In order to realise the Vision, the following Objectives will be pursued:

A. The restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.

B. The restoration and protection of the relationship of Waikato-Tainui with the Waikato River, including their economic, social, cultural, and spiritual relationships.

C. The restoration and protection of the relationship of Waikato River Iwi according to their tikanga and kawa, with the Waikato River, including their economic, social, cultural and spiritual relationships.

D. The restoration and protection of the relationship of the Waikato Region's communities with the Waikato River including their economic, social, cultural and spiritual relationships.

E. The integrated, holistic and coordinated approach to management of the natural, physical, cultural and historic resources of the Waikato River.

F. The adoption of a precautionary approach towards decisions that may result in significant adverse effects on the Waikato River, and in particular those effects that threaten serious or irreversible damage to the Waikato River.

G. The recognition and avoidance of adverse cumulative effects, and potential cumulative effects, of activities undertaken both on the Waikato River and within its catchments on the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.

H. The recognition that the Waikato River is degraded and should not be required to absorb further degradation as a result of human activities.

I. The protection and enhancement of significant sites, fisheries, flora and fauna.

J. The recognition that the strategic importance of the Waikato River to New Zealand's social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing is subject to the restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.*

K. The restoration of water quality within the Waikato River so that it is safe for people to swim in and take food from over its entire length.

L. The promotion of improved access to the Waikato River to better enable sporting, recreational, and cultural opportunities.

M. The application to the above of both maatauranga Maaori and latest available scientific methods.

* Waikato-Tainui and the Crown agreed to the GEC's Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River for inclusion in the Settlement with one change to Objective J. The final wording for Objective J reads:

"The recognition that the strategic importance of the Waikato River to New Zealand's social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing requires the restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River."