1998: Memorandum of Agreement signed
By Waikato Regional Council and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.
1999: Lake Taupō Accord signed
By Lakes and Waterways Action Group, Taupō District Council, Waikato Regional Council, the Department of Conservation and the Department of Internal Affairs to recognise, protect and improve those values which the community regard as important for Lake Taupō and its surrounding catchment, and to do that through having all interested parties working together to uphold those values.
2000: The Protecting Lake Taupō Project kicked off
2000: Start of a science programme
To facilitate community engagement, to support policy development and support any Environment Court appeals and decisions that might ensue. Informed by many of New Zealand’s science agencies, universities, specialist consultants and government departments, including NIWA, University of Waikato, GNS Science, Landcare Research, StatsNZ, Treasury, Government ministries, several consultant economists and land valuers, AgResearch, DairyNZ, Scion, Hort+Research and horticultural consultants.
2000: Start of community engagement
Four year community engagement with landowners, iwi authorities and community interest groups, to support development of policy to protect the lake. Local farmers developed an incorporated society, Taupō Lakecare.
2001: Start of community visioning project
Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Waikato Regional Council led a three-year community visioning project – an integrated sustainable development strategy for the Lake Taupō catchment.
2003: Ngāti Tūwharetoa developed their Iwi Environmental Management Plan
The plan outlined Ngāti Tūwharetoa environmental baselines and provided tools that would help hapū and whānau and the tribe achieve and protect desired baselines. The outcome was an iwi environmental management plan based on Ngāti Tūwharetoa tikanga and kawa.
2004: ‘2020 Taupō-nui-a-Tia Action Plan’ presented
The result of the community visioning project was an action plan for Taupō-nui-a-Tia entitled 2020 Taupō-nui-a-Tia Action Plan, to achieve the community’s long term vision for Lake Taupō.
2003-2005: Policies to protect the lake developed
The policies have four objectives: maintain current water quality of Lake Taupō; avoid near shore effects from urban wastewater discharges; minimise social and economic costs; and avoid further adverse effects from land use change to reduce nitrogen discharges to the lake.
2007: Launch of the Lake Taupō Protection Trust
An independent council controlled organisation to manage and administer the purchase or permanently reduce 170 tonnes of nitrogen discharges from rural land use over a 15-year period. Central government, Waikato Regional Council and Taupō District Council initially established a $54 million public fund (incl. GST). Later, the fund value was increased to $79.2 million (excl. GST) as benchmarking gave more accurate information on nitrogen leaching and to accommodate Environment Court decisions on the policies.
2006-2013: Benchmarking and implementation of lake protection policies
The implementation of the lake protection policies began in 2006 when farmers began requesting benchmarking of their farms to establish a ‘nitrogen discharge allowance’ for their properties. Benchmarking of 116 farms was completed by 2012. As a result, all farms in the Lake Taupō catchment requiring a consent to farm now operate under a confirmed nitrogen discharge allowance authorised by a 25-year consent.
2008-2011: Policies, rules and methods appealed, but upheld by Environment Court
Several parties appealed the policies, rules and other methods proposed by Waikato Regional Council to protect Lake Taupō because of their precedent setting nature. Some sought greater leniency in the proposed policies – others sought greater stringency. The Environment Court upheld the policies proposed by Waikato Regional Council using the best year benchmark from the period 2001-2004.
2008-2015: The Trust purchased nitrogen from the catchment
2011: The brand ‘Taupō Beef: grown right here’ initiated
Farmer initiative for eco-production and marketing for beef produced under the new policies to protect the lake. Mike and Sharon Barton initiated a brand ‘Taupō Beef: grown right here’ for beef produced from their farm in the Lake Taupō catchment. Beef produced under the brand commands a premium in a range of restaurants.
2013: Further increase of the trust to $79.2 million ex GST
The increase to $79.2 million (excl. GST) was agreed when the amount of nitrogen to be removed from the lake was increased to 170 tonnes as a result of completing the benchmarking process and to accommodate Environment Court decisions.
June 2015: Monitoring deed signed
The Minister for the Environment, Waikato Regional Council chairperson and Mayor of Taupō District Council signed a Monitoring Deed, which commits to working together on a monitoring project into the future.
July 2015: Lake Taupō Protection Trust target achieved
Lake Taupō Protection Trust announced it has reached agreements with landowners to reduce nitrogen leaching into Lake Taupō by 20 per cent (170 tonnes) ahead of schedule. Targeted rates contributing to the Lake Taupō Protection Fund are consequently ending earlier than forecast.
September 2015: Lake Taupō Catchment Monitoring plan adopted
To ensure the many aspects of monitoring the effectiveness of policies to protect the lake were scheduled, funded and implemented. The plan was developed with input from landowners and project partners.