What Is the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Really?

15 July 2025

Before we go further, let’s be clear:
This is not about blaming Tūwharetoa, the Trust Board, or Taupō District Council.
This is about a structure designed by central government — a structure that bypasses normal public processes and creates a new layer of authority, with limited public oversight.

Tūwharetoa have every right to care for their whenua and represent their people. Their connection to the lake is generational, spiritual, and profound.
But the legal framework they’ve been placed within — a private statutory entity with public power — raises real questions.

So What’s the Concern?

• The Trust Board is a private legal body, not a public one. It’s not subject to the same democratic obligations as elected Councils.
• Only registered beneficiaries can vote in Board elections — turnout was just 20% in 2024.
• The Council must consult the public. The Trust Board does not.
• Joint agreements — over lakebeds, planning, water governance — can bypass normal public scrutiny.
• The JMA cannot be terminated, even by future elected Councils.

This Isn’t About Māori vs Non-Māori

It’s about whether public decision-making should be influenced by a body that isn’t publicly accountable.

Councils may be flawed, but at least they’re elected by a reasonable proportion of the people it purports to represent. They must answer to everyone, and they are subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act.

The Trust Board is not. And yet, legislation like the Local Government Act, the RMA, and Treaty settlements have embedded private iwi authorities like TMTB into Council processes—without the usual democratic safeguards.

So the Real Question:

Why is central government using law to sidestep public accountability —
and how do we make sure all voices, as well as Māori, are protected in a truly democratic system?