Auckland mayor Phil Goff is welcoming the Department of Conservation’s admission it was wrong to grant a concession for guided tours on Rangitoto and Motutapu without considering the interests of mana whenua.

Since the Supreme Court ordered DOC to reconsider the decision, it has improved its relationship with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, which is developing its own guiding business on the islands and has leased the farm on Motutapu.

Mr Goff says mana whenua are the ideal people to tell their history.

"I get people coming to Auckland from overseas, I always point out Rangitoto is only 700 years old, it arose from the harbour. When take people over there and you see still nothing growing on the lava flows. It's a magnificent piece of our history, our geography, the stories it tells, and likewise Motutapu. I hope the iwi are able to take up that role, I think they will do that really well and in a way that is unique to mana whenua, so good luck to them," he says.

Phil Goff

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