Rewards of guiding

The expressions on these guys faces says it all, they are stocked.. over the moon even.. on cloud nine.. and why wouldn’t they be, this is one of Roberts first trout on fly rod and the day before was he’s first ever trout on fly. Good on him, he took the challenge some 12 months ago of learning the artful sport of Fly Fishing. How to cast, the fly set up, learning the river in which the trout lives, gaining more experience and knowledge every time he ventured out onto the river and every visit to the local tackle shop gaining more information every time and he is finally rewarded with 15 odd nice Ruakituri trout.
Robert and Glen’s expectations for their guided fly fishing trip was to catch and KILL at least a couple of trout for the smoker, after them having a couple of beers on the 3 hour drive north, I broke the news that my guided fly trips were catch and release only. Oh yeh Tony, we’ll see, I think was the comment. Well by the second day of fishing and getting in tune and learning the trout’s behaviour in this amazing river and hooking heaps of fish, killing one of these beautiful trout was the furtherest thing away from their minds. Even with me saying on the 2nd day, hey maybe take one home as a special treat, not one trout was banged on the head. It was a trip of a life time for these guys and not one trout was spared.
Share the fly fishing experience… When the satisfaction of sharing the sighting of a fish, then the hook up, photo and release with a mate or a client is nearly as good as catching that fish yourself, then for me that’s what the fly passion is all about. If you take a mate, share the trout equally, help each other spot fish, enjoy the experience together.

It’s been a brilliant summer here in the Hawkes Bay. Long hot days. Excellent trout fishing. Spactaulater salt water fly fishing and Sting concert at the Mission.
The Tuki Tuki with its mixed bag of opinions, seems to provide local and visiting anglers with some very rewarding fishing. Not only is there the odd big 10lb brown’s laid up in back waters, but trout are very plentiful, particularly those fat little 2 to 3 lber’s, real good fighting fish especially on the dry fly. You’re always guaranteed some surface actively at some stage of the day. Try Blue Dunn & Parachute Adams or Elk Caddis dry flies. Fish the faster runs with a 2 nymph rig dropped below a stimulator dry fly. Try green, white and yellow caddis nymphs as your 2nd small fly in size 16/18’s.

This river always has controversy to the state of its cleanlence and pollution. Thanks to local long-time (I want say veteran) fly fisherman and fly tier John Scott, who is actively lobbing the powers to be, reminding them that there is a great many users of the famous Tukituki river system and that we all need to be accountable for our actions that may be detrimental to the future of our beloved Tukituki river… Many thanks John for your long time efforts.

I had to laugh and grin the other day while re-reading the 1974 book Trout with Nymph by Tony Orman and his innuendo of trout condition in the Tuki Tuki. Quote “ Another day on the Tukituki River in Hawkes Bay, it was only the use of a deep sinking line with a No. 14 Bradshaw’ s Fancy, which prevented a fruitless day and gave me instead 4 rainbows which were in grand condition even for the Tukituki”. So after some 35years of human pressure the Tuki Tuki is probably not in to bad a condition considering, and fish are still being enjoyed by many anglers.

The best 2 months are coming up for the Mohaka, all the trout have been going crazy on Cicada’s over summer, conditioning themselves up for spawning. From now till the end of June is my favourite time for this river. You can fish the main river and all its tributaries. All the holiday makes have gone home. You can’t go wrong with a couple of nymphs below a stimulator, try Beadhead Stonefly & Tungsten Hare and Copper nymphs with unweighted Brown Horn Caddis or small flash back mayfly imitations. Should be a late cicada season so use them right up till they stop buzzing, or use a big simulator dry fly to entice the trout into a take this works well on both big and small rivers, you’re be amazed what comes up out the off deep to take a big tasty terrestrial, its properly like eating 30 nymphs. I like Crystal Stimulator Rubber Legs Royal in size 8 & 10 and Parachute Madam X Peacock in sizes 6 & 8. I have so many customers raving after selling them stimulators…

The buzz this season for saltwater fly has been the influx of kingfish in Hawkes Bay. Sure the last few seasons have been good, but this year’s amazing. It’s not uncommon to see schools of 20 to 40 Kingi’s under the boat while bottom fishing for snapper. I find the bigger the fly the bigger the fish you’re catch, try roll casting with a 12wt, big flies, fast sinking lines. Always look for fish chasing your fly before re-casting, often they’re take right at the boat, especially if the Albacore tuna come to play.

