"The river of life, each curve more beautiful than the last"
Our Vision is for a future where a healthy Waikato River sustains abundant life and prosperous communities who, in turn, are all responsible for restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River, and all it embraces, for generations to come.
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 requires 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.
STRATEGY FOR RESTORING AND PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE WAIKATO RIVER
To achieve the Objectives, the following Strategies will be followed:
1. Ensure that the highest level of recognition is given to the restoration and protection of the Waikato River.
2. Establish what the current health status of the Waikato River is by utilising maatauranga Maaori and latest available scientific methods.
3. Develop targets for improving the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River by utilising maatauranga Maaori and latest available scientific methods.
4. Develop and implement a programme of action to achieve the targets for improving the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
5. Develop and share local, national and international expertise, including indigenous expertise, on rivers and activities within their catchments that may be applied to the restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
6. Recognise and protect waahi tapu and sites of significance to Waikato-Tainui and other Waikato River Iwi (where they so decide) to promote their cultural, spiritual and historic relationship with the Waikato River.
7. Recognise and protect appropriate sites associated with the Waikato River that are of significance to the Waikato regional community.
8. Actively promote and foster public knowledge and understanding of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River among all sectors of the Waikato regional community.
9. Encourage and foster a ‘whole of river' approach to the restoration and protection of the Waikato River, including the development, recognition and promotion of best practice methods for restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
10. Establish new, and enhance existing, relationships between Waikato-Tainui, other Waikato River Iwi (where they so decide), and stakeholders with an interest in advancing, restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
11. Ensure that cumulative adverse effects on the Waikato River of activities are appropriately managed in statutory planning documents at the time of their review.
12. Ensure appropriate public access to the Waikato River while protecting and enhancing the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.
Download a full copy of the Vision and Strategy developed by the GEC.