Awarded to:

  • Te Arawa Lakes Trust
  • Conroy and Donald Consultants Ltd


for ...

Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework and accompanying Environmental Plan


This award relates to a cultural values framework and accompanying Environmental Plan, initiated by Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

The Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes are co-managed by the Lakes Trust, Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Council while the lake beds are owned by the Lakes Trust

Te Tuapapa o nga wai o Te Arawa / Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework provides a holistic and values-based foundation for the management of the Te Arawa Lakes and surrounding land. It is based around the notion of Wai or Water which is central to life

He Mahere Taiao / Te Arawa Lakes Environmental Plan aims to 'give life' to Te Tuapapa through policy to influence and inform Council and Central Government plans, projects and decisions associated with Te Arawa Lakes. The plan also elevates the role of hapū and iwi as hunga tiaki in all matters associated with the Lakes

To date, the implementation of Te Tuapapa has resulted in the following

  • Involvement of Te Arawa whanau, hapu and iwi in restoration projects for Lakes, Wetlands and streams in the Te Arawa Lakes Catchments.
  • Cultural Mapping of significant sites around the Te Arawa/Rotorua Lakes.
  • Return of the bed of Lake Okaro to the Lakes Trust.
  • Leadership of the Catfish Killas Volunteer programme in partnership with the regional council which won the Supreme Award in 2019 at the NZ Biosecurity Awards.

This project represents the evolution of iwi planning documents, by weaving cultural values, matauranga and contemporary policy development.

BACK