Whaitua: protecting the waters of your area

The Whaitua Programme was established by Greater Wellington in 2013 to support the implementation of 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.

Why are Whaitua Programmes needed? 

Healthy waterways are essential and working together to keep them healthy benefits us all. Our waterways have been degrading over time and will continue to do so without our help. The desire for change is clear.  This what our Mana Whenua partners and community expect, and why government regulations exist. 

What is whaitua?

Whaitua is the Māori word for space or catchment. We have five Whaitua in our region and four Whaitua Processes have been completed. You can learn more about them here:

Whaitua committees

Each of the Whaitua processes involve a committee comprised of mana whenua, local community members and regional and local council members tasked with recommending ways to improve the health of freshwater ecosystems.

Whaitua committees are responsible for developing a Whaitua Implementation Programme (WIP) together with their communities. A WIP outlines community aspirations for freshwater (including rivers, streams, estuaries and all the ecosystems that surround them), sets a platform for collective effort, and outlines the requirements to improve freshwater environments. The WIP is implemented through new regulations and on the ground action.

The regulatory direction in the WIPs is used by Council to inform changes to planning documents, including the Natural Resources Plan (NRP), Regional Policy Statement (RPS) and the Long Term Plan (LTP).  Non regulatory actions include funding, education and activities such as stream restoration and riparian planting.  

Whaitua guiding principles

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 established in 2015 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.