What Te Arawa Lakes Trust does

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is a private iwi (Māori tribal) trust entity established in 2006 under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement, representing the interests of 56 hapū (sub-tribes) and their whānau in relation to 14 freshwater lakes in the Rotorua rohe of New Zealand's Bay of Plenty region. The trust is the institutional vehicle for intergenerational stewardship of ancestral lakes and taonga species (kōura, tuna, kākahi, inanga, kōaro, morihana), holding statutory authority over lake management and operating from a Rotorua headquarters (relocating to Toi Ohomai Mokoia Campus in November 2025) with a workforce of 101–250 including 21 sworn biosecurity officers.

Operational capabilities span environmental management, biosecurity, cultural preservation, research, and beneficiary services. Core technical assets include the Uwhi harakeke (flax) weed mats programme developed with Te Roopu Raranga Ki Rotorua weavers as a native alternative to imported hessian mats; a Scientific Dive Team of trained Te Arawa whānau conducting underwater monitoring; the Catfish Killas programme using AI-assisted traps for population monitoring across Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti; and the bi-annual Te Waikai Otaota aquatic weed control programme applying Diquat Dibromide herbicide across multiple Te Arawa lakes. Adjacent programmes include the annual Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair (since 2022), the Whakahohetia Ngā Wai Kāinga PhD/MSc scholarship programme with NIWA and University of Waikato, the Te Papa Ahurewa environmental advocacy unit, the Waea Mai Māori health call centre, and a subsidised fishing licence programme (free for Kōeke elders; 80% subsidy for other beneficiaries).

The revenue model rests on three streams: Treaty settlement funding as the foundational asset base; subsidised fishing licence fees (transaction-based); and property sales through commercial arm Te Arawa Management Limited (TAML), which is divesting 2–4 bedroom homes in Maketū with first-right-of-refusal caveats. Supplementary funding flows from government partners including Toitū Te Whenua/LINZ (Jobs for Nature programme), Ministry for Primary Industries, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Go-to-market is community-led via marae-based hui, the TikiOS online beneficiary portal, social media (Facebook, Instagram), and the annual Hui-ā-Tau (AGM). Governance rests with nine elected trustees across three Tūpuna Rohe constituencies under triennial elections; recent leadership transitions include Dr Daryn Bean as CEO (June 2023) and Wallace Haumaha as Chairman (January 2025).

Name

Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Legal name

Te Arawa Lakes Trust

Website

https://tearawa.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is an iwi trust entity established in 2006 under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement, representing 56 hapū in stewardship of 14 freshwater lakes in Rotorua, New Zealand, delivering environmental management, biosecurity, cultural preservation, research, and beneficiary services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Iwi Trust & Freshwater Lake Stewardship Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Minerals, Mining & Geologic Resources Administration (BPAIAMAJ), Land Use, Indigenous & Community Engagement Policy (EUAMANAL), Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Freshwater lake management
• Indigenous environmental stewardship
• Aquatic biosecurity services
• Beneficiary licence administration
• Habitat restoration programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotorua

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Treaty Settlement Funding: Te Arawa Lakes Trust was established following the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement 2006, representing an interlocking of the iwi's relationship with their 14 freshwater lakes. The trust operates as a charitable iwi entity receiving settlement assets and ongoing funding for lake management.
2. Fishing Licences: The trust issues subsidised trout fishing licences to registered beneficiaries. All fishing licences are subsidised, with free licences provided to registered Kōeke (elderly beneficiaries). The trust manages a ballot-free licence allocation system for beneficiaries.
3. Property Sales (via TAML): Te Arawa Management Limited (TAML), the commercial arm of the trust, prepares to sell properties including 2-4 bedroom houses in Maketū, with some on general titles and one on leasehold tenure. Sales include caveats providing TAML first right of refusal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is a charitable iwi trust that represents 56 Te Arawa hapū and whānau in relation to 14 ancestral freshwater lakes in the Rotorua region, established under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement 2006. It delivers environmental management services (aquatic weed control, biosecurity, wetland restoration), subsidised fishing licences, trustee elections, scholarships, a science fair, and environmental advocacy, integrating mātauranga Māori with western science.

