Waikato River Authority – Position specification – Crown Appointment Role
and functions The Waikato River Authority (the Authority) is a statutory body, established under the
Waikato-Tainui Raupatu Claims (Waikato River) Settlement Act 2010 (the Act). Its purpose is
to:
a. set the primary direction through Te Ture Whaimana, the vision and strategy to
achieve the restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato
River for future generations
b. promote an integrated, holistic, and co-ordinated approach to the implementation of
the vision and strategy and the management of the Waikato River
c. fund rehabilitation initiatives for the Waikato and Waipā Rivers (as trustee for the
Waikato River Clean-up Trust).
The duty of the members of the Authority is to act to achieve the purpose of the Authority.
The general functions and powers of the Authority can be found in sections 23 and 24. The
Authority also has resource consent functions provided for in sections 25 – 31 of the Act.
The Authority is the trustee of the Waikato River Clean-up Trust. Its object is the restoration
and protection of the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.
About the Waikato River Authority The Authority’s work is guided by Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, a unique Treaty
settlement mechanism that reflects the Crown’s commitment to restoring the health and
wellbeing of the Waikato River in partnership with iwi. The Authority’s activities contribute to
delivering on Treaty obligations by embedding iwi aspirations, fostering Māori-Crown
relationships, and promoting holistic management of the river and its catchment.
The Authority is currently reviewing Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato, the vision and
strategy document for the Waikato River and activities affected by it. Te Ture Whaimana is
not just about the physical restoration and protection of the Awa or simply water quality. It is
about the restoration and protection of the interconnected relationship between river iwi,
wider community and sector/industry resource users. This is the first major review of Te Ture
Whaimana since it was established as part of the River Settlement and is expected to
conclude in shortly. Once concluded the Board will shift its focus to implementation.
Skill requirements The Crown appoints five of the ten members of the Authority’s Board, at least two of its
appointees must be ordinarily resident in the Waikato region.
The Crown is currently seeking nominations for all five Crown members from people that
have the skills, and knowledge to participate effectively in the governance of the Authority,
and experience to achieve the purpose of the settlement to restore and protect the health
and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations. They will ideally have a
connection to the Waikato and Waipā Rivers and its communities.
We seek nominations from people with experience in some or all of the below:
• Commitment to the restoration and protection of the health and wellbeing of the
Waikato River for present and future generations
• Background in environmental science or rehabilitation
• Knowledge of New Zealand’s environmental management and planning system
• Experience working within a co-governance environment, including an understanding
of the Treaty of Waitangi and Treaty settlements.
• Strong financial acumen and investment management
• Strategic governance experience.
Current Waikato River Authority composition (appointment decisions required for all
Crown terms)
Name
Appointed by
Appointment
Term end date
date
Co-Chair, Danny
Iwi, Ngāti Tūwharetoa
1 Oct 2018
31 Oct 2027
Loughlin
Co-Chair, Stu
Crown (Waikato Regional Council 18 May 2020
17 May 2025
Kneebone
recommendation)
(roll on
provision)
Gannin Ormsby
Iwi, Maniapoto
1 Sept 2024
31 Aug 2027
(Deputy Co-Chair)
Stuart Muir
Crown
18 May 2023
17 May 2026
(Deputy Co-Chair)
Susan O’Regan
Crown
18 May 2023
17 May 2026
(Territorial authority
recommendation)
Roger Pikia
Iwi, Te Arawa River Iwi
18 Jun 2011
31 Mar 2026
Shadrach Rolleston Crown
18 May 2020
17 May 2026
Nachelle Griffiths
Iwi, Raukawa
3 Jul 2020
2 Jul 2026
Erina Watene
Crown
18 May 2020
17 May 2025
(roll on
provision)
Jacqueline (Jackie) Iwi, Waikato-Tainui
1 Jul 2024
30 Jun 2027
Colliar
Fees Members fees for the Waikato River Authority are based on a rate $479 per day for
members and $766 for the Co-Chairs. These rates have been set in accordance with
Schedule 6,12(3) of the
Act and the Cabinet Fees Framework. We are currently reviewing
fees as a part of this appointment process.
Nominations The Minister may seek nominations from any persons whom the Minister considers
appropriate and must consider the mix of knowledge and experience already appointed to
the Authority. The legislation sets out a number of other requirements that must be met when
making an appointment, these can be viewed in Schedule
6 of the Act.
Please send your expressions of interest, including a recent CV and cover letter,
to
[email address] no later than
5pm, 13 May 2026. Please note
successful candidates will be subject to background checks.
