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Environment Court Confirms 19 Outstanding Water Bodies In Hawke’s Bay

Friday, 30 May 2025, 8:36 pm
Press Release: Hawkes Bay Regional Council

The Environment Court has confirmed that 19 of Hawke’s Bay’s water bodies meet the high threshold to be classified as ‘outstanding’, following appeals on Proposed Plan Change 7 (Outstanding Water Bodies) to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Resource Management Plan.

This outcome concludes the plan change process and ensures that the region’s most exceptional water bodies – including aquifers, lakes, wetlands, rivers and estuaries – will receive the highest level of protection moving forward.

A water body that is classified as ‘outstanding’ holds a cultural, spiritual, recreational, landscape, natural form and character, or ecological values that are conspicuous, eminent, or remarkable within Hawke’s Bay.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Group Manager Policy & Regulation Katrina Brunton says, “These are exceptional places. They stand out as the best of the best, and this decision confirms they’ll be recognised and safeguarded for future generations with the health and wellbeing of these water bodies prioritised.”

“While not every water body has been classified as outstanding, many others are highly valued by local communities and tāngata whenua. We remain committed to improving the health and mauri of all water bodies across Hawke’s Bay.”

List of Outstanding Water Bodies in Hawke’s Bay

Outstanding water body	Outstanding values
Heretaunga Plains Aquifer System	Cultural or spiritual values (whakapapa o te wai, wāhi taonga, wairua, mauri)
Lake Poukawa and Pekapeka Swamp	Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds)
Lakes Rotoroa and Rototuna (the Kaweka Lakes)	Natural character (Lake Rotoroa and Lake Rototuna) Habitat for indigenous aquatic plant community (Lake Rototuna); Habitat for native fish community (Lake Rotoroa)
Lake Tūtira (including Lake Waikōpiro)	Cultural or spiritual values
Lake Waikaremoana	Ecology, specifically habitat for aquatic native plant communities; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Natural character; Recreation (central focus of a Great Walk)
Lake Whakakī – Te Paeroa Lagoon – Wairau Lagoon and Wetlands	Ecology (habitat for high natural diversity of aquatic native birds)
Lake Whatumā	Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for aquatic native birds, particularly Australasian bittern)
Mangahouanga Stream	Geology (presence of dinosaur fossils)
The Mohaka River upstream of Willow Flat	Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Recreation, including trout angling, kayaking and rafting; Trout fishery (Mohaka River mainstem and in the tributaries upstream of State Highway 5 bridge)
Ngamatea East Swamp	Natural character; Ecology (habitat for indigenous plant populations
Ngaruroro River & Waitangi Estuary	Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Upstream of the Whanawhana cableway Natural character; Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Rainbow trout habitat; Recreation (trout angling, whitewater rafting, kayaking); Habitat for native aquatic birds (particularly whio) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway Habitat for native aquatic birds (including banded dotterel, black fronted dotterel) Downstream of the Whanawhana cableway to Fernhill Natural form and character (braided river) Waitangi Estuary Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, mauri
Ruataniwha Plains Aquifer System	Cultural or spiritual values (including whakapapa o te wai)
Taruarau River	Natural character, especially the gorge; Recreation (whitewater rafting and kayaking)
Pōrangahau River and Estuary downstream of the Beach Road Bridge	Cultural or spiritual values; Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds)
Te Hoe River	Landscape (wild and scenic) values; Habitat for aquatic native birds (particularly whio)
Te Karamū River	Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga, whakapapa o te wai, nohoanga/pāhi
Te Whanganui-a-Orotū (Ahuriri Estuary)	Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga; Aquatic bird habitat; Native fish habitat
Tukituki River downstream of SH50 bridge to the sea, including the estuary	Cultural or spiritual values including wāhi taonga for the estuary Ecology (habitat for native aquatic birds, particularly in the lower river)
Mainstem of the Tūtaekurī River upstream of the SH50 Bridge	Cultural or spiritual values

More Information

The Environment Court’s final decision is available on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council website: https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/hawkes-bay/projects/outstanding-water-bodies/

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