Product overview

Te Arawa Lakes Trust is a legacy iwi-entity established under the Te Arawa Lakes Settlement 2006 to represent the interests of 56 hapū in relation to 14 freshwater lakes. The Trust operates as a service-based organization rather than a product company, offering a portfolio of environmental management, cultural preservation, and tribal member services. Core services include the beneficiary registration database, aquatic weed management (Te Waikai Otaota), biosecurity programmes (including Uwhi harakeke mats and Catfish Killas), Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā science fair, fishing licence management, trustee elections, health services (Waea Mai), and environmental advocacy (Te Papa Ahurewa). These services are interconnected through the Trust's mission to protect te taiao (the environment) and maintain the intergenerational relationship between Te Arawa hapū and their ancestral lakes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beneficiary Registration and Membership Database Online registration system enabling Te Arawa hapū members to register as beneficiaries, access fishing licences, vote in elections, and receive trust updates and benefits.
• Te Waikai Otaota Aquatic Weed Management Programme Bi-annual aquatic weed control programme using herbicide Diquat Dibromide to manage invasive aquatic weeds (lagarosiphon, elodea, egeria, hornwort) across Te Arawa lakes including Lake Rotorua, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Tarawera, Lake Ōkataina, Lake Rotomā, and Lake Rerewhakaaitu.
• Biosecurity Programme Multi-faceted biosecurity initiative including over 5,000 boat inspections, catfish management with 35 local schools, Uwhi harakeke weed mats trial, wetland restoration, and training of Te Arawa whānau as scientific divers. Has created over 70 jobs for iwi members.
• Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Mātauranga Māori Science and Design Fair Annual science and design fair for ākonga (students) Years 0–13 exploring environmental challenges through te ao Māori and western science. Categories include Biosecurity, Biodiversity and Conservation, Water Environments, Mātauranga Māori, Sustainability, and Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience.
• Uwhi Harakeke Weed Mats Hand-woven harakeke (flax) mats placed on lake beds as a native alternative to imported hessian weed mats for controlling invasive aquatic weeds. Developed in collaboration with weavers from Te Roopu Raranga Ki Rotorua. The 2.5m by 5m mats are deployed by specialist divers and monitored monthly.
• Waea Mai Māori Health Call Centre Māori-led health line and COVID-19 response call centre operating from Rotorua, providing COVID information and vaccination support as part of the Taki O Autahi partnership with Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga. Created 106 jobs and handled over 275,852 calls.
• Fishing Licence Programme Subsidised trout fishing licence programme for registered beneficiaries, including free licences for Kōeke (elderly beneficiaries) and 80% subsidy for other beneficiaries. Managed through the Trust office with ballot processes where demand exceeds supply.
• Catfish Killas Programme Environmental programme monitoring catfish populations across Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti using 65+ nets. Includes educational outreach with 35 local schools and innovative AI-powered underwater monitoring to track and eliminate invasive catfish.
• Trustee Elections Three-yearly trustee election process for nine trustee positions across three Tūpuna Rohe constituencies (Te Kawatapuārangi, Te Ure o Uenukukūpako, Tūhourangi), including online and postal voting systems.
• Te Papa Ahurewa Environmental Advocacy Environmental policy and planning unit supporting hapū engagement in resource consent processes, freshwater and climate-related policy at local, regional, and national levels. Works with Te Arawa Lakes Trust on policy development.
• PhD and MSc Scholarship Programme Postgraduate scholarship opportunities in partnership with NIWA New Zealand and University of Waikato under the Whakahohetia Ngā Wai Kāinga focus study within the Toitū Ngā Taonga Waimāori research programme, including climate change resilience research for cultural keystone species.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% self-certification pass rate for boat inspections (2022/23)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Toi OhomaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Collaboration to house Te Arawa Lakes Trust offices at Toi Ohomai Mokoia Campus from November 2025, bringing taiao kaimahi, office kaimahi, and board hui together in one location.
• Whakarongorau Aotearoa (Taki O Autahi Partnership)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2022Taki O Autahi is a landmark partnership between iwi and Māori health providers including Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, and Te Arawa Lakes Trust to deliver healthline services including COVID support from Rotorua. The Waea Mai call centre created 106 local jobs and handled 275,852+ calls.
• Te Hau Ora o NgāpuhimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2022Partnership through Taki O Autahi for delivering Māori-led health services across Aotearoa.
• Te Taiwhenua o HeretaungamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2022Partnership through Taki O Autahi for delivering Māori-led health services across Aotearoa.
• Bay of Plenty Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay of Plenty Regional Council partners with Te Arawa Lakes Trust on the bi-annual aquatic weed control programme (Te Waikai Otaota), joint biosecurity initiatives including boat inspections, and the Te Tūkohu Ngāwhā Science Fair.
• Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLINZ supports the Uwhi trial through the Jobs for Nature programme, aquatic weed management, and provides funding for biosecurity operations. Partnership has created over 70 jobs for iwi.
• NIWA New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIWA partners on the Toitū Ngā Taonga Waimāori research programme, offering PhD and MSc scholarships focused on climate change impacts on cultural keystone species and lake ecosystems.
• University of WaikatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Waikato collaborates on the Toitū Ngā Taonga Waimāori research programme, supporting postgraduate research opportunities for Te Arawa students.
• Te Papa AhurewacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Papa Ahurewa is the environmental advocacy group for Te Arawa, working with the trust on resource consent processes, freshwater and climate policy engagement, and supporting hapū engagement in environmental matters.
• Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI activates biosecurity protections through the Biosecurity Act, working with the trust on the Controlled Area Notice to prevent freshwater gold clam invasion in Te Arawa lakes.
• Tuhourangi Tribal AuthoritycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on events such as Blue Lake Multisport, joint advocacy for Lake Tarawera, and representation across shared rohe.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research): Crown Research Institute partnering with Te Arawa on lake science and climate change research; comparable in freshwater ecosystem research scope and an enabler of Te Arawa's evidence base.
• Cawthron Institute: Independent freshwater and marine science institute adjacent to Te Arawa's environmental monitoring and biosecurity work — operates a similar lake/aquatic research portfolio.

