How has it been developed?

This Framework was developed through engagement with Te Arawa hapū and iwi in February to April 2015.

Why has it been developed?

We need to ensure that the Te Arawa Lakes are managed through our values. For this to be achieved, we have collated your feedback and articulated what is meant by Te Arawa values, in a form that is easy to understand and apply.

This Framework will:

• Ensure that the Te Arawa Lakes are managed and restored with a ‘cultural lens’, alongside science and technology.
• Effect positive change – environmentally, socially, culturally and economically
• Improve awareness and knowledge about the traditional relationship of Te Arawa with the Lakes.
• Show leadership for intergenerational benefit

What are our guiding Te Arawa values?

Our guiding Te Arawa values (Te Whakapapa o te Wai) are: Wai, Waiariki, Waiora, Wairua and Waiata.

What are our Guiding Principles?

This Framework identifies two Guiding Principles to provide a ‘bridge’ between the conceptual components of Te Whakapapa o Te Wai and the tangible actions. These Principles enable the Lakes (and surrounding land and waterways) to be seen, valued and managed through a Cultural Lens.

• Guiding Principle 1 – Value the role that the Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Te Arawa have to play regarding the Te Arawa Lakes
• Guiding Principle 2 – Value Te Ao Māori

Lake List

The Te Arawa Lakes are:

• Lake Ngāhewa
• Lake Ngāpouri (or Opouri)
• Lake Okareka
• Lake Okaro (or Ngakaro)
• Lake Okataina(Te Moana-i-kataina-a-Te-Rangikaroro)
• Lake Rerewhakaaitu
• Lake Rotoiti(Te Roto-kite-a-Ihenga-i-Ariki-ai-a-Kahumatamomoe)
• Lake Rotoehu
• Lake Rotomā
• Lake Rotomahana
• Lake Rotorua(Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe)
• Lake Tarawera
• Lake Tikitapu
• Lake Tutaeinanga

Three of the Te Arawa lakes — Ngāpouri / Opouri, Tutaeinanga and Ngāhewa are located in the Waikato Region. The remaining 11 lakes are located within the Bay of Plenty Region.

Info Sheets

In order to develop a work plan for our lakes, we need to understand the overall health of our lakes, projects, research and monitoring being undertaken, as well as the management plans associated with each lake.

As a result, we have developed the Te Arawa Lakes Info Sheets, which includes the following information about each of our lakes:

• The status of water quality for each lake i.e. is it healthy? Can I swim there?
• The projects, research and monitoring occurring on the lakes.
• The outcomes of the lake research and monitoring.
• The role of the Trust, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua Lakes Council with the lakes.

You can find a link to these sheets below under the corresponding lake. Other reports and assessments can also be found below.

For the latest health warnings and notices of events/closures, visit the Te Arawa Lakes Programme website.

Te Waikai Otaota:

Aquatic Weed Control in Te Arawa Lakes

Te Tukunga Waikai Otaota Aquatic weed control operations will be taking place intermittently between the 18th of May and the 30th of June 2026 on Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotomā, Lake Ōkataina, Lake Ōkāreka and Lake Tarawera using the herbicide Diquat Dibromide, weather permitting.

Aquatic weed control operations will be taking place intermittently between the 1st of August and the 30th of October 2026 on Lake Rotorua, weather permitting.

Anō Pea Te Tukunga Waikai Otaota: Follow up treatment may be applied following this period depending on the results of the initial treatment.

Ka Rāhui Tēnei Takiwā o Te Moana: A rāhui on the area of control prohibiting swimming, taking food, and collecting drinking water will be in place for 24 hours following control operations.

Ka Whakatūria Ngā Pou Whakamōhio: Signage will be erected during this time to ensure all lake users are aware of this rāhui.

