26 August 2026

Mana Whakahono ā Rohe Agreements: What You Need to Know?

The Government has recently announced that Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements between iwi or hapū and local councils will not carry over into the new resource management system.  If your iwi or hapū has an existing agreement, or one under negotiation, here is what you need to know about it.

What are Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements?

Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements were introduced in 2017, under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).  They are formal, binding statutory arrangements that record how a council and an iwi authority (or hapū) will work together on resource management matters, including plan-making processes, information sharing, and how relevant Treaty of Waitangi settlement obligations will be given effect.

What has changed?

The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, which will replace the RMA, have been reported back from select committee.  On 20 July 2026, Resource Management Reform Minister, Chris Bishop, and Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, announced further amendments to the bills so that existing and initiated Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements will not transfer into the new system at all.  This goes further than the bills originally proposed, which would have let existing agreements continue.

What replaces Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements?

Councils will be able to negotiate new “iwi participation agreements” with iwi and hapū.  These are intended to be narrower in scope than Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, limited to statutory planning processes and giving effect to Treaty settlement redress.  Detail on how these will work in practice is still limited.

What this means if you have an existing or initiated agreement?

For iwi and hapū with an existing or initiated Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement, it should not be assumed that the agreement will automatically continue once the new planning system takes effect. Get in touch with your Council to discuss how the changes may affect your agreement.  It is also a good time to consider how you will approach negotiating a new iwi participation agreement with council under the amended framework.

For councils, this is an opportune time to review current Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, engage with iwi and hapū and begin planning for the transition, including how existing relationships and commitments could be maintained in practice.

The Government intends to pass the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill before Parliament rises on 1 October 2026 ahead of the general election.

Key Takeaways

• Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements are being phased out in the new planning system.
• Existing and initiated agreements will not transfer to the replacement regime.
• Replacement iwi participation agreements are expected to be more limited than the current framework.
• Early engagement and transition planning will be important for both councils and iwi/hapū.
• Further clarity is still needed on how the new arrangements will work in practice.

If your iwi or hapū has an existing or initiated Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreement and you would like to discuss your options, please contact our team