This last summer I have had great pleasure sharing time with visiting French Fly Fishing Guide Guillaume Durand. The experience has not only been beneficial to him and I as crazy fly fisherman learning each other’s methods and habits, but to my family, our friends and a few clients who came into contact with this joyful, passionate and knowledgeable young French man. Guillaume is not only an excellent fly fisherman, he’s also a very competent chief, cooking simple French cuisine matched with lots of kiwi red wine, so needless to say we eat and drunk extremely well this last Trout fishing season..

Photo… Robert Scholes and Glen Roberts Staff Elephant Hill Winery Hawkes Bay
Photo Tony Hildesheim

The paddock was bare of green grass, just browned seed heads of rye flicking my boots, and the husks of clover flowers, chewed to the ground. Sheep gathered in the far corner, surrounded by a thin layer of hay. Their droppings dotted the landscape, buzzing with blowflies in the still air, richly aromatic. One of their brethren lay against the fence near the gate to the river, a desiccated corpse, white-boned and grey scraps of wool still emitting a nauseous stench, after months of decay.

Through the gate we crossed a patch of pennyroyal, hot, sweet mint to combat the paddock’s odour. Then there was an unavoidable scratch from the blackberry on the riverbank, where the thorns grew hard in the sun. The river was distant, a streak of blue against the far bank, too far away to give moisture to the blackberry’s roots and the bramble had dried out, its fruit hard and red with no chance of ripening. I missed its tart flavour.

A season ago, the river ran on the near side and the berries were succulent and plentiful. For a month there had been no rain, and before that even light showers were rare. Dairy farmers had dried off most of their herds, and were giving thanks for record payouts for the previous season. Their bony-backed stock were on short rations and the milking sheds stayed empty.

We trudged the bouldery river bed to reach water and search for fish. The river was small and the water warm. Green algae hung in streamers in the riffles and midges danced in the hot air, settling now and then on damp patches of weed at the water’s edge.

We lifted boulders from the water. There were net-building caddis and free swimming caddis in the crevices of the boulder’s undersides, and a few tiny mayfly nymphs, too small to identify. Duckweed grew in the shallow ponds at the edge of the riffle and water boatmen had colonised what must have been long-standing water. On one boulder there were the husks of stoneflies, caught in the moss that coated its downstream side.

The riffle ended in a banana-shaped pool where we hoped to spot a fish or two. Last season this pool was part of a broad reach, and trout congregated at its edge, where a sidestream entered the main river. It flowed from an underground spring, and while it may not have been highly oxygenated, its cooling waters attracted flotillas of fish.
They rarely fed during the day, but at night they spread out across the reach and feasted on rising caddis and adventurous bullies out for an evening meal. A season later and the patch of willows where the sidestream flowed was 50 metres from the main river and while the spring still bubbled away, its waters were lost in dry boulders. Pondweed grew in the bubbling water and a small eel made its way through the underwater forest.

It was pleasant in the cool shade of the willows, and we paused there to munch muesli bars and sip fruit juice, watching dragonflies buzz about. They were giant dragonflies, noisy fliers and in their juvenile form, formidable hunters. Their presence here was a bit of a mystery. The spring was not large, just a couple of metres across, and its water was very clear and cold, hardly fruitful enough to support a colony of these voracious feeders.

The sun was high when we returned to the river. We searched the depths of the pool through polarised lenses for any sign of trout, and sighted one, holding deep and keeping still. The odds were that there were many more fish in the riffle at the tail of the pool, where the water was oxygenated enough to give them some energy but they remained invisible.

This section of the river was obviously suffering considerable stress. There was only enough flow to keep life ticking over, and even if we caught fish during an evening rise, the chances are they would be of poor quality and it seemed hardly fair to subject them to more stress.

There were larger pools to the south, a few kilometres away, before the river emptied into an estuary. I am fairly sure that many fish sense impending hardship and make their way to the sea, preferring the dubious survival chances in a salt water environment, to the stress of poor quality fresh water.

Near the estuary there was little current, just a line of scummy bubbles making their way slowly seawards. A group of Canada geese grazed a nearby sward of saltgrass, and black swan fed, bottoms up, in the shallows.

The heat of the sun was debilitating, and we retired to the nearest pub to cool down. After food, liquids and plentiful advice from the locals we returned to estuary as the sun was setting. Apparently there had been a good whitebait run after the season closed, and the locals had seen shoals of whitebait and yellow-eyed mullet being pursued by kahawai and trout.

“The trout were huge,” they said. “But the kahawai were just around the two or three-pound mark.”

