The WWP is now in its fifth year of implementation. As a ‘project’ the WWP exists only as long as it has supporting funders. Our major funding source was provide via a 5-year agreement between the WEL Energy Trust and the Waikato Regional Council, and we are now in the fifth year of that agreement. Following the completion of our review (above), while we are confident that the project has achieved its objectives so far, we need to plan for the next iteration of the WWP and potential changes. Without limiting the identification of alternatives, these could include:

• Wind-down. An orderly closure of the project as current funding expires- projected to be mid 2026

• Handover - Identification of partners who can take over elements of the project and lead/fund them in the future

• Merger/integration - joining the WWP into other regional initiatives with similar goals

• Continuation – same or similar as the current approach, e.g. for a second 5-year term (depending on funding)

• A hybrid combination of the above.

The WWP is open minded about which option(s) might work best, while wishing to stay true to the reason the project was created, our current objectives and kaupapa. Identifying, evaluation and agreeing on the next steps for the project will require careful consideration and working with local, regional and even national scale stakeholders.

The opportunity to chart the next steps for the WWP coincides with the end of the term for our current Kaitiaki Advisory Board. The Kaitiaki have been in place since August 2021, and their three-year term was extended last year to align with the review of the WWP which was completed in February this year. The WWP Kaitiaki Advisory Board’s term was formally concluded in April 2025 and the members of the Kaitiaki were thanked for their outstanding service at a small event in early May, attended also by WRC Chair Pamela Story and WEL Trust Chair Rachel Afeaki Taumoepeau. A special thanks to members Chris Williams, Dujon Cullingford, Rebekah Graham and Justin Connolly whose terms with the WWP have now been completed.