Further information:

• View the Spray Plan for this current round of Aquatic weed control operations here
• View the Aquatic weed control Dashboard here
• Request a site for Aquatic weed control here
• Learn more about the herbicide Diquat dibromide here
• Contact our team by sending an email to aquaticweed@tearawa.iwi.nz 

View the additional sites for Aquatic weed control:

• Hauparu Bay
• Whangamoa Bay 
• Te Ti Bay
• Okere 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who is responsible for controlling aquatic weeds in the Te Arawa Lakes?

Under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement Act 2006, section 26 states that ‘Despite the inclusion of plants in the definition of Te Arawa lakebed, Te Arawa is not, in relation to weeds attached to a Te Arawa lakebed,-

• liable for those weeds:
• responsible for their control or removal.

The responsibility for control or removal of aquatic weeds in the Te Arawa Lakes is shared among Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Land Information New Zealand. These organisations work alongside the Aquatic Pest Coordination Group, featuring representatives from Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Earth Sciences New Zealand, Department of Conservation and Fish and Game to deliver aquatic weed control programs across the Te Arawa Lakes.

Since 2022, Te Arawa Lakes Trust has been responsible for management and delivery of the aquatic weed control program on the Te Arawa lakes.

Why do we need to control aquatic weeds?

Invasive aquatic weeds such as lagarosiphon, egeria and hornwort are not native to Aotearoa. These aquatic weeds were introduced to the Te Arawa lakes and grow very quickly, forming thick beds of weed that reduce available habitat for our native taonga species. Reducing the spread and impact of these weeds is a key step in restoring our lakes and their mauri.

History of the aquatic spraying programme:

Invasive aquatic weeds have been an issue in our rohe since the 1950’s after being introduced through the aquarium trade and trout fishing industry. The herbicide Diquat dibromide has been used in our lakes since the 1960’s as a method of controlling these weeds.

Is Diquat dibromide safe?

Diquat can be toxic when concentrated, however the product is highly diluted by the time it reaches our lakes and has no effect on humans or on our native species once diluted. The concentration rate needed to kill invasive lakeweeds is around 1 millilitre of herbicide per 10 litres of water. At this concentration, it is estimated that a 70kg human would have to drink 25 litres of lake water with diquat recently applied to feel any impact.

Regardless of this exceptionally low toxicity, there is a compulsory 24-hour rāhui or stand down period for areas sprayed with diquat to ensure no unforeseen health impacts to our community. Signage is erected around the lakes during and after control operations to ensure the public is aware of this rāhui.

What about our taonga species?

Although diquat is considered non-toxic to our taiao and our people at the concentration rate required to kill aquatic weeds, we still want to ensure these activities aren’t negatively impacting our taonga species or sites of significance to our people. To track these impacts, Te Arawa Lakes Trust conducts cultural monitoring at selected control sites before and after control operations.

How do you decide where control is taking place?

The Cultural Monitoring plan includes mapping out areas of significance for Te Arawa hapū, both historic and modern, to better inform site selection. Current spraying sites are selected based on the condition and extent of aquatic weeds, the resources available and the impact removing these weeds will have on the lake ecosystem and our communities. The condition and extent of aquatic weeds at each site is assessed prior to control operations by scientific divers. Sites are selected by the Aquatic Pest Coordination Group including input from Land Information New Zealand, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Earth Sciences New Zealand, Department of Conservation and Fish and Game.

Who supports this programme?

This programme is supported by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC). Herbicide application is carried out by registered contractor AquaAg Ltd. Consent for these activities under the Resource Management Act has been granted by Bay of Plenty Regional Council (68367-AP).

When will control operations take place?

Control operations are undertaken twice per year – once before summer to reduce the risk of spreading aquatic weeds between water bodies during the busy summer season, and once after summer to improve native biodiversity and reduce ecological impacts of invasive weeds. A spray plan is developed for each round of control operations detailing where aquatic weed control will take place. A proposed date range is provided in each plan, within which weed control will be conducted intermittently depending on wind, water and weather conditions.

