Ngati Tuwharetoa Joint Management Agreement

After a year of planning, a historic agreement was signed between iwi and local government on Saturday the 17th of January when Taupō District Council granted Ngāti Tūwharetoa decision-making powers in resource consent decisions - the first time a New Zealand local government has transferred powers to an Iwi.

The Joint Management Agreement was finalised at Tapeka Marae in Waihi Village, the principal home of Ngāti Tūwharetoa Paramount Chief Tumu te Heuheu. Taupō District Council Mayor Rick Cooper signed alongside Doctor te Heuheu, while New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand witnessed the proceedings with other invited guests.

The agreement will see a joint committee established in which appropriately qualified Iwi appointees will join Taupō District councillors in resource consent and private plan hearings changes which apply to Māori multiple-owned freehold land. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of Taupo district’s land area is owned by members of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.

• Joint Management Agreement
• JMA Landowner Guide