Te Mana o te Wai
What it means, and where the law stands in 2026.
What is Te Mana o te Wai?
Te Mana o te Wai means the mana of water: its fundamental importance. In te reo Māori, wai means water, and mana means prestige, authority and power.
In New Zealand’s freshwater rules, Te Mana o te Wai recognises that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health and well-being of the wider environment. It protects the mauri of the wai, the life force of the water, and it’s about restoring and preserving the balance between the water, the wider environment and the community. Source: Ministry for the Environment
Questions about your water supply?
Call Steve on 0800 278 296.
Where the law stands in 2026
Te Mana o te Wai is still part of New Zealand’s freshwater rules, but it was taken out of the drinking water laws in 2025.
Still in the freshwater rules
Regional councils must give effect to Te Mana o te Wai when they manage freshwater, under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. It was last amended in December 2025, with the changes in force from 15 January 2026.
Not used to decide resource consents
Since a 2024 change to the Resource Management Act, councils must not have regard to its hierarchy of obligations when they decide a resource consent (section 104(2F)).
Taken out of the drinking water laws
On 27 August 2025, Te Mana o te Wai was removed from the Water Services Act 2021 and from the Act that sets up the Water Services Authority (Taumata Arowai). Drinking water suppliers no longer have a duty to give effect to it.
The six principles of Te Mana o te Wai
The freshwater policy statement sets out six principles for how tangata whenua and all New Zealanders look after freshwater.
1
Mana whakahaere
The power, authority and obligations of tangata whenua to make decisions that maintain, protect and sustain the health of freshwater, and their relationship with it.
2
Kaitiakitanga
The obligations of tangata whenua to preserve, restore, enhance and sustainably use freshwater for the benefit of present and future generations.
3
Manaakitanga
The way tangata whenua show respect, generosity and care for freshwater and for others.
4
Governance
The responsibility of those who make decisions about freshwater to put its health and well-being first, now and into the future.
5
Stewardship
The obligation of all New Zealanders to manage freshwater so it sustains present and future generations.
6
Care and respect
The responsibility of all New Zealanders to care for freshwater in providing for the health of the nation.
Questions about your water supply and the rules?
Call Steve. We’ll tell you what applies to your supply and take care of the rest.
Wai: water in Māori
The Māori word for water is wai. In traditional Māori knowledge, water is classified in a number of ways. Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, lists these among them:
- Waimāori: pure water, rich in mauri, used for cleansing and ceremonies
- Waitapu: sacred water, used for ceremonies
- Waikino: dangerous water, such as rough seas or swollen rivers
- Waitai: sea water
- Waimanawa-whenua: water from under the land
- Waikarakia: water for ritual purposes
Names and meanings can differ between iwi.
Te whakapapa o te wai
Whakapapa means genealogy or descent. Many iwi see water as the source or foundation of all life. In the Māori creation story, dew is the tears of Ranginui, the sky father, mourning his separation from Papatūānuku, the earth mother. In one tradition, the mist rising from the mountains and valleys is her sighs. Source: Te Ara
One call, everything sorted
We’ve looked after water systems for Rodney businesses, schools and rural supplies since 2000. We can take care of:
On-site assessment of your supply
Choosing your compliance pathway
Filtration, UV and chlorination matched to your supply
Registering your supply on your behalf
Acting as your water operator
Drinking Water Safety Plans, records and paperwork
Ongoing servicing, testing and maintenance
The hierarchy of obligations
Te Mana o te Wai sets an order of priority for freshwater:
First: the health and well-being of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems.
Second: the health needs of people, such as drinking water.
Third: the ability of people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being, now and in the future.
Councils still apply this order in their regional freshwater plans, but they can’t use it to decide individual resource consents.
Local expertise. Local trust.
We’re a local Warkworth team with experience in water filtration, commercial UV treatment, water pumps, rainwater harvesting and bore water treatment. Four of our team have passed the NZQA small drinking water supplies course, and four have passed the NZQA course on writing Drinking Water Safety Plans.
Te Mana o te Wai FAQs
What does Te Mana o te Wai mean?
It means the mana, or fundamental importance, of water. In New Zealand’s freshwater rules it recognises that protecting the health of freshwater protects the health of the wider environment, and it protects the mauri (life force) of the wai (water).
What is the Māori word for water?
Wai. Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, lists several kinds of water in traditional Māori knowledge, including waimāori (pure water), waitai (sea water) and waikino (dangerous water). Names and meanings can differ between iwi.
What are the six principles of Te Mana o te Wai?
Mana whakahaere, kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, governance, stewardship, and care and respect. The first three are about the roles of tangata whenua. Governance is about the people who make decisions on freshwater, and stewardship and care and respect apply to all New Zealanders.
What is the hierarchy of obligations in Te Mana o te Wai?
It’s the order of priority for freshwater: first the health of water bodies and freshwater ecosystems, second the health needs of people, such as drinking water, and third people’s social, economic and cultural well-being.
Is Te Mana o te Wai still part of New Zealand law in 2026?
Yes, in the freshwater rules. The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management still requires councils to give effect to it, and it was last amended in December 2025. In September 2026 Parliament passed the Planning Act and the Natural Environment Act, which will replace the Resource Management Act over the next few years, and the Government has said it intends to rebalance Te Mana o te Wai. Check the Ministry for the Environment for the latest.
Do drinking water suppliers still have to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai?
No. That duty was removed from the Water Services Act 2021 on 27 August 2025. Drinking water suppliers still have to supply safe water, meet the Drinking Water Standards and register their supply. Existing supplies must register by November 2028.
Does Te Mana o te Wai apply to resource consents?
Not its hierarchy of obligations. Since a 2024 change to the Resource Management Act, councils must not have regard to the hierarchy when they decide a resource consent. Councils still give effect to Te Mana o te Wai in their regional freshwater plans.
What does te whakapapa o te wai mean?
Whakapapa means genealogy or descent, so te whakapapa o te wai refers to the origins of water and its connections. In the Māori creation story, dew is the tears of Ranginui, the sky father, and in one tradition the mist rising from the land is the sighs of Papatūānuku, the earth mother.
Can Aqua Works help us look after our water supply?
Yes. We test your water, design the right treatment, install it and service it every 12 months. For businesses that supply others, we can also register your supply, act as your water operator and write your Water Safety Plan. Call Steve on 0800 278 296.
Make sure your water is safe to drink
Book a free onsite visit. We’ll check your water, recommend the right treatment and look after it for you.