Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board
Environmental Services - Taupo, Waikato, New Zealand
Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Employees
Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board Details
The Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board was established in 1926 pursuant to the Māori Land Amendment Act 1924 and Māori Land Claims Adjustment Act 1926.The first members of the Trust Board were appointed on the 15th November 1926. These members were:Hoani Te Heuheu (Tukino VI)Pau MariuKahu Te KuruPaora RokinoPitiroi MohiTaite Te TomoTakinga Arthur GraceWerihe Te TuiriThe first Trust Board meeting was held at Tokaanu on the 24th November 1926. Hoani Te Heuheu was elected as the first Chairman and Puataata Alfred Grace as the first Secretary.The Trust Board became a statutory entity in 1931 pursuant to the Māori Purposes Act 1931.The Trust Board is currently constituted by the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955.In 1992, under the leadership of Ariki Sir Hepi Te Heuheu, the Crown returned Taupō Waters to the Trust Board on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future generations of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.In December 1999 the title to the beds of several rivers and streams flowing into Lake Taupō were transferred from the Crown to Ngāti Tūwharetoa through the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.The rivers and streams transferred include the Tongariro River, and major parts of the Waihora, Waihāhā, Whanganui, Whareroa, Kuratau, Poutu, Waimarino, Tauranga-Taupō, Waipehi, Waiotaka, Hinemaiaia and Waitahanui rivers.In 2007, under the leadership of Ariki Sir Tumu Te Heuheu, the terms of the 1992 arrangement with the Crown were enhanced with the 2007 Deed. This reaffirmed that the Trust Board has full ownership rights of Taupō Waters.In accordance with the 1992 Deed the Taupo Nui A Tia Block, Te Awa O Waikato Ki Te Toka O Tia Block and Te Hokinga Mai o Te Papa o Nga Awa Ki Te Poari Hei Kaitiaki o Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Tūwharetoa Block were vested in the Turst Board by the Māori Land Court and declared to be Māori freehold land.On 23 July 2021 the High Court of New Zealand issued a Declaratory Judgment which confirmed the property rights of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
