The Lake Taupo Protection Trust has bought its first farms in a bid to reduce nitrogen runoff going into the lake.
It's bought two drystock properties on the western side of the lake.
The two farms will be leased back to the existing owners while the trust introduces a longterm, low nitrogen use programme for the land.
Chair John Kneebone says the trust will be keen to purchase more properties, however with an upturn in farming, particularly dairying, land is much sort after in the Taupo region.
However, he says this does not threaten the work of the trust in protecting the lake quality from nitrogen leaching into the water.
