Independent Maori Statutory Board acknowledges the Unitary Plan adoption with call to reinstate Sites of Value Schedule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

19 August 2016

The Independent Māori Statutory Board acknowledges the Auckland Council for adopting the Auckland Unitary Plan today saying it’s an important step in ensuring Auckland's housing development keeps pace with the needs of Māori living in Tāmaki Makaurau. However, the Board does not support the decision by Auckland Council to remove the schedule of Sites of Value from the Unitary Plan.

"Now that the Plan is formally adopted by Auckland Council the Board will consider what legal proceedings are available to have the schedule reinstated,” Independent Māori Statutory Board Chair, David Taipari, says.

The Board is disappointed that the Auckland Council ignored the recommendation of its officials to retain the Sites of Value schedule in the Plan. “It is our view that the Independent Hearings Panel's recommendation to Council on the Sites of Value was unclear. The Panel called for further evidence on the sites to be presented, however, it is the Board’s position that this work had already been undertaken by Mana Whenua and council on 2,213 sites during the hearings process.

David Taipari says council officials agreed the work had already been done on these 2,213 sites and recommended to the Council that the Unitary Plan retain the Sites of Value schedule. The Independent Māori Statutory Board supported the council officials’ recommendations at the Auckland Development Committee.

“The importance of these sites to our history and identity cannot be ignored,” says David Taipari.

ENDS

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