AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

22 June 2007

Mana to the mountains: the region's volcanic field makes list for world heritage status

Auckland City Council has welcomed a decision to include the region's volcanic field in a list of New Zealand sites to be considered for United Nation's world heritage status.

A tentative list of sites, which will be put forward for consideration by the United Nations World Heritage Committee, was released today.

World heritage status is granted to sites that are of "outstanding universal value to humanity" and often leads to sites gaining increased protection within their own countries.

Mayor Dick Hubbard says the city's volcanic field deserves international
recognition.

"Auckland's volcanic field is a unique geological and cultural site and I'm thrilled that it's made the cut to be considered for world heritage status.

"We've been pushing for this for a long time because we want to do everything possible to ensure that our volcanoes are recognised, protected and managed as significant heritage sites.

"It's a major milestone to make it onto the list of New Zealand sites to be considered for world heritage status and I hope that we'll ultimately be successful in achieving that goal," Mr Hubbard says.

Auckland City Council made a submission to the Department of Conservation in 2005 urging it to include the region's volcanic field on the list submitted to the United Nations.

Some of the areas the council highlighted in its submission include: * the volcanic field is geologically unique because of its large number of individual volcanoes

* all of the individual volcanoes are "miniature editions"

* the cones reveal the history and nature of Maori occupation prior to European settlement

* some of the volcanic sites contain a diverse range of indigenous plant species

* the volcanic features give Auckland its sense of identity and place.

The chairperson of the Environment, Heritage and Urban Form Committee, Councillor Christine Caughey, says the region's volcanic field would benefit from world heritage status.

"We already have a lot of protection in place for the region's volcanoes, but achieving world heritage status would add extra impetus and motivate organisations and individuals to work together to ensure the cones are cared for as they should be," Ms Caughey says.

Auckland City Council has established a volcanic landscape team and volcanic landscape programme to provide greater protection for the volcanic features that fall within its boundaries.

The programme includes the implementation of the Maungawhau-Mt Eden management plan, the development of conservation and management plans for Maungarei-Mt Wellington, and the development of a more consistent and effective planning and policy approach to the volcanic landscape as a whole.

The UN's World Heritage Committee will make a decision on the list of New Zealand sites at its meeting in Christchurch in July this year.

ENDS

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