Waikawau/Hannahs Bay Reserve is a valuable community recreational space and has important cultural and environmental significance.

Rotorua Lakes Council, representatives from Ngāti Uenukukōpako and Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi, and the Eastside Community Collective have been working together to develop a draft Reserve Management Plan to support the future management of Hannahs Bay/Waikawau Reserve.

The Waikawau/Hannahs Bay Reserve Management Plan was adopted by Council on 27 June 2019.

Hannahs Bay Reserve is a specially classified reserve under the Deed of Settlement pursuant to the Affiliate Te Arawa and Hapū Claims Settlement Act 2008. This recognises the cultural significance of the reserve and the role of Ngāti Uenukukōpako and Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi in decision making.

The Reserves Act 1977 is the central piece of legislation that governs the administration of public reserves. Under the Reserves Act the Rotorua Lakes Council, as a reserve administering body, is required to have in place reserve management plans for all reserves under its control and to ensure that those reserve management plans are kept up to date to reflect changing circumstances or increased knowledge.

The Reserves Act 1977 sets out the process for preparing or reviewing a Reserve Management Plan including the requirements around community consultation which includes a requirement for submitters to be given the opportunity to be heard in support of their submission. The hearing is proposed to be held during the week of the 10th of June 2019.