Hope of river clean-up after Crown agreement

Abigail Hartevelt | 11th March 2010

Te Arawa is hopeful some real progress can now be made to clean up the Waikato River following the signing of a special agreement with the Crown.

Yesterday the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust signed a co-governance agreement over the Upper Waikato River with the Crown, giving Te Arawa more input into how the river is protected and maintained.

At a ceremony held on the Ngati Tahu Tribal Lands, Tutukau Trust Farm, Orakei Korako, overlooking the Waikato River, Te Arawa welcomed Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson and Crown officials for the deed signing ceremony.

Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa chief negotiator Rawiri Te Whare said he welcomed progress with the Crown in resolving Te Arawa claims over the Waikato River.

The new deed provided real momentum for iwi to participate in a partnership focused on the restoration and protection of the health and well-being of the Waikato River, he said.

"For too long Te Arawa and other river iwi have been relegated to mere spectators of the river."

Describing the river as a national taonga, Mr Te Whare said it had been polluted and had been allowed to degenerate to the point where it was now not safe to swim in or drink the water.

"Co-governance provides iwi with real influence in how the river is protected and maintained.

"It is a process of partnership.

"We welcome the opportunity to join with other river iwi and the Crown to play a part in restoring and protecting the Waikato River."

The co-governance deed allowed for a governance body made up of equal river iwi and Crown membership.

Te Kuiti based Ngati Maniapoto, which had mana whenua over Waikato River tributary, the Waipa River, was the fifth iwi on the new co-governance body.

Yesterday's signing ceremony was held on land owned by Te Arawa affiliate river hapu Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa.

Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa representative and Te Arawa River Iwi Trust chairman Roger Pikia said the deed marked significant progress for the region and the country in finding a solution that leveraged iwi and the wider communities' expertise to focus on the restoration and protection of a national resource.

Mr Pikia also acknowledged the hard work of all involved in achieving yesterday's milestone.

"This has been a process that has involved the hard work of many of our people, many who have not lived to mark this momentous milestone.

"I am honoured to attend on behalf of our tupuna," Mr Pikia said.