In some cases, follow up control works may be required. Following herbicide application, a 14-day stand-down period will be implemented before further control works can proceed.

Control operations will not occur on any weekend, public holiday or during school holidays to ensure the programme does not impede upon the use and enjoyment of our lakes.

To keep up to date with control operations throughout the proposed date range, you can sign up to our email list by sending an email to aquaticweed@tearawa.iwi.nz , check the Land Information New Zealand website under ‘Current and upcoming control work’ or keep an eye on our Te Arawa Lakes Trust social media.

Activities & Events

NOTE: Please ensure you are familiar with the biosecurity conditions before sending through your application for review as the application fee is non-refundable.

If you plan to stage an event on a Te Arawa Lake you must first seek permission from Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT) as lakebed owner. This should be sought BEFORE an application to Bay of Plenty Regional Council is made.

As part of the application process, you will be asked how you have considered the cultural values of our lakes i.e. how your activity or event impacts or enhances these values. Te Arawa Lakes Trust recommends that prior to your lodging of the application that you peruse our cultural value framework Te Tuapapa o Nga Wai o Te Arawa as well as iwi and hapū management plans associated to the lake on which you are applying to hold your event.

Applications need to be submitted to Te Arawa Lakes Trust at least 12 weeks prior to the proposed event date.

Any application lodged within 30 days of the event will incur an urgent consent fee.

No applications will be accepted within 10 days of any event.

Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework – Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Application

An application will need to be submitted to Te Arawa Lakes Trust at least 12 weeks prior to the proposed event date.

Fees & Approval

Once we have received payment of the application fee you will be contacted within 10 business days with a decision or request to provide further information.

If approval is granted you will be issued with a decision letter and be contacted by Te Arawa Management Limited to confirm lease arrangements.

Resource Consents

If you are applying for a new resource consent (notified or non-notified) not relating to lake structures, replacement resource consent, or require TALT to review or provide feedback and input please complete this application form.

As part of the application process you will be asked how you have considered the cultural values of our lakes ie how your proposal impacts or enhances these. Te Arawa Lakes Trust recommends that prior to submitting your application you review our cultural values framework Te Tūāpapa o Ngā Wai o Te Arawa as well as the iwi and hapū management plans associated to the lake.

Te Arawa Cultural Values Framework – Te Arawa Lakes Trust

APPLICATION FEES:

$650.00 (excluding GST)

Fees & Approval

Once we have received payment of the application fee you will be contacted within 10 business days with a decision or request to provide further information.

If approval is granted you will be issued with a decision letter and be contacted by Te Arawa Management Limited to confirm lease arrangements.

Our catfish eradication programme was established in 2016 to increase awareness about the threat that catfish pose on the environment, to stop the spread of catfish, and eventually eliminate them in Te Arawa lakes.

The kaupapa is an initiative between the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust and is coordinated by Te Arawa with a group, dubbed the ‘Catfish Killas’. The group consists of iwi members and other volunteers who are dedicated to restoring and protecting the 14 lakes.

Our coordinator, William Anaru teaches volunteers how to lay nets, catch pest fish and educates kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, primary, intermediate and secondary schools as well as hapū and the public on how to stop the spread and growth of catfish in our lakes and waterways.

Since its establishment, the programme has been hugely successful in creating awareness and mobilising an army of 1,500 volunteers who have culled 180,000 catfish from our lakes. The Te Arawa Catfish Killas group has also been successful in various taiao awards including;

• New Zealand Biosecurity DOC Community Pihinga Award
• New Zealand Biosecurity Supreme Award
• Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) Te Puni Kōkiri Award for Bicultural Leadership
• McGredy Winder 2019 SOLGM Local Government Excellence Awards® Supreme Award

We know that catfish are devastating our kōura populations and we also know that catfish eradication is not feasible with the current tools available. For this reason, we are working with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and NIWA on a research project to assess whether biocontrol, using sterile male catfish, would be an effective tool for Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotorua. You can read more about the biocontrol programme here.

