SWMBO’s suggestion on how to save Turangi?

As we – TRM – are often hosting anglers from overseas some inevitable regular difficult questions from them always include:

Why does Taupo have a separate fishing licence to the rest of NZ?

Naturally, these questions are more probing when the fish are hard to find. We understand that but satisfactory answers are even harder to find. It is difficult to convince them of any sensible reason. Visitors suggest it appears to be based on an unfortunate greedy $ rip-off exercise. That is why I try to leave it to SWMBO to explain to them. She has more patience and better manners too.

The description below from DOC’s website below provides some of their reasons.

Legislation dating back over a century explains the unique management approach in place within the Taupō Fishing District.

DOC has a statutory responsibility to manage freshwater trout fishing within the Taupō District, which can be linked back to Crown involvement in the fishery in the 1900s. More recently, iwi ownership of Taupō Waters was reaffirmed, helping to clarify legal ownership rights.

Ngāti Tūwharetoa has mana whenua in the Taupō district, and the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board (TMTB) plays a central role managing the fishery. In 2007, a Trust Deed reaffirmed and enhanced the full ownership rights to Taupō Waters. Taupō Waters is defined as the bed of Lake Taupō, the space occupied by the water of the lake, tributaries flowing into the lake and the Waikato River down to the Rock of Tia, including Huka Falls.

The 2007 Deed was followed by a High Court Declaratory Judgement in 2021 which went a stage further and confirmed the property rights of Ngāti Tūwharetoa, including the ability of the TMTB to engage with commercial operators.

Looking back to the 1990s, other key decisions took place. In 1992 the Crown returned Taupō Waters to the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board. The title to the beds of several other rivers was returned in 1999.

Going back even further in time, the Maori Land Amendment and Maori Land Claims Adjustment Act 1926 was the cornerstone piece of legislation that formalised the relationship between Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown in respect to the Taupō fishery. Over the years Crown agencies such as the Department of Internal Affairs and the Wildlife Service held management responsibility for the fishery but the relationship with iwi was always present.

In 1987 the Department of Conservation was formed and given the mandate to manage the Taupō Fishing District on behalf of the Crown. This responsibility remains in place today and defines the current management structure.

Given the unique structure underpinning fishery management in the Taupō District it is unsurprising that a specific fishing licence is required. Taupō Fishing District licences have been available for over a century and link directly back to the 1926 Act. Ngāti Tūwharetoa has a legislated role within the Taupō fishery licencing regime which is detailed in s.14 (11) of the 1926 Act.

In summary, the historic relationship between Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Crown drives the unique management approach applied to the Taupō District. An appreciation of the legislative framework helps us understand how that relationship developed over time.

OK. So then they continue to ask, quite understandably, what is the “mana whenua”? The Oxford Dictionary explains:

“the right of a Maori tribe to manage a particular area of land.”

“the decision maintains the integrity of the land and shows respect to manawhenua”

Now of course, just to add to the confusion, there is another licence needed to fish Lake Rotoaira, but we dare not tell them that.

But for overseas-based anglers, that still does not explain to them why the rest of NZ trout fishing rivers and lakes – for which they also have a fishing licence to fish in surrounding lakes and rivers such as the Wanganui or Whakapapa or Rangitikei or Rangitaiki or Mohaka Rivers – require a separate licence.

The visiting anglers are intrigued and ask such awkward questions. DOC reported it above as “unsurprising that a specific fishing licence is required” but they do not agree. The above description is not the full story. They suggest they have a right to know how much of their premium licence fee is contributed to DOC compared to Tuwharetoa, i.e. how much goes back into the Taupo fishery for management of anglers access, river improvements, etc.

Local anglers are just as curious asking how licence sales compare to a few years ago. The only growth appears to be in the number of women anglers participating but they would not make up for the loss of so many men.

As the overseas fishos return each year they cannot help but notice the deterioration of many aspects of the Taupo fishery, in particular the loss of access tracks along the Tongariro River (such as along the TLB downriver), and constantly compare to the trout fishing in their own country. They tell us what a great potential asset we have in terms of fishing tourism but how the licence management system is now a disincentive. When they are so desperate that they keep relying on TRM for such information then it is obvious the PR communication from Taupo fishery management has failed. (This is partly TRM’s fault as old copies of Target Taupo are available in all our units so they ask for more up-to-date copies…)

TRM’s concern is the number of regular fishing tourists who have not returned to Turangi post covid. A few have retired but many are sadly now fishing elsewhere. American and Australian guests appear to know all about the South Island rivers due to the PR from Fish & Game’s excellent information brochures and SFFNZ and regular reports from other fishing guides like Chris Dore and tackle shops and tackle distributors. They all know where the Mataura is. They all know about Twizel.

This lack of up-to-date PR info is obvious here when they ask for fishing access maps with information on the Hinemaiaia, the Tongariro-Taupo, Waimarino or Waitahanui or Lake Otamangakau. They complain the lack of such information is unacceptable in this modern digital era. They pay a $30 premium for their licence and expect better.

As usual, SWMBO suggests an easy way to sort it out, to encourage sustainable tourism at the same time to provide regular employment opportunities to save Turangi, is to make all licences FREE to tourists. She always has a simple answer.

TRM are now taking bookings from overseas anglers for next summer season for fishing trips lasting up to a month. They (West Islanders of course!) complain the combined cost of $282 (comprising $129 for Taupo and $153 for the rest of NZ) is excessive. Do you agree?

Fish & Game licence fees for the rest of NZ:

Whole Season Adult. $153 ; whole season family. $198 ; Whole Season Junior. $31 ; Whole season Child under 12. FREE ; Whole Season Adult Local Area. $122

Taupo fishing licence fees

24-hour licence

  • Adult: $20.00
  • Child: $4.50

Week licence

  • Adult: $42.00
  • Non-resident: $65.00

Whole-season licence

  • Adult: $99.00
  • Senior: $90.00
  • Non-resident: $129.00
  • Family (allows for up to four children): $149.00
  • Child: $12.50

The fees are inclusive of goods and services tax.

Definitions of terms

  • Non-resident: An individual who is neither a citizen nor permanent resident of New Zealand (as per section 4 of the Immigration Act 2009).
  • 24-hour licence: With this licence, you can fish trout within the Taupo District during any 24-hour period mentioned in the licence.
  • Family: A family fishing licence covers:
    • You, or you and your partner/spouse; and
    • Your dependant(s) who ordinarily or periodically reside with you; and
    • Are under 18 years of age on 1 July; and
    • Your grandchildren, who are under 18 years of age on 1 July

• Senior: An individual aged 65 years or older on 1 July

• Child: An individual who is under 18 years of age on 1 July

The fee is non-refundable. In exceptional cases, refunds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Note that Lake Rotoaira is privately owned, and you need a permit to go fishing or boating.