Ngati Whatua o Orakei Progresses World Heritage

News Release
For immediate release
June 21, 2007

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Ready To Progress With Process For Volcanic Cone World Heritage Status

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board is now more comfortable with progressing toward World Heritage status for Auckland's volcanic cones following consultation that has taken place over the past two weeks.

A recent intended announcement regarding the inclusion of the Auckland volcanic cones on a tentative list of nominated sites for possible World Heritage status had surprised Ngati Whatua o Orakei as consultation had not taken place with the Auckland Central hapu prior to the intended meeting.

Of significance to Ngati Whatua o Orakei are the three cones Maungawhau/Mt Eden, Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill and Puketapapa/Mt Roskill. The titles of these three cones will be transferred to Ngati Whatua o Orakei as part of cultural redress of grievances detailed in an Agreement in Principle with the Crown. Ngati Whatua's initial concern was how World Heritage status would impact their Treaty claim.

Following Ngati Whatua o Orakei's misapprehensions being expressed, meetings have been held between the Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board and the Department of Conversation's Auckland Conservator and also between representatives of Ngati Whatua's Trust Board and those of Paramount Chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, Tumu Te Heu Heu, who is New Zealand's World Heritage representative.

Ngati Whatua o Orakei Maori Trust Board Chairman Grant Hawke says the Board has a better appreciation of what the process is and they are ready to support a move to the next stage for World Heritage status.

"We now have a clearer understanding than we did two weeks ago so it has been a positive delay that has allowed both Ngati Whatua and the Crown to get on to the same page."

Once a site is on a nation's tentative list it is then eligible to develop into a full nomination. A site on the tentative list will not proceed to nomination stage without extensive consultation.

ENDS

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