Direct peers

• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: Largest iwi in Aotearoa New Zealand, operating under a Treaty settlement structure with comparable statutory authority, environmental management programmes, and beneficiary service functions — directly comparable governance and operating model.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou: East Coast iwi with a comparable trust structure, post-settlement governance model, and multi-generational beneficiary programmes covering cultural, environmental, and economic advancement.
• Te Rūnanga o Raukawa: Treaty settlement iwi entity with comparable freshwater and environmental co-management interests in the lower North Island, operating similar beneficiary services and policy advocacy functions.
• Waikato-Tainui: Post-settlement iwi entity holding statutory co-governance rights over the Waikato River and operating extensive environmental, cultural, and beneficiary programmes — directly comparable in Treaty settlement scope and freshwater governance focus.
• Ngāti Tūwharetoa: Lake Taupō rights-holding iwi with a trust structure managing a major freshwater lake, fisheries, environmental programmes, and beneficiary services — highly analogous to Te Arawa's lake-management mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Fish & Game New Zealand: National organisation managing freshwater sport fisheries and licence allocation — directly overlaps with Te Arawa's fishing licence programme for trout on Te Arawa lakes.
• Department of Conservation (DOC): Crown agency managing conservation land and freshwater systems across New Zealand — operates overlapping environmental management capabilities at national scale, though not specialised in iwi-led indigenous knowledge integration.
• Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Regional council with statutory jurisdiction over the same lakes managed by Te Arawa; partners with the trust on Te Waikai Otaota aquatic weed control and biosecurity — overlapping mandate on freshwater resource management.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TeArawaLakesTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/tearawalakestrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-arawa-lakes-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Te Arawa Lakes Trust