Purpose and Objectives

The Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust was established for the following charitable purposes:

• To foster and enhance the sustainable management of the ecological resources in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments;
• To mitigate adverse effects of the operation of the Hydro Scheme on the ecological environments in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments;
• To maintain and enhance indigenous biodiversity, the sports fishery and game bird populations in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments through appropriate and sustainable species and habitat management by:
  1. identifying important habitats and/or species;
  2. identifying risks and threats to those identified habitats and/or species;
  3. identifying most practicable means to ameliorate or resolve risks and threats to habitats and species in the catchment;
  4. identifying practical means to enhance important habitats and/or species;
  5. establishing an enduring and beneficial working partnership between Mercury and the Trust.

Objectives of the trust are:

1. Enhancement of wetland values in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments.
2. Enhancement of indigenous biodiversity in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments.
3. Enhancement of the sports fishery and game bird population in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments.
4. Mitigation of any adverse effects of the operation of the Waikato Hydro System on the ecological environments in the Lake Taupo and Waikato River catchments.