We listened intently as they went on to tell us valorous anglers who pit themselves against the wild spring tides to land trophy trout on surfcasting gear. I wasn’t too sure of the legalities of catching sea-run trout without a licence, but I forbore criticism in the interests of a good story.

So there we stood, fuelled with food and expectation as we waited for any sign of activity on the water. The sun set and darkness came before the first signs of disturbance showed on the water. In the light of headlamps we tied on small spinners attached to soft baits and cast them on the waters.

I have a special fondness for young kahawai, hotsmoked in shaved oak. It’s a moist fish when cooked like this. You don’t need a smoker, a covered roasting pan will do, with the oak, or manuka if you prefer a stronger flavour, in a thin layer on the bottom. Just set the pan on a gas flame for about 12 minutes and it’s done. I prefer to bone out the fish completely before this, and salt it well. Treat trout the same way. I lay them skin side down on a wire frame above the shavings.

All we had to do was catch the fish.

Didymo is most likely to be spread by humans moving items between waterways.
To ensure you don’t spread didymo, wherever possible restrict equipment, boats, clothing and other items for exclusive use in one waterway.

If you are moving items between waterways you should always Check, Clean, Dry.

Check: Before leaving a waterway, check items for clumps of algae. Leave any debris that is found at the waterway.

Clean: Clean all items for at least one minute with one of the following:

Hot (60°C) water
2% solution of bleach
A 2% solution is 200ml of product with water added to make ten litre
5% solution of salt
5% solution of dishwashing liquid
5% solution of antiseptic handcleaner
5% solution of nappy cleaner
A 5% solution is 500ml or 2 cups, with water added to make ten litres.
All these items can be found at your local supermarket. We recommend that you use products that are biodegradable.

Dry: If cleaning is not practical, dry the item to the touch and then leave drying for an additional 48 hours.

Specific cleaning methods have been developed for some freshwater activities.

Each year World Wetlands Day is acknowledged with a host of events throughout the country when Fish & Game NZ and the Department of Conservation lead a range of organizations in creating varied wetland experiences around that year’s WWD theme, chosen to highlight an issue facing wetlands internationally.

This year’s theme of ‘Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People’ emphasises the strong relationship between maintaining functioning wetland ecosystems and human health, and the necessity for management strategies that support this.

Wetlands perform a vital function in filtering and purifying freshwater, removing nutrients and preventing eutrophication in surface and ground waters. This cleansing role of wetlands protects downstream environments, especially urban and rural communities relying on streams and rivers for drinking water.
Good quality water is also important for maintaining fish stocks, both native fish as well as New Zealand’s internationally renowned sports fishery for trout and salmon. Fishing, whitebaiting, boating, swimming, duck shooting and bird watching are all recreational activities associated with wetlands.
It has long been known that physical activity positively affects both physical and psychological well-being. Recent research is showing that there is also a synergistic effect of physical activity in natural environments – what is being called ‘green exercise’ – on an individual’s sense of well-being.

But apart from physical exercise, there is something about water that engenders an inner sense of calm and relaxation – maybe it’s the beauty, the tranquility, the enduring power of nature or simply the recognition that water is an essential life force.

Wetlands are disappearing worldwide, despite the fact that they are amongst the most important ecosystems on the planet. According to the United Nations, last century 50% of the world’s remaining wetlands were destroyed, while other wetlands have been significantly modified to fragment and alter water flow in 60% of the world’s largest rivers, compromising many valuable ecosystem functions.

WWD celebrates the signing of the International Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. The Convention came into force in 1975 and New Zealand became a signatory in 1976. There are now 157 member countries to the Ramsar Convention, which commits its member countries to national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

The organizations participating in its celebration throughout New Zealand include Fish & Game NZ, the Department of Conservation, the National Wetland Trust, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Mighty River Power, Iwi, and Regional and District Councils.

To see the events to celebrate World Wetlands Day 2008 on or around 2 February go to www.doc.govt.nz

The BOW course works on the basic principle that women really enjoy learning new outdoor skills collaboratively with each other, and will learn much faster and find it a lot more fun to learn in this situation.

The Fish & Game NZ run BOW courses teach the basic skills of clay target shooting (as preparation for game bird hunting), an introduction to trout fly-fishing (including fly-tying and how to prepare and cook trout); and includes a field trip to waterfowl habitat in a nearby wetland.

The course is limited to 30 participants, and runs for a weekend, with clay target shooting and the field trip on a Saturday, followed by trout fly-fishing on the Sunday, including a midday break for a trout and game cooking demonstration.

