Image: Whangaehu River at Tangiwai
Ngā Wai Tōtā o Te Waiū-o-Te-Ika
Ngā Wai Tōtā is the governance group for Te Waiū-o-Te-Ika. The name Ngā Wai Tōtā comes about because the Whangaehu is known as the sweat gland of Te Ika-a-Māui, the great fish of Māui, or the North Island. The water in the Whangaehu is described as ‘wai tōtā’ – the sweat of the fish. It is full of minerals and sustains the whenua. It flows down to the mouth and was traditionally a feeding ground for marine mammals, who brought their young to the rich waters.
The governance group for Te Waiū-o-Te-Ika was named Ngā Wai Tōtā because, like the nourishing waters that flow from Te Wai-ā-Moe, the job of Ngā Wai Tōtā is to nourish the whole of the Whangaehu. Their job, rather than merely protecting Te Waiū-o-Te-Ika, is to feed and sustain it.
Image: Whangaehu River at the river mouth, Whangaehu
Ngā Wai Tōtā is made up of representatives from:
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Ngā Wairiki
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Ngāti Rangi
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Uenuku
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Ngā hapū o te iwi o Whanganui
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Ruapehu District Council
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Rangitīkei District Council
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Whanganui District Council
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Horizons Regional Council
Ngā Wai Tōtā
Che Wilson (Chair)
Ngāti Rangi
Greg Robinson
Uenuku
Kiri Wilson
Ngā Wairiki
Kahurangi Simon
Whanganui
Leanne Hiroti
Ngā Wairiki
T'leya Wood
Ngāti Rangi
Andrew Tripe
Whanganui District Council
Nikki Riley
Horizons Regional Council
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Vivienne Hoeta
Ruapehu District Council
Andy Watson
Rangitīkei District Council
The purpose of Ngā Wai Tōtā is to:
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Promote Te Mana Tupua and Ngā Toka Tupua
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Advance the health and well-being of the awa
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Advance the integrated management of the awa
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Be a voice for the relationship of ngā iwi o te awa (incl our kawa, tikanga, and ritenga) with the awa.
The specific tasks for Ngā Wai Tōtā are to:
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Develop Te Tāhoratanga
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Hold hui and put out information on health and wellbeing of the awa
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Advise local government and the Crown on decisions about the awa
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Monitor effectiveness of Te Tāhoratanga implementation and how well Te Mana Tupua and Ngā Toka Tupua is being achieved
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Maintain the Te Waiū catchment register
Obligations to Ngā Wai Tōtā
Authorities must let Ngā Wai Tōtā know about any resource consent applications they receive about discharging to, using, taking, diverting or damming water. This also applies to any other activities the authority thinks are relevant.