Working group member and Otago Regional councillor Kevin Malcolm said in a statement the current arrangement was difficult and it was time to take it out of the "too hard basket" and apply a more common-sense approach.
Responsibility is currently split between the Otago Regional Council and the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), with water consents governed according to the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Act 2004.
"This has created a complex regulatory environment that is often difficult and expensive to navigate."
"It is important for us to work in collaboration with the runaka of Arowhenua, Waihao and Moeraki, whose whakapapa runs deep in the Waitaki. The Waitaki is a very special place to us all. We have a responsibility to look after it to the best of our ability for now and for the benefit of future generations."
Environment Canterbury chairman Peter Scott said this was only the first step on a long road for this important piece of mahi.
"At this stage we are simply asking the question ‘Should this happen and if so, how?’"
The first task for the working group was to identify and make contact with the groups that are most affected and/or can inform the plan.
"We understand and appreciate that the Waitaki is the source of nationally critical renewable power generation, that it is critical for food production and an important fishery, and we need to treasure the whenua’s unique landscapes and biodiversity.
"It is these people and key organisations we want to sit down and talk with over the coming month, and for these reasons that we want to step up our role as kaitiaki," Cr Scott said.
The working group would consist of nine members, including Otago Regional Council staff, planning staff from Environment Canterbury and entity planners who would liaise with the runaka. Crs Malcolm and Scott would work with the chief executives of the two councils to work through processes with an aim of reporting back to councils by the end March next year.
The boundary of the two councils is a line down the middle of the river.
It may lead to a Waitaki River catchment authority.
The river is 209km long and is the second biggest flowing river in New Zealand. The Waitaki Hydro scheme has eight power stations.
