•FEBRUARY 2016•
REPORT CARD
THE WAIKATO AND WAIPĀ RIVER
•FEBRUARY 2016•
REPORT CARD
THE WAIKATO AND WAIPĀ RIVER
Overall Grade
Taura
Indicators
A
Delivers in full on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Excellent rating.
B
Delivers in part on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Good rating.
C
Delivers on only some of the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Low rating.
D
Does not deliver on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Poor rating.
Grades By Sub-Catchment
ABOUT THIS PILOT REPORT CARD
The Waikato River Authority Report Card summarises where we are on the journey towards meeting the aspirational objectives of the Vision and Strategy, Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato.
REPORT CARDS ARE GAINING POPULARITY INTERNATIONALLY AS A COMMUNICATION TOOL BECAUSE THEY:
• Use a simple familiar format
• Synthesise complex information into simple key messages for a broad audience
• Engage the community and provide accountability for environmental management and restoration actions
•ABOUT THIS PILOT REPORT CARD•
The Waikato River Authority Report Card summarises where we are on the journey towards meeting the aspirational objectives of the Vision and Strategy, Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato.
Report cards are gaining popularity internationally as a communication tool because
• They use a simple familiar format
• Synthesise complex information into simple key messages for a broad audience
• Engage the community and provide accountability for environmental management and restoration actions
THE WAIKATO RIVER CATCHMENT REPORT CARD
•TE TURE WHAIMANA•
•Builds on the analysis in the Waikato River Independent Scoping Study
• Framework was guided by an advisory roopu comprising Waikato River iwi. Waikato River iwi cultural values underpin the Report Card framework
• Is structured around eight taura (strands of a rope) that together capture aspirations of the Vision and Strategy (Te Ture Whaimana) for restoration of the health and wellbeing of the river and its people
• Each taura essentially equates to a high level or “mega-value set” such as kai that support cultural, recreational and commercial harvest. Each taura is then broken down into smaller strands or value sub-sets for example koura and tuna. Below this level are a number of indicators that in combination can be used to describe the state of each value sub-set.
•This version of the Report Card has been populated using available information (e.g., regional council programmes) and the best professional judgement of personnel who have worked in the catchment for many years (including Waikato Regional Council, Fish & Game and NIWA)
• At the time of populating the Report Card, primarily with 2012-2014 data, not all indicator information was available.
• Processes and underlying data that underpin the on-going development of the Report Card have been documented to allow deeper investigation and support future report card updates (anticipated to be five-yearly).
Our Vision is 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.
•ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS•
Information for the Report Card was obtained either directly or indirectly from the following
organisations: Waikato Regional Council, Waikato District Council,
Waipā District Council, South Waikato District Council,
Otorohanga District Council, Waitomo District Council, Taupo District
Council, Hamilton City Council, Watercare, Fish and Game NZ,
NIWA, DoC, Te Araroa Trail, Te Awa Trail, Waikato River Trails,
and the Report Card Roopu involving representatives
from Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, Waikato-Tainui and Maniapoto.
We have endeavoured to use the information appropriately
and take responsibility for the scores derived.
THE WAIKATO RIVER CATCHMENT REPORT CARD
•Builds on the analysis in the Waikato River Independent Scoping Study
• Framework was guided by an advisory roopu comprising Waikato River iwi. Waikato River iwi cultural values underpin the Report Card framework
• Is structured around eight taura (strands of a rope) that together capture aspirations of the Vision and Strategy (Te Ture Whaimana) for restoration of the health and wellbeing of the river and its people
• Each taura essentially equates to a high level or “mega-value set” such as kai that support cultural, recreational and commercial harvest. Each taura is then broken down into smaller strands or value sub-sets for example koura and tuna. Below this level are a number of indicators that in combination can be used to describe the state of each value sub-set.
•This version of the Report Card has been populated using available information (e.g., regional council programmes) and the best professional judgement of personnel who have worked in the catchment for many years (including Waikato Regional Council, Fish & Game and NIWA)
• At the time of populating the Report Card, primarily with 2012-2014 data, not all indicator information was available.
• Processes and underlying data that underpin the on-going development of the Report Card have been documented to allow deeper investigation and support future report card updates (anticipated to be five-yearly).
