Widespread public concern in the last few decades over the state of freshwater ecosystems has driven a strong commitment to their rehabilitation in many countries. In New Zealand, this commitment is being expressed at levels from individual communities through to the government. Lake ecosystems are at the forefront of public discussions and policy development. Māori are integrally involved as the indigenous people of New Zealand who have rights and interests in water as well as environmental stewardship roles. New Zealand has acquired a substantial knowledge base on restoration actions, many of which integrate across environmental, social, cultural and policy domains, and which in some cases allow for a comprehensive evaluation of their effectiveness. Principal pathways to lake restoration identified in the chapters of this volume are through: 1. Reduction in contaminant loads and concentrations, particularly sediments and nutrients, where these have caused a decline in lake health

Reduction of internal nutrient loads in lakes

Alteration of lake stratification patterns where these exacerbate degradation

Control of invasive plant and animal pest species

Remediation of migration barriers to enhance connectivity for native species

Biodiversity enhancement

Lake monitoring and modelling to prioritise actions

Improved community participation processes

Here we review the depth and breadth of restoration actions broadly delineated into five sections: (A) management and modelling; (B) water quality restoration; (C) biodiversity restoration; (D) monitoring and indicators; and (E) social and cultural contexts. Our reflections here include both general concepts and future directions in lake restoration, with a call for a unified national approach to this issue.