Have your say

Thank you to those who had your say, the feedback period has now closed. The submissions are available to view below.

Your feedback has helped us to develop the draft Karāpiro Lake Domain Reserve Management Plan and draft Karāpiro Lake Domain Masterplan, that will be going out for consultation in November 2025.

On Wednesday, August 6 the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee endorsed the draft reserve management plan and masterplan going to consultation. View the the report and discussion here.

Review feedback

Received November 7 - December 8, 2024.

Received after December 8, 2024 and not included in Karāpiro Lake Domain RMP review feedback summary above.

Reserve Management Plan review

Reserve Management Plans are required under the Reserves Act 1977 to guide the use, management, and protection of reserve land. They provide a long-term vision and direction on actions that will be taken in the next 10 years, including decisions on sport and recreation, accommodation, events, activities and infrastructure.

The plan acts as a reference point and includes the reserve classification and legal status, the area it covers, and an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The Reserve Management Plan review will aim to:

  • Recognise the area’s significance to mana whenua
  • Improve the reserve’s environmental outcomes
  • Understand mana whenua, stakeholders, neighbours and the wider community’s aspirations for the reserve
  • Respond to increased visitor numbers, and changing recreation and environmental needs and conditions
  • Explore the role of the domain in relation to other reserves around the edge of Lake Karāpiro and the wider open space and accommodation network, and
  • Align with new or reviewed legislation, national policy statements, strategies and bylaws.

Council has commissioned open spaces specialist consultant Xyst to lead the review process.

Xyst will work closely with mana whenua, Waikato Regional Council, and other partner organisations and key stakeholders including lessees and adjoining landowners to review the Reserve Management Plan.

Karāpiro Lake Domain Reserve Management Plan 2011 open in new window

Masterplan

Council will also be developing a separate Masterplan, which is a high-level visual layout of the site. It will provide more detailed guidance on reserve developments in a document that can be easily amended in the future (as it isn't under the Reserves Act).

Background

Karāpiro Lake Domain is located between Maungatautari Road and the western shore of Lake Karāpiro, approximately 10 kilometres from Cambridge. It is a significant recreation and event hub managed by council under the Reserves Act 1977.

This area holds ancestral, spiritual, historic, cultural and economic importance for mana whenua.

The reserve has had significant changes in the levels of usage and events, environmental conditions of the lake, the legislative context and a greater appreciation of mana whenua values.

It serves as a premier venue for water sports such as rowing, canoeing, yachting, power boating, water skiing, waka ama and dragon boating, as well as land-based events like cycling championships and music festivals. It can accommodate up to 15,000 people outdoors and offers a wide array of facilities, including the Sir Don Rowlands Centre, the Podium Café, the Rob Waddell Lodge, campsites, high-performance centres and clubrooms and storage facilities.

In the 2024/2025 period, there are currently 37 events scheduled, many being multi-day events.

This dynamic space also functions as a recreational area for local residents and is a key stop on the Te Awa River Ride.

In December 2023, the management contract was awarded to GL Events Ltd for another five years. GL Events Ltd, owned by Waipā Deputy Mayor Liz Stolwyk and her husband Andrew Reymer, has managed the reserve since 2004. The contract was renewed following an open market best practice procurement process.

Liz Stolwyk will declare a conflict of interest when it comes to the hearings, deliberations and decisions made by Council.

Accommodation

In 2020, two reports prepared by Horwarth HTL highlighted the need for additional accommodation at Karāpiro Lake Domain to support the significant number and diversity of events and adequately meet the needs of current and potential users.

This would supplement the accommodation that is currently provided in the Rob Waddell Lodge (see below).

The draft Masterplan incorporates the recommendations from the Market Demand and Feasibility Study for Potential New Commercial Accommodation at Karāpiro Lake Domain, Horwarth HTL, June 2025.

These were to retain and refurbish the Rob Waddell Lodge and chalets, and expand, diversify, and upgrade the domain’s accommodation offering by developing modular 3-3.5 star motel-style accommodation with en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes.

The draft Masterplan proposes to locate these new units around the existing chalets to group like activities and address concerns related to additional buildings impacting on the domain’s landscape amenity and functionality during events. The resource consent for the existing chalets enabled twelve to be built, however, only five have been built to date.

Current accommodation

Rob Waddell Lodge (large kitchen and dining area, sleeps 41 people in 13 rooms with each room having a bunk bed and single bed), five chalets (four bunk beds and ensuite and two fully equipped kitchens) and 60 powered and 80 non-powered campsites (with amenity block).