Waikato River Restoration Timelines
The Waikato River Authority was established in 2010 to oversee Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato.
Te Ture Whaimana encompasses the vision for a future where a healthy Waikato River sustains abundant life and prosperous communities who, in turn, are all responsible for restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River, and all it embraces, for generations to come.
The timeline to achieve Te Ture Whaimana is intergenerational. However, while the river system as a whole may require many decades to be fully restored and protected, there are elements to a healthy Waikato River that can, and must, be achieved at a greater pace.
There are three key factors that influence this pace:
• The status of Te Ture Whaimana as the primary direction setting
document for activities that affect the Waikato River
• Government led legislation and policy, for example, resource
management reform and National Environmental Standards
• Funding of restoration projects that support Te Ture Whaimana.
We wish to develop the concept of restoration timelines that can be found in the draft working document here.
This work will support an understanding of progress and timelines towards a healthy Waikato River. It will also support decisions regarding policy and funding as tools to affect the timeline for elements of Te Ture Whaimana.
This includes representation and submissions on:
• Ensuring the requirements of Te Ture Whaimana were not eroded by Freshwater NPS infrastructure exceptions;
• Participation in Biosecurity 2025 – appointed by MPI to governance and leadership working group; and
• Involvement in the Land and Water Forum (2010 – 2017).