Policy Reform

Over recent years, freshwater policy in New Zealand has been caught in a cycle of political change. Each new government has introduced its own reforms, only for them to be repealed, rewritten or delayed by the next. Ngāi Tahu has dedicated significant time and effort to participating in these processes, yet much of that work is never fully implemented.

Ngāi Tahu wants to see a water governance and management system that transcends political cycles, grounded in long-term vision, stability and intergenerational thinking. Indigenous communities like Ngāi Tahu are uniquely positioned to provide that continuity.

The tribe’s 25-year vision, Mō Kā Uri, sets out intergenerational aspirations rooted in values, wellbeing and deep connection to the environment. Guided by this enduring perspective, the Ngāi Tahu approach to water management looks beyond short-term politics to safeguard the health of wai and the prosperity of future generations.

Te Kura Taka Pini (TKTP) leads engagement for Ngāi Tahu on freshwater matters within major freshwater and environmental policy reforms, particularly aspects of the Resource Management and Water Services reform. TKTP works to ensure these national reforms recognise Ngāi Tahu rangatiratanga, uphold the Ngāi Tahu Settlement and deliver enduring improvements to the health of freshwater across the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā.

During the last two election cycles, the Resource Management Act (RMA) has been increasingly criticised by all major political parties for being too complex, slow and ineffective. It has failed to deliver environmental protection while also hindering housing, infrastructure and economic development. The Labour-led Government repealed the RMA in 2023 with two new Acts, but these were subsequently repealed by the National-led Government later that same year. The current Government is now preparing to introduce its own reforms later in 2025, with freshwater being one of the most challenging aspects of this work.

There will be two replacement Acts with clear and distinct purposes; the Natural Environment Act, to manage environmental effects arising from activities, and the Planning Act, to enable urban development and infrastructure.

TKTP actively engages with the Crown on the freshwater aspects of resource management reform. We are ready and willing to sit down with the Crown and work in partnership, recognising Ngāi Tahu rangatiratanga and Crown kāwanatanga, to design a better system that is solutions-focused and responsive to the local circumstances of the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā.

TKTP has identified the following key reform priorities:

• Upholding the Treaty of Waitangi and the Ngāi Tahu Settlement
• Enabling iwi to participate in the design and decision-making of the new system
• Addressing Crown assurances of Māori ‘rights and interests’ in freshwater
• Shifting to new water allocation models and trading
• Increasing use of resource-use charges and investment
• Setting environmental limits
• Improving monitoring, compliance, and enforcement

Beyond legislative change, TKTP’s focus is on implementation. The new system must deliver at all levels; nationally, regionally across the takiwā, locally for Papatipu Rūnanga, and for individual landowners. One of the RMA’s greatest failures was its focus on planning documents at the expense of implementation. TKTP is proactively exploring how a new system can best deliver tangible outcomes for Papatipu Rūnanga (tribal councils of Ngāi Tahu) and te taiao (the natural world).

Te Kura Taka Pini is also involved in Crown engagement on water services reform, supporting Papatipu Rūnanga to improve water services within their rohe (territory).

Soon after being elected in 2023, the coalition Government repealed the Three Waters Reform legislation passed by the previous Labour Government. The National-led coalition’s Local Water Done Well reform places responsibility on local councils to determine how their water services are delivered.

The reform is underpinned by the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025, which sets out governance options, regulatory standards and performance expectations. Councils can choose between maintaining control of water services in-house; forming a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO); or joining with other councils to form a multi-council CCO. The level of mana whenua involvement and decision-making within these new systems will depend on the strength of local relationships with councils.

TKTP advocates strongly for Ngāi Tahu and Papatipu Rūnanga priorities at both central and local government levels, and with Taumata Arowai, the water services regulator. The focus is on ensuring that all communities — regardless of size — have access to safe, resilient water services, and that these services contribute to improving the health of waterways across the Ngāi Tahu Takiwā.