October 12, 2022
Owairaka forest plan back on track
Submissions have closed on an amendment to the Tupuna Maunga Authority’s integrated management plan that would allow for the removal of exotic trees from Owairaka-Mount Albert.
The amendment was required after the High Court ruled the authority had to go through the process in the Reserves Act, rather than rely on its own settlement legislation.
Authority chair Paul Majurey says hearings will be held before any decision is made.
He says the court did not criticise the vision of restoring native vegetation and ecosystems, just the process that was followed.
“It’s taken a bit of time but what’s important is that over the generations to come each tupuna maunga has its mauri restored and the self-identity they give to our people, to the iwi hapu of nga iwi mana whenua o Tamaki Makaurua, the people of Te Waiohua, Ngati Whatua and Marutuahu can really enhance and restore that relationship over generations,” he says.
The amendment also covers work on Puketapapa-Mt Roskill, Ōtāhuhu-Mt Richmond and Te Tātua-a-Riukiuta/ Big King.