A new chapter in the protection and stewardship of Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa, the Waitākere Ranges, will begin next month with the first public meeting of the newly established Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Forum.
The inaugural meeting will be held at the Arataki Visitor Centre on June 8, bringing together representatives of Te Kawerau ā Maki, Auckland Council, the Waitākere Ranges Local Board, and the Crown in a collaborative effort to safeguard one of Aotearoa’s most significant natural and cultural landscapes.
The Forum was established following the signing of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Deed of Acknowledgement in October 2025 and has been created under the Local Government Act 2002.
Its role is to support the implementation of the Deed of Acknowledgement and promote the objectives of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008.
While the Forum will not have statutory decision-making powers, it will provide a platform for long-term planning, coordination, advice, and recommendations on issues affecting the Heritage Area. Ownership and formal decision-making authority over public land will remain with Auckland Council and the Crown.
Forum membership includes representatives from Te Kawerau ā Maki, elected Auckland Council members, Waitākere Ranges Local Board representatives, and the Department of Conservation.
Te Kawerau ā Maki representatives say the Forum creates an opportunity to strengthen relationships between tangata whenua and the wider community while advancing the protection and restoration of a landscape that holds immense cultural, ecological, and historical significance.
For Te Kawerau ā Maki, Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa is not only a treasured environmental taonga but also a place deeply connected to whakapapa, identity, and centuries of kaitiakitanga.
The Forum is also expected to support discussions around the future re-establishment of Te Kawerau ā Maki’s marae at Te Henga, alongside broader efforts to enhance the natural and cultural values of the Heritage Area.
Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust says the Forum reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the long-term wellbeing of the Waitākere Ranges while recognising its importance to both tangata whenua and the wider public.
The organisation says the new structure will help coordinate efforts across agencies and communities while providing a stronger framework for advocating for the national significance of the area.
Local leaders have welcomed the Forum as filling a long-standing gap in governance and collaboration.
Waitākere Ranges Local Board representatives say there has long been a need for a dedicated space where organisations and stakeholders can work together on issues affecting the Heritage Area and ensure community voices are part of the conversation.
The Department of Conservation has also welcomed the initiative, noting that environmental challenges such as kauri dieback, invasive pests, biodiversity decline, and climate change require coordinated action across organisational boundaries.
The Forum has already begun preliminary discussions on a long-term strategic framework for the Waitākere Ranges and is expected to consider a range of future priorities.
These include track reopening programmes, environmental restoration, biodiversity protection, climate adaptation and resilience planning, sustainable tourism, visitor management, transport access, local economic development, educational opportunities, and the protection of cultural heritage values.
The first meeting will focus on establishment matters, including the appointment of a Chair and Deputy Chair, public participation processes, strategic planning priorities, and updates on current issues affecting the Heritage Area.
Importantly, Forum meetings will be open to the public, reflecting a commitment to transparency and community engagement.
With Arataki Visitor Centre chosen as the venue for the inaugural gathering, organisers say the Forum intends to remain closely connected to both the ngahere and the communities that call the Waitākere Ranges home.
For many, the establishment of the Forum marks a significant step toward strengthening partnerships between tangata whenua, local government, conservation agencies, and the wider public in caring for one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most iconic landscapes for generations to come.
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