Following letter sent by TRM to the local tribe – Tuwharetoa – about six months ago raises some interesting points which many inmates have remarked on… This follows the previous facebook post from “Trippin on Trout” by Alex – where he “went public” after he cancelled any further trout fishing videos after the local tribe requested payment, claiming he was exploiting their assets – the lakes and rivers – for commercial purposes. Many other anglers and fishing guides are similarly upset over this issue, asking “where will it end?”
TRM’s letter in March 2023:
Further to your press release, before we apply for “formal permission”, could you answer or elaborate on the following questions.
Firstly our brief background: Tongariro River Motel is a small family owned motel which has catered for trout anglers fishing the Tongariro River and Lake Taupo for over 60 years.
Often we are asked to advise and/or “escort” novice tourist anglers around the river and lakes etc. We are not fishing guides but act as unpaid tourist guides. TRM have also provided bikes (free of charge) for them to use on the Tongariro River Trail. We do not advertise or charge for any of these activities. They are offered in the traditional spirit of tourist goodwill. For over 18 years we have promoted the natural features of this Turangi region by posting such activities – fishing and biking and tramping etc. – TRM’s fishing reports were on social media long before facebook arrived. The motel operates more like a fishing club where tourist anglers and regular guests have questioned us about Tuwharetoa’s new role.
So, before we formally apply for permission, the question is, do our tourist activities qualify as commercial activities?
To be fair about this, we hesitated to fill in an application form until we get written answers or explanations to the following basic questions:
1 Firstly, does Tuwharetoa pay rates on the lake and rivers that they are now claiming income from?
2 Secondly, will they pay income tax like everyone else?
3 Third, it has been suggested that this is “double dipping” as tourist anglers already pay a heavy premium for their Taupo licence to include payment (It used to be half the licence fee and I was advised it was since changed to $1.5 million p.a. with inflation adjustments factored in?) to Tuwharetoa.
4 Could you provide any information on how Tuwharetoa have invested or intend to invest any fees back into conservation and development and maintenance of Lake Taupo and tributaries in the form of addressing increased threats from aggradation to improve flood protection and maintenance of access tracks (many of which have deteriorated or gone in recent years), and how Tuwharetoa intend to take responsibility and control excessively high lake levels which have been eroding the rivers and many private properties in recent years. (Refer Dominion newspaper Page B3 for last Saturday 25 March – feature article on Lake Taupo erosion and damage at Kuratau)
Thanking you in anticipation
No surprise that TRM did not receive any written answer… Your opinions are welcome.
