Te Arawa Lakes Trust (TALT), alongside local iwi and hapū, is working closely with the Lake Ōkareka community to develop urgent next steps to protect the lake from the growing threat of invasive gold clams – a freshwater pest that scientists say would cause serious and irreversible damage if introduced.
Gold clams are considered one of the most dangerous freshwater invasive species in Aotearoa. Once they enter a lake system, they cannot be eradicated, making prevention the only effective defence. Analysis shows the highest-risk pathway for their spread is through recreational boats travelling between waterways, particularly those arriving from outside the region via public boat ramps. To address this threat, TALT and local iwi and hapū are meeting with all Lake Ōkareka stakeholders – including community representatives, local businesses, Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and government agencies – to agree on a coordinated, community-supported approach to safeguard the lake.
TALT Chair Wallace Haumaha says the kaupapa is about balancing protection of the lake with community wellbeing and economic sustainability.
“The focus is on finding a practical, community-supported solution. That means protecting the lake from high-risk boating activity, while ensuring locals can continue to connect with Ōkareka and businesses can continue to operate,” Haumaha says
Among the options being explored are regulated and managed boat access, which would allow local use and business activity to continue, while ensuring boats arriving from outside the area undertake strict biosecurity checks before entering the lake. Any agreed approach would see the Ōkareka boat ramp actively monitored by a team made up of TALT kaimahi, iwi and hapū representatives, and community volunteers, with education and prevention at the centre of the strategy. Haumaha says the goal is to move quickly.
“Our aim is to have an agreed approach in place as soon as possible. Once Ōkareka arrangements are settled, we will then turn our attention to Lake Tarawera,” he says .
TALT is continuing to work closely with Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Ministry for Primary Industries and iwi partners, while also pushing for stronger national biosecurity controls to prevent the spread of gold clams
The Trust is urging all lake users to practise “Check, Clean, Dry” every time they move between waterways, reminding the public that collective responsibility as kaitiaki is essential to protecting Te Arawa’s treasured lakes:
“Protecting our lakes requires collective action, and we’re encouraged by the willingness of communities to work together,” Haumaha say