The course fee covers all its costs, excluding transport and accommodation.

Many women have partners, relatives or friends who fish and hunt, usually male, but have never had the opportunity to try these sports in a non-competitive situation aimed at new comers. This is quite an intense course, but we always make sure it’s fun and relaxing as well.

Overall a BOW course is a great opportunity to try a new sport and meet other women with the same sense of adventure. Many of the women who do the course find this is one of its best aspects, as they often say: “We’re so busy running between our jobs, friends and family, that it’s fantastic to do something just for us.”

The BOW ( NZ) programme is sponsored by Rongopai Wines in Te Kauwhata, Waikato.

The area in which I generally fish ie anywhere between the Motu and the Rangitaikei is like everywhere else or so it seems is suffering from low water levels in all rivers but hey the fishing is just great with the vast majority of fish lying in the fast ripples and runs where the water is much more oxygenated so its very much a case of seek and you will find.

Now to get a bit more specific the Motu is producing very good browns along the entire stretch of the upper river but boy these lunkers are camera shy if the approach is anything but ultra cautious but the hard graft is really worth the effort advice keep a Cicada and a n Elk hair caddis pattern handy.

The Waioweka and its tribs are the pick of the bunch as far as I am concerned we’ve had magnificent fishing for many weeks now both from nymphing and dryfly.

The Waimana and the Whakatane are fishing well and not receiving much angling pressure and are well worth a visit.

The Rangitaikei and the Whirinaki are fishing exceptonally well to all methods with the forrest sections being the pick on both rivers.

The lakes in the area have all been inundated with anglers over the hols but most are a bit more peaceful now and a goodtime to pay a visit.
Dont be too put off by the reports you’ve read about algae blooms in several of the rivers just be careful and sensible when considering where you choose to fish.

Would believe and hallelujah as I write this report(18 th Jan) rain is forcast for the weekend just as I’ve organised a 3 day trip up the Gorge bugger but then I suppose that’s fishing.

Tightlines
Graham.

Dead didymo cells have been found in some samples of water taken late last week from the Tongariro, Whakapapa, Mangatepopo and Whanganui Rivers.

Live cells need to be present before a waterway can be confirmed as infected with didymo.

The dead cells were in samples taken from two sites on the Tongariro River – Puketatara and downstream of the Rangipo Dam, and the one site each on the Whakapapa, Mangatepopo and Whanganui Rivers. The samples were taken as part of Genesis Energy’s monthly water quality sampling programme.

“As you would expect, we are treating this with urgency, and are working with our Central North Island partners to determine if there is any live didymo in the area,” said David Hayes, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand biosecurity response manager.

“All sites where dead didymo cells were found will be retested as well as several other sites nearby which have been identified as high value or high risk due to heavy use by river users. This work has already begun.

“We will also look at sample collection and laboratory processes to see if there has been any cross-contamination of samples.

“This is clearly a developing situation, and we will provide further information as soon as it is available.

Mr Hayes said a Central North Island didymo action group has been in place in the region for the last 18 months and has a response plan that will be implemented should live didymo be found in the area.

“Didymo has not been confirmed in the North Island yet, but every sample like this merely reinforces that the best defence is for all freshwater users to Check, Clean and Dry between waterways regardless of where they are in New Zealand.”

More information about didymo and cleaning methods is available on the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website www.biosecurity.govt.nz.

For many New Zealanders, the most important day of the year is the first of October. This is the day the long-awaited trout fishing season begins on most New Zealand’s rivers and lakes.

For weeks prior to this day big decisions are being made, with the most pressing being, where to fish on that all-important first day of the new season. In the past the outcome was usually based on previous experience. But now, by logging into the huge new website www.nzfishing.com, anglers can discover new waters prior to donning their waders at 5am on that special morning. On nzfishing.com literally hundreds of lakes and rivers throughout the country are described from an angling perspective, complete with maps, the relevant regulations, and information about the type of fishing to expect. And included in the news and reports is the latest information about didymo and how to stop it spreading further.

Already many thousands of anglers log on to the site every week as they check the conditions on the waters they hope to finish and use the site to explore potential new fishing areas. “nzfishing.com is a web site for anglers designed by anglers”, says Doug Stevens, the originator of the idea. “It is fast, easy to use and navigate and is the complete resource about the fantastic fishing that can be found throughout the country”, he added. The site gets rave reviews from anglers, the latest being “the information you provide and way it can be accessed is brilliant…this site is a dream.”

