Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017.

The purpose of this Act, consisting of 126 sections, divided into five Parts and completed by eight Schedules, is to: a) to record the acknowledgements and apology given by the Crown to Whanganui Iwi in Ruruku Whakatupua—Te Mana o Te Iwi o Whanganui; and b) to give effect to the provisions of the deed of settlement that establish Te Pā Auroa nā Te Awa Tupua; and (c) to give effect to the provisions of the deed of settlement that settle the historical claims of Whanganui Iwi as those claims relate to the Whanganui River. The Act establishes that Tupua te Kawa comprises the intrinsic values that represent the essence of Te Awa Tupua, namely: Ko Te Kawa Tuatahi (a) the River is the source of spiritual and physical sustenance: Te Awa Tupua is a spiritual and physical entity that supports and sustains both the life and natural resources within the Whanganui River and the health and well-being of the iwi, hapū, and other communities of the River. Ko Te Kawa Tuarua (b) the great River flows from the mountains to the
An Upper Waikato River integrated management plan shall be prepared to achieve an integrated approach between the trusts that prepare the plan to the management of aquatic life, habitats and natural resources within the Waikato River.
The Act further acknowledges and provides a process that may recognize certain customary activities of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi and provides co-management arrangements for the Waikato River.