Vision
To be a leading advocate for the protection of Lake Taupo & catchments
Lake Taupō, known by Ngati Tuwharetoa as Taupō nui-a-Tia, is part of the Waikato River system which flows from the mountains to the sea. Highly valued by Maori and all New Zealanders, Lake Taupō is recognised as a highly complex system under pressure from nutrient loads carried into the lake by rivers, streams, run-off and groundwater.
Over the course of the twentieth century, increasing population and farming activities started Lake Taupo on a path of water quality decline. Farming and urban wastes are the main contributors to the still-increasing load of nutrients particularly nitrogen.
Lakes and Waterways (LWAG) advocacy was instrumental in the establishment of the Lake Taupō Protection Project. Included in this unique project is Waikato Regional Council (WRC) policy that: 1) caps nitrogen generation in Lake Taupō’s catchment and requires resource consents for farming ensuring no further increases; and 2) removes 20% of nitrogen generation from urban wastewater and agricultural land uses.
LWAG believes that community advocacy is essential towards ensuring the success of the Lake Taupō Protection Project as well as good environmental outcomes in the Taupō district. Therefore, our goal is ‘uniting people for the benefit of protecting Lake Taupō’s natural environment.’
Those with the greatest stake in protecting water quality in the Lake Taupō Catchment - the residents of the Lake Taupō District – are encouraged to have a say in the monitoring and on-going management of land and water quality through active involvement with Lake and Waterways Action Group.
To this end, LWAG holds monthly meetings and leads discussion fora. LWAG also host presentations on a variety of topics including science relating to water quality, political processes, stakeholder activities in the catchment, sustainable land uses and ecological restoration initiatives.
LWAG take an active role in advocating for neighbouring catchments including the Upper Waikato above Mangakino, the Upper Ngaruroro, Clive and Mohaka Rivers in the Hawkes Bay, and the Rotorua Lakes. We also invite presentations on issues and statutory processes relating to these catchments.
We actively promote and support local environmental groups including; Taupō for Tomorrow, Project Tongariro, Blue Duck/whio recovery plan, Greening Taupō, Greening Kids Taupō, Predator-Free Taupō and Advocates for the Tongariro River. Other activities include submitting on policy relating to water quality including resource consent applications and assisting in the development and promotion of low-nitrogen land use products such as ‘Taupō Beef.’
Goals
Seek the enhancement of water quality within the Lake Taupō Catchment area
Unite people for the benefit of protecting Lake Taupō’s natural environment
Advocate for “Sustainable Development Thinking” with regards to any development within the Lake Taupō Catchment
