25 June 2015

Maunga Authority prepares a new integrated plan for Auckland’s ancestral mountains

The Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority is developing a management plan that will set the foundations for how Auckland’s Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains), or volcanic cones are valued, restored, protected and managed in the future.

The Tūpuna Maunga Integrated Management Plan will replace the former separate legacy management plans for the 14 Tūpuna Maunga now administered by the Maunga Authority following the historic Tāmaki Collective Treaty settlement last year. It will outline the Maunga Authority’s long-term vision for the Tūpuna Maunga and will balance a consistent management and enhancement approach with the needs of individual sites.

In the plan, the theme of tikanga (nurturing a living connection with the Tūpuna Maunga) will explore the significance of the Tūpuna Maunga to Mana Whenua, the role of Mana Whenua as Kaitiaki and the importance of the Tūpuna Maunga to local communities.
He taonga (the celebration of the Tūpuna Maunga as treasures to be protected) will be a theme that looks at conservation, identifying and protecting cultural heritage, natural and geological settings, biodiversity settings and ecosystems, protecting view shafts, and acknowledging the Tūpuna Maunga as Auckland’s point of difference in the world.

The themes of manuhiri and manaakitanga (visitor experience) will consider pedestrian, cycling and vehicle access, passive and active recreation, tourism, track and roading networks, signage and more.

Chair of the Maunga Authority, Paul Majurey, says the Tūpuna Maunga of Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland represent some of the most significant cultural, historical and geological landscapes in the region and it is appropriate that a unified and cohesive approach is taken to their care.

“The Tūpuna Maunga are sacred to Mana Whenua as taonga tuku iho (treasures handed down the generations). The future of each of these significant places needs to be planned with equal consideration and reverence.

We will be working closely with Mana Whenua throughout this process to ensure their world views and priorities are woven through the management plan. Complimenting this will be consideration of the strong living connections that local communities have with these special places.

All Aucklanders draw a sense of identity from the Tūpuna Maunga so we want to ensure the Integrated Management Plan captures that.”

Public notices appear in newspapers this week and people have until 31 July to submit their thoughts on what they would like to see included in the management plan.

“Even if people simply want to share what the Tūpuna Maunga mean to them, we’d love to hear from them. Everyone’s suggestions will be gratefully received and respected as we prepare the draft plan,” says Majurey.

Suggestions can be emailed to tupunamaungaimp@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz by 5pm on Friday 31 July 2015.
The first draft of the Tūpuna Maunga Integrated Management Plan will be prepared by December 2015 and formal public consultation will occur February – April 2016.

ENDS

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