Controversial Rotorua Sewage Pipeline Returns to High Court

The construction of a contentious sewerage pipeline near Lake Rotokākahi is headed back to the High Court. The Rotokākahi Board of Control (RBOC) is challenging the Rotorua Lakes Council over the Tarawera Sewage Scheme, which aims to connect approximately 440 properties around Lake Tarawera to the public wastewater system. A significant section of the pipeline, measuring 1.4 km, will run along Tarawera Road adjacent to Lake Rotokākahi, an area regarded as wāhi tapu by local mana whenua, with ancestral burial sites dating back to the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.

The project has faced numerous interruptions, including protests, an occupation of the construction area, and seven arrests for trespass in February 2025. In an interview with RNZ, Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Andrew Moraes emphasized the environmental benefits of the scheme. He stated that it would eliminate the need for septic tanks, which have been known to leak into the lake. “We have almost 20 km of pipe throughout the district of similar type and construction that is installed a similar distance from our other lakes, and we’ve had no incidences of those pipes leaking in the history of this district,” he explained.

In stark contrast, RBOC spokesperson Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith criticized the council for failing to engage in genuine consultation with mana whenua. He remarked that the council’s actions had forced the issue into legal proceedings. “We welcome our day in court—because we’ve had enough. The council has ignored consultation, disrespected the process, and resorted to last-minute legal stunts whenever we pushed back,” Skipwith said. He noted that the upcoming court appearance on December 1, 2025, would provide an opportunity for mana whenua to confront the council on neutral ground.

The RBOC has expressed a firm commitment to protecting Lake Rotokākahi, asserting that the council must respect legal obligations regarding consultation and decision-making involving mana whenua. A previous attempt to halt the installation of the pipeline was unsuccessful in the Environment Court.

As the matter is now before the High Court in Rotorua, the Rotorua Lakes Council has refrained from commenting on the situation, stating that it would not be appropriate to discuss ongoing legal proceedings. The hearing is anticipated to be a pivotal moment for both the RBOC and the Rotorua Lakes Council, with significant implications for the community and the environment surrounding Lake Rotokākahi and Lake Tarawera.