Iwi says Lake Taupo¯ levy will be fair
The iwi looking to charge all tourism businesses using Lake Taupo¯ says the cost to operate will vary, depending on the business.
Tu¯wharetoa Ma¯ori Trust Board owns Lake Taupo¯ and nearby rivers. The board currently charges 40 businesses as part of a licence to operate on the lake. However, about 50 businesses have not agreed to pay for a licence.
The trust board is seeking clarification from the High Court over its property rights, and the corresponding right to charge for use of the lake.
Rameka, the trust board’s chief executive, said the licences were ‘‘effectively commercial leases’’.
‘‘For example, for a lake-based activity that is fixed to our property, we would generally take a valuation approach – which is no different to a commercial office building lease.’’
Businesses such as Taupo¯ bungy, that has permanent fixtures attached to the river bed, would be charged with a percentage-of-gross-revenue approach, he said. Those without fixtures, such as sightseeing boats and fishing charters, would be charged with a different methodology, Rameka said.
‘‘The methodology we’ve landed on – based on the feedback of the operators to date – will be a fixed amount based on the size of the vessel,’’ he said.
‘‘Depending on how significant your passenger carrying capacity is, there is a [certain] dollara-head amount.
‘‘So, it’ll be different for boats that carry 100 passengers verses 20 passengers – there’s a scale to it.’’
The terms of each agreement were confidential to the parties involved, he said. Businesses without boats, such as fly fishing guides, had not yet been approached.
‘‘That’s a discussion we’ll have in due course.
‘‘We’ll work with them and have a discussion about what is fair and reasonable in those circumstances.’’
Skydiving companies that fly high above the lake would not need licences, Rameka said.
‘‘All we’re talking about is the reasonable use of our airspace,’’ Rameka said. ‘‘We do not believe licences or fees for commercial use will have a major impact on the economic benefits to the community.
‘‘However, we acknowledge that with any new regime, there may be new overhead costs and we have considered this issue carefully and responsibly.’’
Recreational users and public services, such as the coastguard, would not be charged, he said.
Licensing businesses on Lake Taupo¯ is a responsibility of ownership, Rameka says.
Tu¯wharetoa’s ownership of the lake bed - granted by the Crown in 1992 and reaffirmed in 2007 - includes ownership of the ‘‘water column’’ [the space in which the water sits] and the airspace above the water.
Rameka said boats and other objects floating on the lake displace the lake water and therefore enter the water column – the space owned by Tu¯wharetoa.
‘‘It’s no different if I had a crane, and I stuck it out over your property.
‘‘You could complain that it’s a nuisance because the crane was extending into your [land-based] property,’’ Rameka said.
‘‘Much the same if a tree growing in your neighbour’s property had a branch that was extending into your property.
‘‘You’d have the right to have a say over that branch.’’
Charging for use of the lake was just one part of the lake-use licences, Rameka said.
‘‘It also includes things such as terms, public liabilities, insurance, and use conditions.’’
Insurances were a big part of the agreement, he said.
‘‘We need to make sure these businesses have in place the appropriate insurances that indemnify ourselves and the public, if an event should happen,’’ he said.
Environmental considerations are also part of agreements, he said.
‘‘There’s also confirming that public access to Lake Taupo¯ is guaranteed, and commercial operators will not impinge on that. We would view these things as positive things to have in place for the management of an asset.’’
Licences would help ensure commercial use did not compromise ‘‘environmental, social and cultural considerations’’, he said.