Iwi, environment and recreational organisations have joined forces to protect Hawke's Bay's Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers with a Water Conservation Order - giving it National Park-type protection.
The group - Fish & Game, Ngati Hori ki Kohupatiki, Forest & Bird, Whitewater New Zealand and Jet Boating New Zealand - have today filed a joint application to the Minister for the Environment to have the Water Conservation Order declared.
If successful, it will be only the 16th of New Zealand's many hundreds of waterways to be protected by the order.
"The Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers are special because of their many truly outstanding values," says Bryce Johnson, F&G cheif executive.
"We are confident the Minister will look positively on this joint application and that the successful Water Conservation Order will protect the Ngaruroro and Clive Rivers for the enjoyment of all New Zealanders and the generations to come."
