This Act has the purpose to record the acknowledgements and apology given by the Crown to Te Arawa in the deed of settlement signed on 18 December 2004 and gives effect to certain provisions of the deed that settles the Te Arawa lakes historical claims and the Te Arawa lakes remaining annuity issues. The Act provides cultural redress including the return to Te Arawa ownership of the beds of 13 lakebeds in the Rotorua area, to be vested in a new Te Arawa Lakes Trust which has replaced the Arawa Maori Trust Board and participation in ongoing management of the lakes through appointing 2 of the 6 members of the new Rotorua Lakes Strategy Group. The Act further includes formal protocols with those agencies that have a regulatory and/or legislative responsibility over the Te Arawa Lakes and the establishment and management of fisheries regulations of five native freshwater species. The Act also protects all recreation, navigation rights, existing structures, and existing commercial activities.
New Zealand · 2006-09-25