•TE TURE WHAIMANA•
Our Vision is 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.
This Report Card was developed by NIWA, Diffuse Sources Ltd., and The Waikato Raupatu River Trust.
•ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS•
Information for the Report Card was obtained either directly or indirectly from the following
organisations: Waikato Regional Council, Waikato District Council,
Waipā District Council, South Waikato District Council,
Otorohanga District Council, Waitomo District Council, Taupo District
Council, Hamilton City Council, Watercare, Fish and Game NZ,
NIWA, DoC, Te Araroa Trail, Te Awa Trail, Waikato River Trails,
and the Report Card Roopu involving representatives
from Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, Waikato-Tainui and Maniapoto.
We have endeavoured to use the information appropriately
and take responsibility for the scores derived.
Overall Grade
Click or tap on a letter to reveal the Taura it represents.
C-
Water Quality
Land use and development practices support water bodies that have water that is safe to physically interact with.
C
Effort
Communities, businesses and individuals are engaged in comprehensive contaminant control and rehabilitation to achieve the Vision and Strategy.
C+
Ecological Integrity
Aquatic life has access to healthy habitats protected from adverse effects due to land use and contaminants. Aquatic life has access to healthy habitats protected from adverse effects due to land use.
C
Water Security
Our land use practices and land development supports communities and taonga species having access to life sustaining supplies of water.
C
Experience
We have a flourishing and nurturing connection with the rivers and we are empowered to pursue and maintain our interaction.
B+
Economy
Communities are prosperous, as shown by high levels of employment, housing affordability, gross domestic product and income equality.
C
Kai
Kai are healthy, and have a strong whakapapa, are safe to eat, locally abundant and can be harvested according to our traditional practices.
C+
Overall Grade
As of 2016 the overall grade is C+, as only some of the Vision & Strategy aspirations for the Waikato River are being met.
Sites of Significance
Our sites of significance are forever recognised and celebrated as areas of historical and cultural importance and safe for us to interact with and support a healthy Awa.
due to lack of finer scale information, there was insufficient information to score Sites of Significance.
Indicators
A
Delivers in full on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Excellent rating.
B
Delivers in part on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Good rating.
C
Delivers on only some of the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Low rating.
D
Does not deliver on the Vision and Strategy aspirations for a healthy Waikato River. Poor rating.
Tap or Click on the label for each sub-catchment to reveal its report card score. Click on the blue markers on the map for information on lakes in that location.
LOWER WAIKATO
MAINSTEM
TRIBUTARIES
The water clarity degrades swimming all year, but bug level safe in bathing season; diverse native fish (whitebait & eel fishing) but pest fish prevalent, extensive drainage and flood control degrades ecological integrity; large wetlands present.
MID WAIKATO
TRIBUTARIES
MAINSTEM
Water quality is safe for swimming only in the mainstem in bathing season; macroinvertebrate indicators reflect degraded conditions; good access and signage on mainstem and lake, efforts underway to improve fish passage.
OHAKURI TO KARAPIRO
MAINSTEM
TRIBUTAIRES
Water quality is safe for swimming in the mainstem but not most tributaries; six hydrolakes with good access support recreation; cumulative effects of farm inputs increasing; high degree of groundwater allocation; eels manually transferred from below Karapiro; high level of riparian fencing on dairy farms.
WAIPĀ
MAINSTEM
TRIBUTARIES
Water quality and clarity are unsafe for swimming in mainstem and many tributaries; many lakes have good access and riparian vegetation but low water quality; diverse kai species in tributaries.
HUKA TO OHAKURI
MAINSTEM
TRIBUTARIES
Water quality is safe for swimming and good trout fishing; geothermal inputs have contaminated lake sediments and some tributaries; there are many high ecological quality streams but nutrients levels are poor; high level of riparian fencing on dairy farms; Ngahewa has degraded water quality.
LAKE WAIKARE
LAKE WAAHI
LAKE WHANGAPE
Shallow riverine lakes have algal blooms, very poor clarity, pest fish, have lost submerged plants and kai species are degraded. Rehabilitation plans initiated.
LAKE ROTOROA (HAMILTON)
Lake Rotoroa ecological integrity and water quality degraded.
LAKE NGAROTO
LAKE ROTOPIKO
LAKE NGAHEWA