From finding that small, secluded stream that holds some large elusive brown trout through to knowing where and when to fish the more popular rivers such as the Tongariro, www.nzfishing.com is a complete angler’s resource. “It is growing rapidly”, says Beverley Stevens, the web designer. “Just over six months ago nzfishing.com did not register in the top 50,000 on Google. Now for the most common searches about fishing in New Zealand, nzfishing.com comes at or near the top”.

Many businesses associated with the angling tourism industry have recognized the strength of being associated with nzfishing.com, including top guides such as Tony Entwistle and Zane Mirfin at strikeAdventure, and fishing lodges such as Anglers Retreat in the Taupo area. Now nzfishing.com is the one stop shop for all angling needs. Anyone planning a trip can research the rivers according to the type of fishing they prefer, find accommodation in their price range and in some areas even find restaurants that will cook their catch. “From knowing which flies work best on a particular water, through to chartering a helicopter or booking a remote riverside bach or luxury fishing lodge, it is all there on www.nzfishing.com”, says Mr Stevens.

END

- See www.nzfishing.com

“These conditions should make it easier for anglers to get out fishing. It should also encourage the traditional spring smelt runs around the lakes which enables the trout to grow rapidly and gain condition. The recent winter has also been warmer than average which this should have boosted fish growth.”

Fish & Game expect the fish on most if not all of the lakes to be at least as big or bigger than the start of last season. “We are able to estimate the size of trout on opening day by analyzing data from small 1+ aged fish caught early in the winter. It is clear from these results that the autumn liberated fish in particular have done well. For example autumn released fish on Tarawera should average 550mm which is a big jump on last year and be the best for at least the last four years.”

The busiest place on opening day is undoubtedly going to be Lake Tarawera, which each year attracts thousands of anglers for the first day of the season. It’s always a great social day with most anglers catching a few fish. This year should be no exception. Lake Rotoiti has steadily increased in popularity over the past two seasons due to the large fish that are regularly being caught and even more anglers are expected this year. Mr Pitkethley suggested that some of the other lakes were a good option for anglers looking for a bit more room on the water. “Lake Okataina fished consistently well last season but does not usually attract as many anglers. The reduced activity on opening day is likely to work in the anglers favour as the fish usually get wary as a result of the extreme boat activity on the really busy lakes.”

While most of the anglers will be out on boats it is most likely that the biggest fish will come from the Ohau Channel. The Ohau Channel has consistently produced monster fish early in the season and the indications are that it will do the same this season.

If you are looking for a quiet place to go fishing on 1 October, however, give Tarawera a miss, as you will probably have another 500 boats for company. On the other hand it’s the place to be if you enjoy a social start to the season. If you are making a weekend of it don’t forget the annual Blessing of the Boats and Piping of the Haggis at the Tarawera Landing on the eve of the opening.

The bulk of anglers are likely to be heading for the regular hotspots. While plenty of fish are caught in these areas a huge range of opportunities largely go untapped. The smaller lakes are a classic example. Fisheries such as Ngapouri and Okaro are literally full of fish and are a fantastic opportunity for the either the family or getting new or young anglers underway. While the fish may not match Rotoiti for size expect a great catch rate.

Fish & Game remind anglers to be aware of the risk of inadvertently spreading aquatic plants or algae such as didymo. Inspect the boat and trailer after leaving the water and remove any weed and then wash any part of the boat or fishing gear that will not dry thoroughly before they next go fishing.

New Deed of Settlement for Lake Taupō
Monday, 10 September 2007, 4:32 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government
Hon Parekura Horomia
Minister of Māori Affairs
Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Conservation
Hon Mark Burton
Minister of Local Government
10 September, 2007
Media Statement
EMBARGO 4.30pm

The Crown today signed a new deed of settlement with the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board regarding Lake Taupō.

The deed updates a 1992 deed which vested ownership of the bed of Lake Taupō – including the Waikato River to Huka Falls and tributaries flowing into the lake – with the Board while guaranteeing public access.

Since 1926, the Crown paid Tūwharetoa an annuity and a share of revenue from things such as trout fishing licences and boating facilities. But the value of the annuity decreased over time and the Crown and the Board wanted to clarify rights under the 1992 deed.

The new deed includes a one-off, lump sum payment of approximately $9.85 million plus an annual, non-reviewable payment of $1.5 million. The lump sum compensates the Board for increases it would have been entitled to in perpetuity under previous arrangements.

The Board will also have the right to licence commercial users of the lake and new Crown and private structures. It has already entered into an agreement with at least one commercial operator.

