering Ngāti Maniapoto - the Ngā Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012 - came into effect in April 2012.  It was the catalyst for Ngāti Maniapoto to enter into co-management arrangements with local government authorities for the Waipa River. 

The co-management arrangements include joint management agreements between iwi and the regional council on the way we will work together.

The first of these agreements was signed with Raukawa on 10 May 2012 at Pikitu Marae, south-west of Putaruru, while an agreement with Te Arawa river iwi was signed on 28 August 2012. An agreement for river related lands with Waikato-Tainui was signed on 10 December 2012, and the agreement with Ngāti Maniapoto was signed on Wednesday 3 April at Te Kuiti Pā. An agreement was signed with Waikato-Tainui on 18 June 2013 in Hamilton. 

The most recent agreement was signed with Tuwharetoa on 26 February 2018. The signing ceremony was held at Waikato Regional Council.

Find out more about the Waikato River Authority and the Waikato Regional Council’s role in co-management.

Find out more about Hauraki iwi Treaty settlement negotiations with the Crown.

Important legislation and documents

Treaty settlement legislation

Waikato Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act(external link)

Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act(external link)

Ngā Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012(external link)

Deeds of settlement

These documents can all be found on the Office of Treaty Settlements website (http://www.ots.govt.nz/(external link)):

• Raukawa Deed of Settlement - signed 2 June 2012
• Maniapoto Waiwaia Accord - signed 27 September 2010(external link)
• Ngati Haua Deed of Settlement - signed 18 July 2013
• Ngati Koroki Kohukura - signed 20 December 2012
• Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Initialled Deed of Settlement - initialled 7 June 2012
• Waikato-Tainui Kiingitanga Accord - signed 22 August 2008

Waikato River Authority

Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River(external link)

Joint management agreements with Waikato Regional Council

Waikato Raupatu River Trust (Waikato-Tainui) and Waikato Regional Council (Co-management Agreement for Waikato River Related Lands)

Te Poari Matua O Raukawa (Raukawa Settlement Trust) and Waikato Regional Council

 Addendum to the joint management agreement - Raukawa Settlement Trust and Waikato Regional Council 

Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council

Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and Ōtorohanga District Council, Waikato District Council, Waikato Regional Council, Waipa District Council and Waitomo District Council

Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Waikato Regional Council - 18 June 2013

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board and Waikato Regional Council - 2018 [PDF, 4.7 MB]

Iwi management plans

An iwi management plan is a document developed by iwi to address matters of resource management activity of significance within their respective rohe (region). The plans can contain information relating to specific cultural values, historical accounts, descriptions of areas of interest (hapū/iwi boundaries) and consultation and engagement protocols for resource consents and plan changes.

View iwi management plans that have been submitted to council for the Waikato region.

Members of the Waikato-Tainui Executive Board  and Waikato Regional Council representatives at the signing of the Joint Management Agreement in June 2013.	Raukawa Charitable Trust Chairman the late George Rangitutia, regional councillors and Raukawa board members at the Joint Management Agreement signing in May 2012
Te Arawa River Iwi Trust trustees and regional councillors signing the Joint Management Agreement between Te Arawa River Iwi Trust and Waikato Regional Council in August 2012.	Members of the Waikato-Tainui Executive Board and regional councillors at the signing of the Co-management Agreement for Waikato River Related Lands in December 2012.
Maniapoto Maori Trust Board Chair Tiwha Bell (3rd in from the left) alongside fellow signatories to the Joint Management Agreement from the five councils in April 2013 at Te Kuiti Pa.	Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board staff, local kaumatua, regional councillors and Waikato Regional Council staff at the Joint Management Agreement signing ceremony.

News updates and media releases

A swimmer and a waka full of paddlers enjoy the Waikato River