The Department of Conservation and Whanganui river iwi are to work more closely together to care for Whanganui National Park.
A new management plan now includes iwi in a shared partnership with DoC in the day-to-day running of the park, and acknowledges the cultural relationship iwi have with it.
The plan embraces that connection and highlights the park's historic and ecological significance.
Whanganui river Maori trust board chair Te Tiwha Puketapu, Kay Booth from the Conservation Authority and Taranaki-Whanganui conservation board chair Darryn Ratana were presented with copies of the scheme on Friday.
The Government says the plan sets out a course for DoC and Whanganui iwi to work in the spirit of partnership and take an increasingly shared approach to caring for the park.
Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson says the core theme of the plan is to get the most out of iwi, local authorities and land owners working together.
She says it's fantastic to see the increasing involvement of tangata whenua in the management of the park.
