History is made at Poroti
Published on 01 September 2025
In a historic first, we have agreed to share part of our raw water allocation from Waipao Stream, the Poroti Springs, with the springs' landowners and guardians, the Whatitiri Māori Reserves Trust, which is administering the springs on behalf of hapū members of Te Uriroroi, Te Parawhau and Te Māhurehure ki Whatitiri.
Trust board members, Council staff and elected members acknowledged the decades of negotiations, which culminated in the formal agreement being approved unanimously at the August 2025 Council meeting and signed by Council and the trust.
Under the agreement, the trust has first rights to the first 2,000m3 of our daily allocation of 15,500m3 / day.
The trust will also be able to take an additional 3,000m3 / day from our allocation if we are not using the water.
The agreement is on the condition that the Poroti water treatment plant will receive a major upgrade ($45 million) to ensure water from the Wairua River can be processed at the plant there, providing ongoing water-supply security to the city, especially during droughts.
The trust has agreed that the new water treatment plant may treat water from both the Waipao Stream and the Wairua River simultaneously if required. The trust will have input into the assessment of environmental effects related to the treatment plant upgrade project. The trust is also invited to be part of the project team.
Northland Regional Council allocates how much water different entities may take from water sources and will be informed of the signing of the agreement.
Until today, all the water permitted to be taken from the springs had been allocated to us to supply about 30% of the city's water, and to the Maungatapere Water Company for irrigation. A consent for bottled water that had previously been allocated to Zodiac Holdings is now held by Te Arawhiti, the Office of Treaty Settlements.
The result of full allocation to these groups was that the trust, hapū and whānau, who owned the land the springs are on and who had looked after the springs for generations, were not able to secure any rights to take water.
In 2017, the trust wrote to the Mayor and Chief Executive of Whangarei District Council, proposing that we share our allocation with the trust.
The request was declined at the time, however negotiations have continued between the trust and Council resulting in a working party established by Council in 2024.
Council's Water Manager Andrew Venmore has been involved in most of the discussions over the years. He said the agreement was a win for both the trust and the residents of Whangārei.
"The agreement we have ensures the trust is no longer excluded from using the water that flows from their springs.
"We will be applying for a resource consent for the plant upgrade before the end of the year. We expect the trust to have full input into the process, especially the assessment of environmental and cultural impacts, and to play an ongoing role in the use of these water sources."
Trust representative Millan Ruka expressed gratitude for the councillors' bravery and goodwill after many years of struggle seeking justice for his people, to be able to develop economically and manage the sustainability of Poroti Springs waters.