About Our Society

Lakes Water Quality Society (Incorporated), is a Registered Charity and a community organisation. Our members voluntarily give their time in pursuit of our vision:



Relationships & Reach
BoP Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes District Council, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, NIWA, Waikato University, Community, Lake Residents

Advocacy & Communication
Promoting lake restoration and protection, increasing community awareness and understanding, working and advisory groups.

Knowledge
Science, monitoring, data, information symposia, information sharing and capability building.

Policy & Planning
National Policy Statement - Freshwater, Regional Resource Management Plan, Plan Changes, Regional Pest Management Plan, Weed Management Plans.

Cultural Awareness
Collaboration with TALT, liaison with hapu, enhanced understanding, mahinga kai.

Much has been achieved towards this ambitious objective but there is still much to be done. Key areas are highlighted in “The Issues” on this page. Our activities include the undertaking of symposia to focus minds on specific topics which need highlighting and explaining in lay terms, identify gaps in research and promote pathways for the resolution of problems being explored. The 10 symposia we have had since 2001 have all been documented and make up much of the material found within this site. In addition, we have undertaken a number of workshops, presented submissions to all levels of Government and provided newsletters to our members; these are also included. We have mapped this site to allow the “search function” to produce topic material from across the site and we encourage its use.

LWQS has a long and proud history. The society was originally formed in 1961 as the Lakeweed Control Society and in 2000 shifted to its current name taking on the greater responsibility of advocacy for the restoration of the lakes across the Rotorua District. We work with the Te Arawa Lakes Trust and IWI to achieve our goal. In additional we foster research and education on lakes; work with local, regional and central government and community groups in our quest to restore the lakes to health. The Rotorua Lakes comprise a dozen major lakes and some smaller ones, in the central volcanic region of the North Island of New Zealand. They are set in a glorious landscape of native bush, conifer forests, farmland, and scattered clusters of homes. Each is different, but human activities have damaged them all. We seek to fix those that have deteriorated and prevent the best from further degradation.

We want present and future generations of locals, other New Zealanders and tourists to be able to enjoy them, as thousands already do every year. We welcome your interest, wherever in the world you may live. We also seek “your membership” as your support of our objectives is important in demonstrating community desire and commitment. The $20 per household yearly subscription ensures that you are involved.

Read about our foundation and the restoration of the Rotorua Lakes - Ian McLean.

Our People


Chair

John Gifford

(Rotorua)

Secretary

Lesley Fitness

(Rotorua)

Treasurer

Marcel van Leeuwen

(Okareka)

 

Paul Hammond

(Rotoehu)

 

Don Atkinson

(Rotoiti)

 

Colin Jackson

(Okareka)

 

Stuart Corson

(Rotorua & Rotoehu)

 

Stewart Edward

(Rotorua)

 

Mark Oliver

(Mourea)

 

Ken Kennedy

(Rotokawa)