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Ngati Tuwharetoa will introduce licensing fees for commercial operators on Lake Taupo by the summer but they are not saying what the cost will be yet.
On Monday the Government and central North Island iwi announced updated provisions to the 1992 settlement including the right to license commercial operators, a $9.85 million lump sum payment to iwi which compensates it for increases it would have been entitled to in perpetuity under previous arrangements, plus a yearly $1.5 million annuity.
Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board secretary Rakeipoho Taiaroa said the fee was "commercially sensitive," as the board was still looking at licensing models. He said the board needed time to look at its planning strategy, however it was important that discussions would now open with operators.
Mr Taiaroa said the licensing right was one gained under the 1992 settlement but the tribe went back to the Government for clarification about it.
He was confident the board's environmental unit could police the licensing system as it had put time and resources into a database of operators.
Tourism operators are taking a "wait and see" approach to the updated settlement. Most spoken to at the marina at Boat Harbour on a sunny day with not many tourists about were happy to wait for details to emerge about the cost and structure. They were more concerned with cleaning their launches and making sure things were in their place.
Currently operators pay an annual $530 berthing fee, a $51 ramp fee plus a fishing licence from the Department of Conservation if they're taking anglers out.
Bill Barbary used to run a 1950s era ocean going yacht once owned by the actor Errol Flynn.
He doesn't own the yacht anymore, which sits elegantly beside faster craft, but still helps out on charters.
As the 65-year-old skipper made sure the sails were furled neatly he said he wasn't worried about the fee.
"I don't find it wrong to pay a koha but maybe that's because I've grown up here. I admire them [Tuwharetoa] for their wherewithal."
Another in the industry, Chris Jolly, said he had many dealings with Tuwharetoa and had not had a problem.
But there were some who were worried, he said. "The issue for most is what if they decide to charge moonbeams."
