Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

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Fast-track Approvals Bill

Preliminary provisions

7: Te Ture Whaimana

You could also call this:

“Rules for protecting and managing the Waikato and Waipā Rivers”

Te Ture Whaimana is a very important document for the Waikato and Waipā Rivers. It helps decide what happens in and around these rivers. Parliament wants everyone to follow Te Ture Whaimana when they do things that might affect the rivers or the land around them.

Te Ture Whaimana is so important that it can overrule other big plans for New Zealand, even if those plans say something different. It’s also a big part of the rules for the Waikato region. When people make plans for the Waikato or Waipā Rivers, or the land around them, they have to follow what Te Ture Whaimana says.

Te Ture Whaimana is actually written down in three different laws. These laws are about the Waikato River and the Waipā River, and they’re connected to different Māori iwi (tribes) who live near these rivers.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS943264.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
Māori affairs > Treaty of Waitangi
Government and voting > Local councils
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6: Obligation relating to Treaty settlements and recognised customary rights, or

“You must respect Treaty settlements and customary rights when making decisions”

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“This law applies to everyone, even the government”

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

7Te Ture Whaimana

  1. Te Ture Whaimana is intended by Parliament to be the primary direction-setting document for the Waikato and Waipā Rivers and activities within their catchments affecting the rivers (see the legislation referred to in subsection (3) ).

  2. Te Ture Whaimana—

  3. prevails over any inconsistent provision in a national policy statement, New Zealand coastal policy statement, or national planning standard; and
    1. in its entirety is deemed to be part of the Waikato regional policy statement; and any regional plan or district plan that affects the Waikato River or the Waipā River or activities within their catchments must give effect to Te Ture Whaimana.

      1. In this section, Te Ture Whaimana means the vision and strategy set out in—

      2. Schedule 2 of the Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010; and
        1. Schedule 1 of the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Act 2010; and
          1. Schedule 1 of the Nga Wai o Maniapoto (Waipa River) Act 2012.