Make sure you follow their mahi on Facebook.

In 2020, Te Arawa Lakes Trust received $2.5 million in funding to support the creation of new jobs post COVID-19 – while also enabling and accelerating environmental projects that deliver wider economic, social and cultural benefits. The funding is part of the Government’s $1.3 billion Jobs for Nature programme.

Through the funding, Te Arawa Lakes Trust has established the Hunga Tiaki Taiao (Wetland Team) who lead various kaupapa educating and upskilling participants in the environment sector.

We have also created an innovative and ambitious proposal – Mauri Tu Mauri Ora Te Arawa – that was developed during the Level 4 lockdown to generate new job opportunities by advancing environmental projects.

Starting with a wetlands restoration pilot project in collaboration with hapū, iwi and landowners, we have created eight jobs in the first phase.

The premise behind Mauri tū, Mauri ora Te Arawa is founded on the core principles of collaboration and partnership in order to achieve far reaching outcomes.

Alongside the wetlands restoration kaupapa is the Taiao Training programme that aims to educate and upskill participants to meet the growing workforce demands in the environment sector, ultimately creating more kaitiaki for the rohe.

These kaupapa will not only upskill and engage our whānau as Hunga Tiaki and forge stronger connections with our environment, they will also replenish the mauri of our wai, our whenua and our whakapapa.

Launched in July 2020, the Sentinel A Nuku programme was developed by the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai and has its genesis in the successful Ngā Whenua Rāhui programme.

This programme supports Māori landowners to restore, protect and preserve the indigenous biodiversity of their whenua, as well as preserve traditional knowledge and heritage. It aims to prepare the next generation of environmental and conservation managers and technical experts.

You can read more about the programme here.

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori

Science and Design Fair 2026

Fostering Kaitiakitanaga since 2022

We are excited to be hosting Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair for its 5th year in a row, and this year we are going bigger in our mission to enable youth voices to be heard in the context of mitigating environmental issues!

Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair is a 3-day event where ākonga (students) from Years 0–13 share their projects, ideas, and creativity with kaiako, whānau, kura, industry experts, and the wider community.

​It’s more than a science fair. Tamariki and rangatahi explore solutions to pressing environmental challenges across contexts such as biodiversity loss, water health, climate change, and sustainability through both te ao Māori and western science. By weaving these knowledges together, Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā creates a platform to celebrate ways of thinking about te taiao (the environment). Fostering inquiry-based learning through practical discovery of real-life impacts, ākonga can place themselves in the shoes of decision-makers, and have their voices heard across an atmosphere that celebrates youth advocacy and determination to restore our environment for generations to come.

With four different submission areas, there is something for everyone!

• Science/Mātauranga Project
• Visual Art Project
• Environmental Photography
• School STEM Programme Exhibition (not assessed)

Categories this year include:

• Biosecurity
• Biodiversity and Conservation
• Water Environments (marine and freshwater)
• Mātauranga Māori
• Sustainability
• Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience

Join us from Wednesday 26th August to Friday 28th August at the Energy Events Centre (TBC). Judging will take place in the exhibitor room on the Wednesday morning from 9am-12.30pm, after which the event will be open for public viewing. Prizegiving will be held at 12pm on Friday 28th August.

Further Information:

• Download the Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Guide for Students & Teachers here
• Download the 2026 flyer here
• Download the 2026 information booklet here
• Register your kura here: https://forms.gle/2QxDtwBoqqXREZ2g8
• Already registered your kura and ready to register your groups project/s? Register projects here: https://forms.gle/V3iR1nY3BFmgT3U77
• Pātai? Email sciencefair@tearawa.iwi.nz or visit our Facebook page

Te Kete Rokiroki: Artist Jamie Huia Rolleston (Ngati Whakaue, 2021)