Wai Manawa Whenua

Wai Manawa Whenua represents a collective of Māori landowners, hapū, and iwi who have brought a legal case to the High Court of New Zealand to hold the Crown accountable for failing to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and uphold Māori rights and responsibilities over freshwater. The case calls for urgent action to protect and restore our waterways, recognise Māori tikanga and proprietary rights, and establish a fair, enduring water allocation system for all.

"for the health of our water, our whenua, and generations to come"

Our Case:

"A Call for Urgent Action to Honour Te Tiriti to Restore the Health of Water"

This legal challenge comes after over a decade of broken promises and Crown inaction, despite clear obligations under Articles 1 and 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, repeated Tribunal findings affirming Māori proprietary rights and repeated court findings affirming kaitiaki rights.

Successive governments have refused to establish a fair and durable water allocation system that enables Māori to exercise their rangatiratanga rights and their role as kaitiaki, even as both water quality deteriorates and water quantity diminishes across the country.

Despite a 2012 Crown assurance — led by then Deputy Prime Minister Bill English — that the Crown was committed to recognising and making appropriate provision for Māori rights and interests in water and geothermal resources , and the Supreme Court’s endorsement of the Tribunal’s ruling that the Crown must urgently address long-standing Māori proprietary rights in water, little has changed.

This case challenges the Crown’s ongoing failure to uphold its Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to protect Māori rights and interests in freshwater. It seeks a Court declaration that the Crown has not honoured past assurances and must act to protect Māori proprietary rights in water before allocating it to others.

Our Stories:

Sought Outcomes:

Immediate action to halt further decline in the health and wellbeing of water bodies.

Recognition of Māori tikanga and proprietary rights in water and geothermal resources.

A fair and durable water allocation system that enables Māori to fulfil their responsibilities as kaitiaki.

Get Involved:

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Share with us how you and your whānau have been affected by water issues.

Social Media Graphics:

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Press Releases:

Call for Urgent Action to Honour Te Tiriti to Restore the Health of Water

July 17, 2025 No Comments

Māori groups representing landowners, hapu and iwi filed proceedings in the High Court on the 26 June, against the Crown, citing its repeated failure to

Table of Contents hide

1. Wai Manawa Whenua

2. "for the health of our water, our whenua, and generations to come"

3. Our Case:

4. "A Call for Urgent Action to Honour Te Tiriti to Restore the Health of Water"

5. Our Stories:

6. Sought Outcomes:

7. Get Involved:

8. Follow us on Social Media

9. Share your story

10. Social Media Graphics:

11. Press Releases:

11.1. Call for Urgent Action to Honour Te Tiriti to Restore the Health of Water