This week will see an historic occasion with the passing of the Maunga Bill [ Ngā
Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill ]. It also comes
in the year of the World Parks Congress which is examining the state of
the world’s protected areas or parks.
This
legislation establishes the Maunga Authority to govern selected
volcanic cones and landscape of Auckland. It also partly addresses long
held grievances of the Iwi of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. The
Friends of Maungawhau have supported the legislation which has the
added advantage for improved governance and management of these parks of
world heritage status. The volcanic cones have been neglected and run
down for many decades and it is hoped this is a start of a new way of
caring for our heritage parks such as Maungawhau. As Paul Majurey, [the
chair of the Tamaki Collective and an Iwi representative on the new
Authority] said at the select committee hearings – “it will not be
business as usual”
It
is good to celebrate the new governance, however a “watchful eye” is
needed for there will be many challenges. These include dealing with the
pressure of use; delayed maintenance, pests and weeds and different
management philosophies - all of which will rest on rate payers. In some
ways the Crown has passed the financial buck onto Aucklanders.
The
success of the new Maunga Authority will rest on the funding it gets
without robbing other parks like the successful regional parks of
Auckland. The Friends of Maungawhau will be advocating for consultation
and adequate funding for all these conservation parks in the 10 year
financial plan of Auckland.
Friends of Maungawhau 10 main advocacy positions.
[ S = potential savings in operational costs/ income generation]
1 Remove
motorised vehicles from the summits of maunga and provide appropriate
access for disabled and elderly visitors and park operations. S
2 Require all commercial tourism and other for-private profit operators to pay a concession fee. S
3 Develop
a co-management model founded on professional park rangers supported by
contractors and an engaged community of volunteers.
4 Encourage volunteer groups on all the maunga S
5
Survey boundaries and develop programmes on all maunga to help stop
visual intrusion from development and “bio-trespass” [from weeds and
pests]
E.g.
Recently I enquired about a private development on Clive Rd that was
suspected of encroaching on Maungawhau – a public reserve under control
of the Council. The planning officer could not confirm that a boundary
survey was a resource consent requirement and told me “to survey the
boundary ourselves if we were that concerned”. Old attitudes and lack of
importance towards conservation reserves still dominates the Council so
we welcome the new approach and new governance of the maunga.
6 Develop an integrated management approach of all park land adjoining the maunga and all assets of the maunga. E.g. At present they are divided between the Maunga Authority, Local Board and Auckland Council etc. S
7
Make operational plans more accessible and establish a mechanism like
the former Maungawhau Stakeholders Group to enable designated volunteer
organisations to be informed and consulted by the Maunga Authority on
policies and plans.
8 Require Watercare to take greater responsibility for the vegetation management on all maunga. S E.g. See the situation of the restored reservoir on Maungawhau
9
Ensure the funding of the maunga and Maunga Authority do not take funds
away from the Regional Parks and other conservation and informal parks.
E.g. See AGM report from Friends of Maungawhau and Mike Lee’s presentation at the Friends of Regional Parks AGM.
