Te Arawa Lakes Trust Express Concern

13 August 2025

The NZ Herald reports that Te Arawa Lakes Trust as the owner of the lake bed under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Act, is calling for greater recognition of its role as kaitiaki and a more meaningful seat at the decision-making table. Especially as ongoing issues with the Ōhau Diversion wall raise concerns about the water quality of Lake Rotoiti.

Chairman Wallace Haumaha said the ongoing issues with the Ōhau Channel diversion wall were “yet another symptom of a broken, Crown-led water management system that continues to ignore our role as kaitiaki”.

“As we work together to find solutions, it is vital that all voices, especially those of kaitiaki and local communities, are included in the decision-making processes that impact our waterways and the wellbeing of our people,” he said.

In June, over 60 Māori land trusts, representing more than 150,000 landowners, hapū and iwi, filed legal proceedings in the High Court against the Crown. They allege the Government has repeatedly failed to uphold Māori rights and responsibilities over freshwater.

“This collaborative approach is the driving force behind the coalition Wai Manawa Whenua, which brings together Māori landowners, hapū, iwi collectives and national organisations such as the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) who together have filed legal proceedings in the High Court to hold the Crown accountable to ensure that Māori rights and responsibilities over freshwater are upheld, fostering a responsible stewardship that benefits everyone,” Haumaha said.

You can read the full article and the BoPRC response here.

If you have any follow up questions or feedback, please contact us at: lrca@rotoiti.co.nz

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