New governance structure for treasured tūpuna maunga

Over 100 guests attended the historic first meeting of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority (Maunga Authority) which will govern 14 tūpuna maunga vested in the Tāmaki Collective as part of Treaty redress for historical grievances.

The authority came into being after the passing of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act following a five year Treaty redress negotiation.

Today’s first meeting, at the Auckland Town Hall, followed a welcoming ceremony which greeted the 12 members of the new authority – six from the Tāmaki Collective and six from Auckland Council, including three local board members. A non-voting member from the crown will be appointed following the general election.

Members are:
Auckland Council: councillors Bill Cashmore, Chris Darby and Christine Fletcher QSO; local board members Glenda Fryer (Albert-Eden), Kit Parkinson (Orakei), Simon Randall (Maungakiekie- Tāmaki).

Mana whenua: Dennis Kirkwood and Te Warena Taua (Waiohua Tāmaki Ropu); Grant Hawke and Ngarimu Blair (Ngāti Whātua Ropu); Tipa Compain and Paul Majurey (Marutuahu Ropu).

Introduced as chair and deputy chair were Paul Majurey and councillor Fletcher respectively.

Attending today’s meeting were Auckland Mayor Len Brown, representatives of Tāmaki Collective and central government, councillors and local board members.

Congratulating members on their appointments, the Mayor said: “Today is a historic day and an important milestone in the growth of Auckland. Our maunga are an immeasurably important part of our city, culturally and geographically, and I commend those who had the moemoeā – the vision – that has brought us to this point.”

Tūpuna maunga under co-governance are:

Matukutūruru / Wiri Mountain
Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill
Maungarei / Mount Wellington
Maungawhau / Mount Eden
Mount Albert
*Māngere Mountain (while this maunga will remain in Crown ownership, it will be governed by the Maunga Authority)
Mount Roskill
Mount St John
Ōhinerau / Mount Hobson
Ōhuiarangi / Pigeon Mountain
Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond
Takarunga / Mount Victoria
Te Tātua a Riukiuta / Three Kings
Owned by the collective but not co-governed:
Rarotonga/Mt. Smart (will continue to be administered by Regional Facilities Auckland)

Maungauika/North Head (will continue to be administered by the Department of Conservation until the council agrees to its co-governance by the Maunga Authority and the council, under the direction of the authority).

Under the new governance arrangement, public access is maintained, each maunga will remain a reserve and routine management of the maunga will be carried out by Auckland Council under the direction of the Authority.

The Authority will meet monthly to oversee the management and protection of the volcanic cones.

Ends

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