Long-term protection a step closer for ‘iconic’ Waitakere Ranges

20 September 2007

An historic bill to protect the Waitakere Ranges for generations to come passed its second reading in Parliament last night.

The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill, jointly sponsored by Auckland Regional Council, Waitakere City Council and Rodney District Council passed its first reading in parliament in February 2006.

The bill establishes the ‘Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area’ which will include the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, the residential areas around Titirangi, the foothills of the Ranges, coastal villages such as Piha, Karekare and parts of south-west Rodney District. Of this, the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, owned and administered by Auckland Regional Council, forms the greatest part. The native rainforests and wild coastline of this 17,000 hectare regional park are unique to New Zealand and of huge international significance.

Regional Strategy and Planning Committee Chair, Cr Paul Walbran, has worked with fellow Auckland Regional Councillors Christine Rose and Sandra Coney, as well as councillors at Waitakere City Council and Rodney District Council, to help create legislation that provides a consistent framework for managing the area’s long-term character.

“This bill is the culmination of years of hard work by many to protect for perpetuity something that we have long known is very special,” said Cr Walbran.

People’s existing property and land ownership rights will be retained under the bill, but the special character of the communities in the heritage area will be protected in future policies and through future development.

The bill will be further debated at the House in Committee stage where individual clauses are debated and any amendments agreed to or voted down.

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