Plan to clean up Rangitaiki River launched

A plan to clean-up the Bay of Plenty's principal river and its catchments has been launched by iwi and regional councils.

The Rangitaiki River document identifies how the river's water quality and irrigation can be improved, and how to protect the river's fish.

Data from Land Air Water Aotearoa showed that nitrogen levels in the river were in the worst 50 percent of sites in the country.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council general manager for technical services, Ken Tarboton, said the document represented the vision that different groups, including the Department of Conservation, had for the river.

"It's very important that you actually have the coming together of Crown entities, of council representatives, of iwi, there is involvement of other stakeholders across the catchment so it is actually bringing everyone together."