In April, the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board raised serious concerns over the proposed Wastewater Environmental Performance Standards, warning that they could undermine iwi rights and environmental protections in Taupō and the Upper Waikato River catchments.
Key issues raised
In a formal submission to Taumata Arowai, the Trust Board outlined major issues with the proposed standards, including:
- Failure to uphold Treaty commitments: The Board argues that the proposals do not properly recognise Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, the guiding framework for the Waikato and Waipā Rivers, or the Upper Waikato River settlement commitments.
- Weak environmental protections: The Trust Board believes the wastewater standards set a low bar, failing to maintain the freshwater quality in the Taupō and Upper Waikato catchments.
- Risk of overriding key agreements: The elevation of technical wastewater and stormwater standards above other instruments in the Resource Management Act (RMA) hierarchy could marginalise the role of Te Ture Whaimana.
- Preserving local partnerships: The Trust Board maintains strong relationships with councils across its rohe and is concerned that rigid national standards could hinder efforts to achieve culturally and environmentally sound water management.
Despite prior engagement with Taumata Arowai, the Board is unsatisfied with the assurances given so far. We continue to engage in good faith to ensure iwi perspectives are central to any final decisions.