Council secures investment towards future management of Te Waihou

South Waikato District Mayor Gary Petley has welcomed news of Council and local iwi Raukawa securing an injection of funding from central government, which will assist in the future management of Te Waihou/Blue Spring Walkway.

The announcement of $675,000 in funding – made available through the International Visitor Levy – will support the ongoing work being undertaken by Council and Raukawa, to manage growing visitor numbers and protect the quality of the visitor experience at the Putāruru landmark.

"We have known for a long time now that there are some serious issues to address at Te Waihou. Put simply, it has outgrown itself in terms of popularity, with tens of thousands now attending the site annually," South Waikato Mayor Gary Petley said.

"This funding will assist the mahi we are undertaking in this space, alongside Raukawa, which is centred on protecting a national taonga, ensuring visitors are well looked after and making sure that our District's local economy is set up to benefit from the popularity of the site."

Council and Raukawa held a governance workshop earlier this week on the topic, which follows several operational workshops held in recent months.

Consultancy firm Veros was engaged earlier this year, following a Council decision to investigate options for Te Waihou, with the purpose of developing visitor and demand management solutions.

Raukawa Settlement Trust Chair Kataraina Hodge added: “For Raukawa, this investment is an important contribution towards protecting Te Waihou for generations to come," she said.

"As visitor numbers continue to grow, it is important that the health and mauri of the awa remain at the centre of how the site is managed. Decisions around access, infrastructure and the visitor experience must support the long-term protection of this taonga.”

Among the proposed options for improving the site are:

• Extending the main Leslie Road carpark, which is the primary access point to the Te Waihou track
• Installing new public toilet facilities at Leslie Road to increase capacity
• Investing in technology infrastructure to support future visitor management options, including a potential user-pays system
• Establishment of a park-and-ride service from a neighbouring town or towns