Project Kaitiaki Project Timeline
2007

The Agreement
2007
The Crown and Waikato-Tainui reached an Agreement in Principle regarding the outstanding claim to the Waikato River. This agreement included the formation of the Guardians Establishment Committee to develop a Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River.
Vision and Strategy
2007
The Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River (Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato) was published.
2008

2010

The Settlement Act
2010
Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 210 and the Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010 passed into law as enabling legislation for the Waikato River Authority and established Co-Governance and Co-Management Arrangements for the Waikato River. The Trust Board represents the interests of the Waikato River Hapū of Ngāti Tūwharetoa under that legislation.
Working Group
2015
The Waikato River Marae Working Group (MWG) was formed in December 2015 through a process facilitated by the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.
2015

2017

Ngā Kaihautū
2017
The Waikato River Marae Working Group was given the name Ngā Kaihautū o Te Awa o Waikato (Ngā Kaihautū). Ngā Kaihautū are the representatives of the Tūwharetoa Marae who maintain a direct interest in the Waikato Awa and Tributaries. Ngā Kaihautū are charged with implementing a long-term plan to protect the health and well-being of the Waikato River for Tūwharetoa, and work alongside the Trust Board in fulfilling its obligations under the 2010 Deed, River Acts and Te Ture Whaimana.
Ngā Hapū o Te Hikuwai
2017
Ngā Hapū o Te Hikuwai are identified as the following:
Pākira Marae
Tutetawhā Marae
Waipāhīhī Marae
Nukuhau Pā
Te Rangiita Marae
Te Kapa o Te Rangiita ki Ōruanui
Maroa-nui-a-Tia Marae
Mōkai Marae
Responsibility
2017
Ngā Kaihautū engages directly with the Trust NgBoard to consider matters relating to the protection and restoration of Te Awa o Waikato and its natural ecosystems and is made up of two Trust Board members and one representative from each of the following Te Hikuwai o Tūwharetoa Marae:
2022

Te Mana o Te Wai Fund
2022
The Trust Board received funding from the Ministry for the Environment’s Te Mana o te Wai fund. The purpose of the fund is to build capability and capacity in Māori to participate in making decisions affecting wai and te taiao. The application was based on components from Ngā Kaihautū – Mahere Rautaki (Strategic Plan) 2020 – 2030.
Deliverables
2022
The current project centres around the following key objectives:
Design a pilot project to develop kaitiaki plans with Te Hikuwai Marae
Develop a mātauranga framework specific to Tūwharetoa that helps us better understand and protect our wai māori for future generations
Investigate new ways to digitally preserve important information
Develop resources, and tools and hold wānanga to support hapū and whānau in their role as Kaitiaki
2022
