High court decision property rights

PICTURED : Trust Board members at the High Court Declaratory Judgment hearing in Wellington in September 2020

Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board

The High Court has issued a Declaratory Judgment which confirms the property rights of Ngāti Tūwharetoa in relation to commercial users operating commercial activities on Taupō moana.

The judgment requires commercial users to obtain from the Trust Board rights to occupy or use parts of the lake for commercial activities, and (for the Trust Board) to charge commercial users for the same. Following years of uncertainty, some commercial users had failed to comply with these requirements as set out under our 2007 Deed which we have with the Crown. In August 2017 the Trust Board applied to the High Court for a Declaratory Judgment to provide clarity about our property rights in Taupō Moana. The High Court in Wellington finally convened in September 2020 to hear the Trust Board’s application, releasing its decision on 23 July 2021. Trust Board Chairman, John Bishara welcomed the High Court ruling which upholds the rights which Ngāti Tūwharetoa has in Taupō moana. Public access to the lake for recreational activities is not impacted by the High Court decision. Further information, including our media statement about the High Court decision is available on our website www.tuwharetoa.co.nz