Minister for the Environment David Benson-Pope officially launched a multimillion-dollar project to protect Lake Taupo at a signing ceremony on Friday.

Delegates from local, regional and central government, as well representatives from Ngati Tuwharetoa, signed the contract, officially passing the $81.5 million fund over to the Lake Taupo Protection Trust - the group responsible for administering the fund.

At the launch, Mr Benson-Pope spoke of the "special privilege" it was to sign the agreement. "Let's not be coy about your achievement: This is the largest environmental project in New Zealand," he said. Environment Waikato chair-woman Jenni Vernon said the trust would use the funds to encourage and assist land-use change.

It would also be used to purchase land-nitrogen in the lake Taupo catchment, as well as other initiatives to assist landowners to reduce the nitrogen impact of their activities on the lake.

By NED WOTHERSPOON - Taupo Times | Tuesday, 13 February 2007