December 05, 2013
Park proposed for Aotea
The Department of Conservation wants public feedback on whether it should declare a conservation park on Aotea/Great Barrier Island.
The proposed Aotea Conservation Park would cover more than 12,000 ha on the central and northern parts of the island, and includes the already protected Hirakimata-Kaitoke Swamp Ecological Area and Wairahi Forest Sanctuary.
Meg Poutasi, the Auckland Director of Conservation Partnerships, says a large part of the land DOC administers on the island carries the relatively low protection “stewardship area” status.
She says creating a park would strengthens protection for this land and its environment, and increases potential tourism benefits.
The proposal does not impact private land or Maori-owned land, nor does it preclude the use of land for future Treaty settlements.
Submissions are open until the end of February.
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