Rotorua Lakes Council, CNI Iwi Holdings and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have agreed to work together towards a new long-term solution for discharge of wai tātari (recovered wastewater).

This is driven by the guiding desire to develop the right solution for Te Arawa, the environment and the community, and in response to significant iwi and community opposition to the proposed discharge to Arikiroa/Sanitorium Reserve via a culturally designed land contact bed.

That proposal followed several years of engagement after agreement that the use of land within Whakarewarewa Forest for discharge of wai tātari was not sustainable, and not consistent with its status as a taonga or the relationship of iwi and hapū with their taonga.

The new agreement – Kawenata - Puarenga Catchment of Te Rotoruanui-a-Kahumatamomoe – follows extensive discussion and careful consideration by Council, CNI and Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

The kawenata reflects the parties’ commitment to work together and outlines a process to design and develop a Sustainable Forest Approach (SFA). This includes upgrading Council’s wastewater treatment plant and use of a set area of land within Whakarewarewa Forest, while the parties continue working towards a long-term solution that will not include use of the forest land.

Council’s current consent to spray treated wastewater in Whakarewarewa Forest runs out 31 July 2021. Because it will take time to develop and implement the Sustainable Forest Approach, Council needs to get a “Bridging Consent” to continue the current system in the meantime. This process is underway.

Read the full announcement regarding the kawenata on Council’s website


Currently, treated wastewater from Rotorua's wastewater treatment plant is discharged into the Whakarewarewa Forest via a spray irrigation system:

  • 19 to 20,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater per day
  • Sprayed over a number of irrigation blocks with approximate area of 400 hectares
  • Blocks are sprayed for 2 to 3 hours per day
  • Contains total 40 tonnes Nitrogen per year
  • Contains 19 tonnes Phosphorous per year
  • Contains pathogens (E-coli bacteria and viruses).