Push to simplify Tainui river deal

A major change is proposed to Waikato Tainui's co-management Waikato River Treaty settlement which would scrap the myriad boards proposed under its current Crown deal.

But whether that idea will float with the tribe remains to be seen.

After intense negotiation over a number of years the tribe and the last Labour Government signed a deal in August lauded as ushering in a new era of co-management between iwi and regulatory bodies over the Waikato River's management.

A $210 million fund spread over 30 years to clean up the degraded river was also announced but the settlement deed is still to be brought into law.

Government sources have told the Herald a panel review conducted for Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson will recommend the co-management boards - there are six under the deal which will have power over issues ranging from allocation to pollution - be cut back to just one.

That was because six boards made co-management far too unwieldly, one source said.

As it stands, regional body Environment Waikato and local councils whose boundaries the river flows through - Waipa, Hamilton City and Waikato - are collectively responsible for the river's management.

A spokesman for Mr Finlayson said the panel review's recommendations would be released in the next week. He would not comment on specifics, however it was clear that more work needed to be done to make co-management work.

"We're hoping to streamline it, basically."

Waikato Tainui co-negotiators Tuku Morgan and Lady Raiha Mahuta did not want to comment yesterday. A statement from their tribal organisation said the matters were "still subject to discussion".

Willie Te Aho, who was a vocal critic of the settlement when it was signed, represents river iwi Ngati Koroki Kahukura. He said one of the settlement's redeeming features was that the six boards did provide options for iwi representation.

"I'm very concerned that this is about the dismantling of settlements signed off by the last Government. Anything that lessens participation of iwi I'd be concerned about."

However, Environment Waikato's chairman, Peter Buckley, said he had seen the panel's report and supported the aim of simplifying the governance structure to ensure its efficacy.

Also complicating the situation is how the settlement fits with or could affect the Government's recently announced fresh water review, which aims to reform water management nationally.

Environment Minister Nick Smith was not available for comment.