Iwi has right to charge commercial operators for use of Lake Taupō, High Court rules

The High Court has finally settled years of contention over whether a Taupō iwi has the right to charge commercial operators to use Lake Taupō.

It's ruled Ngāti Tūwharetoa can require licences and charge fees from businesses using the lake.

Ian Cammell has been running a water taxi business, Taxicat Adventures, on Lake Taupō for six months. He isn't currently paying the iwi to operate there but is on board with news he may soon have to.

"We work on a beautiful part of the country that we are happy to pay towards," he told Newshub.

However, he's waiting to find out what that cost will be.

"I have no idea what the cost will be, it's a hurdle we'll face once we know," he said. "At the end of the day, it will be passed on to customers."

Ngati Tūwharetoa has owned Lake Taupō since 1992. It was charging some businesses to operate on the lake but others refused - so it sought clarification from the Wellington High Court.

The court has ruled against a group called the Taupō Waters Collective and declared the iwi can charge users.

"We are very happy the court has confirmed that, so the position now is very clear," said Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board chief executive Shane Heremaia.

The Taupō Waters Collective, which represents a group of businesses, refused to comment - but Mayor David Trewavas welcomed the decision.

"It's been two or three years in the making, so [it's] good to receive it and all parties can move on," he said.

Fees are expected to be a percentage of revenue. The licence fees only apply to commercial operators and not the public.

"Those sorts of charges might be around 5 or 7 percent," Heremaia said. 

Two Mile Bay Sailing Club already pays the iwi a fee - and said it's a normal commercial agreement.

"We think it's more than fair, more than reasonable and we're happy with all the terms that are in there," the club's owner said.