21 July 2025
Taupō District Council is preparing to vote on a new Joint Management Agreement (JMA) with the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board (TMTB). On paper, it’s framed as a partnership to protect the Lake. In practice, it proposes a sweeping restructure of how decisions are made – about infrastructure, land use, enforcement, and more.
This is not about opposing iwi, collaboration, or honouring Treaty commitments. It’s about transparency, public mandate, and whether major changes to local governance should happen without your vote, input, or even awareness.
So with some much appreciated help from members in the community, I’ve prepared a breakdown of the JMA in plain language, backed by a few direct quotes from the document itself.
In addition, you can read the staff assessment of 26 June as to why they think public consultation is not necessary.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝟑𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 – 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭.
A note on Hobson’s Pledge: Some have assumed that because this issue gained national attention through Hobson’s Pledge, I must share all their views. I don’t—I speak for myself. Their involvement may be polarising, but that doesn’t change the facts. This is about local democracy, not party lines or personalities. And to be fair, if it weren’t for them, this issue would likely never have received the attention it deserves. Let’s stay focused on the substance—not the messengers.
duncandoestaupo.com 