Welcome all, members and interested parties.
It has been a busy period for the Advocates for the Tongariro River (AFTR). Topics covered in this blog are :
- AFTR submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bill
- Subsequent letter to Ministers following the lack of engagement over proposed amendments
- Aerial Survey of the Tongariro River 2026
- Fishing etiquette communications from DOC
- Wilding Pines update
- Fishing update
- Update on the new swing bridge at the Major Jones Pool.
AFTR submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bill
On our February blog there is a copy of the submission from the AFTR to the Select Committee for the Natural Environment and Planning Bills. Our able Chair Carl Bergstrom, with assistance from committee member John Martin, put together the simple and concise submission. Other submissions were of a similar chain of thought, notably from Fish and Game. It became clear that the select committee had little appetite for input once its amendments were released. Unfortunately, our efforts to see formal recognition of fish habitat, fishing rights and a sound means of communication, has seeming come to little. It is fair to say that a lack on genuine engagement from the Select Committee has been noted, and an altered approach is needed.
Subsequent letter to the Minister :
As can been seen by the letter below, the AFTR have not given up the challenge of trying to get these simple, but important amendments included in the legislation.
Carl Bergstrom
Chair, Advocates For The Tongariro River Society Inc.
118 Taupahi Road Turangi 3334
28 July 2026
Hon Chris Bishop – Minister Responsible for RMA Reform
CC:Rt Hon Christopher Luxon – Prime Minister, Hon James Meager – Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Hon Nicola Willis – Minister for Economic Growth, Hon Louise Upston – MP for Taupo
Dear Minister
I write as Chair of Advocates for the Tongariro River Society Inc., dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Tongariro River, its fishery, and its recreational values. The Tongariro River is a national icon and one of the world’s premier rainbow trout fisheries, drawing thousands of visitors and contributing significantly to New Zealand’s tourism economy. It is part of a freshwater fishery worth over $1 billion annually and enjoyed by more than 140,000 licence holders1. The Tongariro is just one of the many outstanding rivers and lakes throughout the country, which together provide recreation and well-being for so many New Zealanders, and which support a thriving tourist industry.
In February 2026, as part of the consultative process we made a submission on the Natural Environment and Planning Bills to the Environment Committee, a copy of which is attached. Our submission sought to retain the statutory recognition of recreational amenity values, and trout and salmon habitat, long provided under the RMA. Fish & Game New Zealand made the same points. The select committee’s decision to dismiss these matters as “particular interests” is deeply concerning and fundamentally misreads their national significance.
The inclusion of these matters in the Goals simply maintains the protection currently afforded in the Purpose and Principles of the RMA (sections 7(c)2 and 7(h) respectively), and the System Outcomes of the now repealed Natural and Built Environments Act. Excluding these matters from the Goals represents a clear retreat from existing statutory protections. Under the new Bills, decision makers lose the general discretion to consider matters outside of the planning hierarchy which they consider relevant and necessary3. Without explicit inclusion in the Goals, there is no dependable pathway to ensure trout and salmon habitat or recreational values are reflected in regional plans or consent decisions. This creates real risk for iconic rivers such as the Tongariro, particularly in relation to the Tongariro Power Scheme.
1 NZFFA 2020, based on earlier Cawthron Institute and DOC studies adjusted to 2020 values
2 s7(c) refers to “amenity values” which in the Definitions includes “recreational attributes”
3 s104(1)(c) RMA
It also creates serious political risk. National campaigned in 2023 on protecting hunting and fishing rights and explicitly supporting Fish & Game and the trout and salmon fishery4. Removing existing statutory protections would be seen as breaking that commitment. In a pre-election environment, this risks reputational damage to the Government and to you personally as Minister responsible for the reform programme.
A simple amendment reinstating recreational amenity, and trout and salmon habitat, in the Goals would avoid this risk, maintain long-standing protections, and align the Bills with National’s stated commitments. We request your urgent intervention through an Amendment Paper to ensure these matters are reinstated.
Carl Bergstrom
Chair
Aerial Survey of the Tongariro River 2026
As the AFTR Committee, we are pleased to announce that our updated aerial survey of the river has been concluded and footage is live and ready for consumption.
Our first survey was back in 2023 and provided good insight to the river and the changes that have occurred, especially following significant weather events. The WRC have used the footage when identifying significant fallen trees that need extraction, or monitoring, with their flood protection lense on.
Our intent is to make these a biennial project and see value in creating a library of surveys overtime.
Please click the following link to go through to the 2026 survey:
https://tongariroriver.org.nz/tongariro-river-videos/
Fishing etiquette communications from DOC
In the June edition of the Taupo Fishery Focus DOC release a fishing etiquette video. The AFTR applaud this initiative and hope that this resource gets spread around the fishing community. These simple guidelines can help make a day on the river enjoyable for all concerned.
Please click the link below to watch this short and simple, yet effective video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wdnO2x2ujE&list=PLL6KEl0oZPfuMlqK4iZ6DLJDruZmBhRcT&index=15
The video is also available on the front page of our website.
Update on Wilding Pines
Over the years the AFTR have had an active role in the management of the wilding pine population within the Tongariro River environ. The lead protagonist is AFTR Treasurer John Toogood. Wilding pines are not a one and done kind of problem, so it takes dedication and effort over time. Fortunately, John has these in abundance and is leading the current initiative. It is at the planning stage and we will keep you informed as progress is made. Initially the program will likely target the town section of the river, upstream from the SH1 bridge.
Fishing update
In what has been a relatively dry winter so far, the runs have been sporadic. The river has generally been low and clear and runs seeming to move through the system in relative haste. Obviously these kinds of conditions produce mixed reports on the fishing front. Those that find the fish offer more positive reports than those that didn’t. Such to say, that moving around often increases ones chances. AFTR deputy chair Richard Kemp has no such problems finding fish.
Update on the new swing bridge at the Major Jones Pool.
Work on the replacement swing bridge at the Major Jones Pool commenced in April and is due for completion at some point in September- weather permitting.
The new bridge will be 70.5 meters long and 1.25 meters wide. The intention of the new design is to accommodate walkers and cyclists alike as visitor numbers grow to over 50,000 users per annum.
