INTRODUCTION

These cultural guidelines provide information for recreational users of Taupō Moana (Lake Taupō), including the lakebed and water, the rivers and streams that flow into it, and the Waikato River, from the lake’s outlet to the Rock of Tia, including the Huka Falls.

Whether you’re boating, fishing, swimming, or walking along the lake’s edge, your actions protect the cultural and environmental wellbeing of this taonga (treasure).

Ngāti Tūwharetoa ask all recreational users to help protect and care for Taupō Moana by respecting its cultural importance.

These guidelines apply to all recreational users, such as:

• Boaters, kayakers, paddleboarders
• Swimmers and anglers
• Campers and picnickers
• Drone users and photographers
• Walkers and visitors to the lake and its shores.

By following these guidelines, you’re showing respect for:

• The cultural and spiritual significance of Taupō Moana to Ngāti
  Tūwharetoa
• The role of Ngāti Tūwharetoa as mana whenua (customary authority), kaitiaki (guardians), and rangatira (legal owners of Taupō Moana)
• The wellbeing of Taupō Moana and the people it sustains.

Cultural Practices to Respect

Tikanga and kawa (protocols) are cultural practices that guide how people interact with Taupō Moana. Please take care to respect the following.

Rāhui

A rāhui is the tikanga or customary practice that restricts people from gathering kai (food) or accessing an area. It may be placed on a part of the lake or shoreline by Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Tūwharetoa:

• Acknowledging a death: After a death in or near the water, to allow the tapū (spiritual prohibition) to lift. This is a way of acknowledging the death and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community.
• Protection and restoration: To allow for the regeneration of natural resources like fish and plant life.
• Cultural significance: To protect culturally significant areas such as wāhi tapu.
• Safety and wellbeing: Rāhui can be used to prevent harm or accidents, especially in areas where there might be safety concerns, such as contamination incidents like wastewater spills or vehicle accidents into the lake.

If you encounter a rāhui (via social media, news, signage, or word of mouth), please respect it by avoiding the area.

Ash Scattering

Scattering ashes, human or animal, in Taupō Moana is strongly discouraged to protect the lake’s spiritual and ecological health.

Releasing Objects Into the Lake

Please don’t place or release items into the lake. This includes:

• Balloons, floating lanterns, or candles
• Coloured powders (e.g. from ceremonies or celebrations)
• Inflatables, tributes, or memorial items.

These items can harm the lake’s ecosystem and conflict with Ngāti Tūwharetoa tikanga.

Specific Sites of Cultural Significance

Several places on and around Taupō Moana are wāhi tapu or hold deep cultural meaning for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. These include lands, waters, and spaces that carry:

• Cultural importance: Sites used for spiritual cleansing, ceremonial purposes, or traditional food gathering
• Historical importance: Places where significant events in Tūwharetoa history occurred
• Tribal importance: Such as current and historic marae (traditional meeting grounds), papakāinga (communal living areas), urupā (burial grounds), and tuahu (sacred altars or markers)
• Archaeological importance: Locations where taonga tuku iho (ancestral treasures) have been or may be found.

While not exhaustive, the following sites hold deep significance for various hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

Please take care to follow the guidelines outlined for each site to ensure respectful and appropriate behaviour.

Motutaiko Island

Motutaiko Island is of deep spiritual importance to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. It is a privately owned island, a wāhi tapu, and an urupā (burial ground).

Access and Restrictions

• No landing or public access is permitted at any time.
• All vessels – including boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards – must stay at least 200 metres away from the island.
• Do not take or share photos or videos of the island, including on social media.

Please respect the cultural and spiritual significance of this site by following these guidelines.

Te Pōporo / Bulli Point

Te Pōporo is surrounded by historic sites of great importance to Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The area is a wāhi tapu and is deeply respected for its cultural and historical significance.

Access and Restrictions

• Do not approach or access the cliffs from the water’s edge.
• All vessels – including boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards – must stay at least 200 metres away from Te Pōporo.

Please help protect the mana and integrity of this significant site by keeping your distance and not landing or anchoring nearby.

Motutere Point

Motutere Point holds deep spiritual significance for Ngāti Tūwharetoa. The area contains urupā and wāhi tapu, and is to be treated with the utmost respect.

Access and Restrictions

• No landing or public access is permitted at any part of Motutere Point.
• All vessels – including boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards – must stay at least 200 metres away from the shoreline.

Please respect the cultural and spiritual importance of this site by always keeping your distance.

Lakefront Marae

The following Tūwharetoa Marae are located on the shores of Taupō Moana:

• Te Mahau Marae (Waihī)
• Waihi Marae
• Pūkawa Mara
• Poukura Marae
• Whanganui Bay Marae
• Waihāhā Marae
• Pākira Marae (Waitahanui)

These marae are active cultural spaces and must be respected at all times.

Access and Restrictions

• Do not land on the shoreline in front of any marae.
• Do not take photos or videos of any marae without written permission from the relevant marae committee.
• Recreational users must ensure that any existing images or footage of these marae are not used in ways that misrepresent or diminish their cultural value.
• No vessels, including motorboats, jet skis, kayaks or paddleboards, may come within 200 metres of any of these marae.
• Please avoid excessive noise near the marae, out of respect for the people and the space.

Lakefront Urupā

The following urupā (burial grounds) are located along the shores of Taupō Moana:

• Waihī Marae
• Pūkawa Marae
• Waihāhā Marae
• Pākira Marae (Waitahanui)
• Waipāhīhī

These sites are wāhi tapu and must be treated with respect.

Access and Restrictions

• Do not land on the foreshore in front of any urupā.
• Do not take or publish any photos or videos of these sites.
• Recreational users must ensure that any existing images or footage of urupā are not used in ways that misrepresent or diminish their cultural value.
• No vessels, including motorboats, kayaks, paddleboards or other watercraft, may manoeuvre or moor within 200 metres of these urupā.

Following these guidelines helps safeguard the cultural, spiritual, and emotional sanctity of these resting places and their whānau (family).

If You’re Unsure

When in doubt about any of these cultural guidelines, please contact us.