Waikato River Authority

Our journey through time

Honouring the past. Restoring the future

Our History

The history of the Waikato River Authority reflects decades of collaboration, commitment and shared responsibility. Discover the key milestones that have shaped the vision, governance and restoration of Awa Waikato.

WRA Journey Begins

1975

The Tainui Māori Trust Board files a claim with the Māori Land Court for ownership of the Waikato River.

1975

1987

16 Mar 1987

Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta, the Tainui Māori Trust Board and Ngā Marae Tōpu file the Wai 30 claim in the Waitangi Tribunal, covering land, river and West Coast harbours.

1987

1995

22 May 1995

Deed of Settlement signed by Māori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangihaahu and Prime Minister Jim Bolger. Valued at $170 million in cash and land, it includes relativity mechanisms, along with a formal Crown apology.

1995

3 Nov 1995

The Waikato Raupatu Claims Settlement Act 1995, signed by Queen Elizabeth, gains assent.

Credit
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: EP/1995/4375B/33A-F

1995

2001

1 Feb 2001

Negotiations pause on the death of chief negotiator Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta on 1 February.

2001

2008

Mar 2008

Guardians Establishment Committee gets underway, tasked with developing Vision and Strategy for the river.

2008

22 Aug 2008

Deed of Settlement and Kiingitanga Accord signed at Tūrangawaewae Marae.

Making History: Signatories (left to right) Parekura Horomia, Dr Michael Cullen, Tukoroirangi Morgan and Lady Ralha Mahuta are escorted back to their seats after the signing ceremony at Tūrangawaewae Marae yesterday. PETER DRURY / Waikato Times

2008

2009

GEC finalises Te Ture Whaimana o te Awa o Waikato, otherwise known as the Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River.

2009

18 Dec 2009

Revised Waikato-Tainui Deed of Settlement in relation to the Waikato River signed.

2009

2010

7 May 2010

Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 gains royal assent, establishing the Waikato River Authority to be the custodian of the Vision and Strategy, known as Te Ture Whaimana, and to administer the clean-up fund as sole trustee of the Waikato River Clean-up Trust.

King Tuheitia, Koro Wetere, Tukutoirangi Morgan and Michael Cullen in the debating chamber for the third reading of the Waikato River settlement with Pita Sharples, front. Phil Reid / Stuff

2010

31 May 2010

Ngāti Tūwharetoa signs deed in relation to co-management and co-governance arrangements.

2010

24 Sep 2010

First set of provisions of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 come into force.

2010

26 Oct 2010

Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010 gains assent.

2010

2012

5 Apr 2011

Ngā Wai o Maniapoto (Waipā River) Act 2012 gains royal assent, extending the reach of Te Ture Whaimana to all of the Waipā River.

2012

2014

Waikato River Restoration Forum is formed, chaired by river authority chief executive Bob Penter.

2014

2016

Mar 2016

First Five-Year Report and Pilot Report Card are presented to Environment Minister Nick Smith. After five funding rounds, $28 million has been allocated.

2016

Waikato Regional Policy Statement, which adopts Te Ture Whaimana in its entirety, becomes operative.

2016

2018

Feb 2018

With authority systems and processes well in place, board resolves to rescind investment subcommittee.

2018

Apr 2018

Launch of the Waikato and Waipā River Restoration Strategy.
The authority starts using the SmartyGrants online software.

2018

2019

12 Dec 2019

The Waikato River Authority hosts a climate change workshop at Waikato-Tainui College at Hopuhopu. In a changing of the guard, eight trustees stand down at the end of the year, including inaugural Crown co-chair John Luxton.

2019

2020

Authority staff work from home during COVID lockdowns, and river restoration work continues within COVID level 3 restrictions.

2020

Jun 2020

River authority calls for a government inquiry into Auckland’s water infrastructure after the city seeks to more than double its water take from the Waikato River.

2020

Jul 2020

Authority is involved in an emergency summit that agrees to Auckland taking extra water from the Waikato River. Investment fund reaches $75.4 million.

2020

2021

Aug 2021

The authority releases its second five-year report to Crown and River Iwi, including an interim assessment of water trends. Over its five years, almost $30m has been distributed to nearly 200 projects. Authority starts work on review of Te Ture Whaimana.

2021

2022

Jan 2022

Watercare is granted a 20-year consent to take up to 150 million litres daily from the Waikato River for Auckland, and is also required to make an annual payment of $2 million towards river restoration, to be administered by the authority.

2022

2023

28-29 Nov 2023

Te Awa o Waikato River Symposium is held at Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Debating Chambers in Hopuhopu. Long-standing chief executive Bob Penter leaves the authority.

2023

2024

30 Jun 2024

The investment fund notches up another milestone, reaching $100.8m.

2024

2025

Jul 2025

In 14 funding rounds, the Waikato River Authority has allocated $80 million to 496 projects.

2025

Our History

WRA Journey Begins

1975

1983

16 Mar 1987

22 May 1995

3 Nov 1995

1999

1 Feb 2001

Dec 2005

16 Dec 2007

Mar 2008

22 Aug 2008

2009

May 2009

17 Dec 2009

18 Dec 2009

3 Mar 2010

9 Mar 2010

7 May 2010

31 May 2010

Sep 2010

24 Sep 2010

26 Oct 2010

25 Nov 2010

21 Dec 2010

2011

9 Aug 2011

Nov 2011

Feb 2011

5 Apr 2011

Mar 2013

Aug 2013

2014

Feb 2015

Mar 2016

2016

30 Jun 2017

Feb 2018

Apr 2018

Nov 2018

12 Dec 2019

2020

Jun 2020

Jul 2020

Aug 2021

16 Nov 2021

Jan 2022

May 2022

28-29 Nov 2023

18 Jun 2024

30 Jun 2024

30 Jun 2025

Jul 2025