Having been granted the crown of its land and river rights over the past 20 years, Waikato-Tainui recognizes that the Waikato District Council plays an important role in the development, growth and identification of reciprocal strategic opportunities that benefit the community as a whole. Learn more about local iwi in our district. The Waikato District Council and the local iwi also work with the Waikato Regional Council on issues and planning at the regional level. For more details on joint management agreements with the Regional Council and other district councils in the region, see the “Plans and Agreements” below. The Board signed joint management agreements with raukawa Settlement Trust (September 5, 2013) and the Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (May 19, 2017). The agreements are a requirement of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010. After a year of planning, a landmark agreement between iwi and the local government was signed on 17 January 2009, when the Council granted decision-making powers to Ngāti Tūwharetoa in decisions on resource authorisation – the first time a New Zealand local government has delegated powers to an iwi. The Waiapu Basin Joint Management Agreement allows the Council and Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou to jointly carry out the functions and obligations under S36B of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and other laws relating to all land and water resources within or in respect of the Waiapu Basin. Waikato-Tainui and Waikato District Council are linked by structure, constituency, democratic appointment, geographical influence, natural resource management, political, social and economic issues and their long-term generational planning and share a similar approach for each organisation. As part of the agreement, a joint committee will be established, in which suitably qualified Iwi appointments will join the members of the Resource Allocation Council and private plan hearings that will apply to Maori lands belonging to several Maori countries. It is estimated that more than 50% of the land area of Taupō District belongs to members of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The agreements focus on how the Council and the iwi authorities will work together to promote the recovery and protection of the Waikato River. These include cooperation in the development of the district plan, decisions on the authorization of resources, and monitoring and implementation of the Resource Management Act 1991.

The Waikato District Council works closely with the Waikato River Authority, the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and other boards to jointly manage the Waikato River and the Waipa River, hereinafter the specific agreements. Visit the Waikato Regional Council website for details on Waikato`s Iwi Regional Management Plans and learn more about Maaori, the Waikato River and its co-leadership. The Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012 came into force on April 5, 2012. Under the Act, Waikato District Council is required to enter into a joint management agreement with Ngaati Maniapoto. The purpose of the law is to “. restore and preserve the quality and integrity of the water that flows into the Waipa River and is part of the Waipa River, for present and future generations… Kia ora Graham In accordance with your request for a copy of the joint management agreement signed with Tūwharetoa and the Waikato Regional Council. All JMA agreements are available on our website (link below)[1]www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/commun. . . .