Water Conservation Order

After years of advocating, for and protecting the Springs, in 2013 Ngāti Tama and Tākaka local Andrew Yuill submitted an application for a Water Conservation Order to the Minister for the Environment to protect the waters of Te Waikoropupū and its associated water bodies.

In 2017 the Minister for the Environment, David Parker accepted the application saying “The Waikoropupū Springs are the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and contain the clearest water measured anywhere in the world. These iconic waters are well deserving of consideration for a WCO - the highest protection possible for a water body.”

The Resource Management Act (1991) says that a Water Conservation Order (WCO) is designed to recognise and protect the ‘outstanding values’ of particular bodies of water, such as Te Waikoropupū. They may be applied over rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands or aquifers and geothermal water.

Go to www.epa.govt.nz for up to date information on the Water Conservation Order for the Springs.