Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment - Te Kaitiaki Taiao a Te Whare Pāremata

Restoring the Rotorua Lakes:The ultimate endurance challenge

Report summary

The PCE has been monitoring initiatives to improve the water quality of the Rotorua Lakes since March 2003, when concerned Rotorua residents wrote to the Commissioner.

A more thorough look at the issues began in early 2005. This report contains the findings, and focuses on how well public authorities are managing the Lakes' restoration.

Based on its interviews and research, the PCE investigation team identified six key issues. The Commissioner believes that, of these, keeping up the momentum is the area where further work would be of most benefit.

Restoring the Lakes to full health will require a commitment over decades rather than years. With an extensive range of projects started over the last 2-3 years, the challenge now is to keep the programme going.

Recommendations

To build on the progress to date, the Joint Strategy Committee should:

• Consider strengthening the institutional framework by expanding its membership to include representatives drawn from the wider community
• Develop a sustainability report card on progress with the Rotorua Lakes Protection and Restoration Programme, to help maintain community commitment over the long-term.

Further investigation by the Commissioner may focus on:

• Research funding
• Integrated catchment management
• National lakes management.

Considerable resources are now going into protecting and restoring the Lakes, under the umbrella of the Joint Strategy Committee and the Rotorua Lakes Protection and Restoration Programme. Excellent progress makes this a leading initiative of its kind in New Zealand. The Commissioner congratulates the agencies and the Rotorua community on their commitment and effort.

(See also: Media release, 3 April 2006.)