July 28, 2021
Tuwharetoa right to charge lake fees upheld
The High Court has upheld Ngāti Tūwharetoa’s right to licence and charge users for operating commercial activities on lake Taupō and surrounding tributaries.
Chair John Bishara says the Tūwharetoa Trust Board sought a declaratory judgment to clarify the property rights granted when ownership of the lake bed was returned in the tribe’s 2007 settlement.
While some commercial users reached agreement with the board, others challenged its right to charge fees.
The judgment does not affect public access to the lake for recreational purposes.
The judgment can be read here: https://www.tuwharetoa.co.nz/app/uploads/2021/07/Scanned_Declaratory-Judgment.pdf
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