Māori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said he was pleased matters left outstanding from the 1992 settlement had been resolved.

“Under the agreement the trust board’s rights on a number of fronts have been clarified, including in regard to commercial tourism operators where the board will have the ability to charge fees similar to those charged by DoC on Crown land.”

Conservation Minister Chris Carter said the Crown would continue to own and manage the trout fishery.

“This is a significant document which will lead to a stronger and clearer relationship between the Crown and Tūwharetoa while continuing to protect public access to the lake in perpetuity,” Mr Carter said.
Local Government Minister and Taupō MP Mark Burton welcomed the signing saying: “I’m pleased to see that the discussions have resulted in a deed which provides clarity for tourist operators, the Crown and other users of Lake Taupō.”

New agreement between the Crown and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board

Why were the negotiations entered into?
The negotiations were entered into in order to clarify the meaning, rights and interests of the Crown, TMTB and public under the 1992 deed.

How long have the negotiations been going for?
The negotiations were entered into in late 2005. Coming to a broad agreement was relatively quick, and much of the last year has been making sure the details are correct.

Is this a Treaty settlement?
This is not a Treaty settlement, but a clarification of property rights provided in the 1992 deed and simplification of the payment by the Crown for use of the Lake for fishing and boating facilities under the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955.

Why was a new agreement required?
The new agreement simplifies and clarifies the position and interests of the Crown, TMTB and public, including clarifying the ownership interests of the structures and use rights, particularly the Crown’s ownership and management of the trout fishing and structures for boating and navigation and the way in which payment is to be made to the TMTB under the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955.

What are the key points in the deed?
The new deed clarifies the ownership of “Taupō Waters” which was agreed in the 1992 deed. Taupō waters includes the bed of, subsoil and space occupied by water in, and the airspace above Lake Taupō, including the Waikato river to Huka Falls and the tributaries that flow into Lake Taupō. Taupō Waters does not include the water itself.

The deed continues to provide that the people of New Zealand will have freedom of entry and access upon Taupō Waters for non-exclusive, non-commercial recreational use and enjoyment. It also provides that the Lake will be managed as if a recreation reserve, including the continuation of the Taupō-nui-a-Tia Management Board.

The deed acknowledges the agreement that the Crown continue to manage and own the trout fishery and structures it currently owns such as berthings, moorings and navigational aids. It also acknowledges the right of the Crown to control and legislate in respect of water including its use and quality, public safety, public health, navigation and recreation.

The deed also provides that commercial users of the Lake, such as commercial boat operators and fishing guides, will require a licence from the TMTB which also has the ability to charge fees, and new structures will require a licence or grant of occupation from the TMTB. This is similar to the Department of Conservation granting a concession for business owners to operate on public land.

What is the Crown’s payment for?
The Crown and the TMTB, as trustees on behalf of the Tūwharetoa iwi and hapū, have, since 1926, shared the revenues from activities such as fishing and boating facilities. Under the new deed, the Crown will pay a fixed amount for the use and occupation of the Lake, and for past and current annuity and other financial issues.
The Crown will pay $9.865 million (the final figure is subject to change depending on the date of settlement) as a lump sum payment and $1.5 million a year. The Crown will continue to own and manage the structures that it currently owns, such as berthings, moorings, marinas, jetties, boat ramps and navigation aids and rent to the Board for the space occupied is included within the $1.5 million annual payment.

If the Crown wishes to build a new structure, it will need consent from the Board which will be able to charge fees (unless the new structures are in the nature of public good facilities e.g. navigation aids).

What effect is there on recreational users of the lake, including fishing and boating?
There will be no change in the regime for private, non-commercial recreational users of the lake or for fishing and boating. The TMTB continue, as they have since 1926, to guarantee access to the public of New Zealand. Fishing will continue to be managed through the Department of Conservation and Boating through the Harbour Master and Department of Internal Affairs.

Will owners of private jetties, ramps and other structures be affected?
No. The deed clarifies that there are 91 privately owned jetties, ramps moorings and other structures on the Lake. The owners will not be required to pay fees to the TMTB for occupation of the Lake for these structures. However, any new structures or changes to existing structures may require a grant of occupation from the TMTB who may also charge a fee.

Does the deed recognise the role of Local Authorities?
Yes. The deed acknowledges the role of Local Authorities, particularly in relation to land use consents and water permits or discharge permits, and that Taupō Waters are subject to relevant enactments, including the Resource Management Act 1991