Waikato River Settlement Act Passed

The Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Christopher Finlayson, recently announced that Parliament had passed the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act (the Act).

The Act gives effect to the settlement of raupatu claims under the 2009 deed of settlement and the Kiingitanga accord between the Crown and Waikato-Tainui.

The Act sets clear focus on the management of the Waikato River, with the overarching purpose to restore and protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.  It provides for a $210 million clean up fund over the next 30 years.

Important features of the Act include:

• The establishment of a co-governance entity, the Waikato River Authority, made up of equal numbers of Crown and iwi appointed members;
• Joint management agreements between Waikato-Tainui and the local authorities;
• Participation for Waikato-Tainui in river-related resource consent decision-making;
• Recognition of a Waikato-Tainui environment plan;
• Provision for regulations relating to fisheries and conservation; and
• Provision for an integrated river management plan.

The Act will come into force later in 2010.

The full text of the Act.