Whaitua: protecting the waters of your area

Whaitua Committees work in partnership with mana whenua and develop recommendations guided by the principles developed through the regional plan review process by Te Upoko Taiao – Natural Resource Committee.

The five guiding principles are:

Ki uta ki tai (connectedness) - managing natural and physical resources in a holistic manner, recognising they are interconnected and reliant upon one another

Wairua (identity) - recognition and respect for mauri and the intrinsic values of natural and physical features, and including the connections between natural processes and human cultures

Kaitiaki (guardianship) - recognition that we all have a part to play as guardians to maintain and enhance our natural and physical resources for current and future generations

Tō mātou whakapono (judgement based on knowledge) - recognition that our actions will be considered and justified by using the best available information and good judgement

Mahitahi (partnership) - partnership between Council iwi (mana whenua) and the community, based on a commitment to active engagement, good faith and a commonality of purpose.

Developing Whaitua Implementation Programmes

Whaitua Committees work closely with their local community and stakeholders to develop a Whaitua Implementation Programme to suit local needs. A WIP will describe the ways in which the people from that catchment want to manage their water now and for future generations through a range of integrated tools, policies and strategies.

Regulatory recommendations in the WIP will go to Greater Wellington for approval to be included in a plan change process and become a chapter in the Natural Resources Plan. Non-regulatory recommendations will be developed by Greater Wellington alongside mana whenua and relevant external organisations.

Meaning of whaitua

The Māori word whaitua means a designated space or catchment.

We're working closely with communities to improve freshwater health through whaitua committees.

Whaitua committees

The Wellington Region has been split into five whaitua (catchments). A committee in each whaitua makes recommendations on how to promote freshwater health in that whaitua.

Why have whaitua committees?

Whaitua committees form the basis of our programme to implement the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). The NPS-FM includes minimum standards for freshwater that Councils must seek to achieve, so that the overall water quality in a region is maintained or improved.

Whaitua committees produce Whaitua Implementation Programmes (WIPs) which describe the ways in which the people from that catchment want to see freshwater health supported, now and for future generations, through a range of integrated tools, policies and strategies.