The Tree Council, Forest & Bird Waitākere and the Waitākere Ranges Protection Society are all delighted to see that Auckland Council finally intends to fulfil its legal obligation under the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 (the Act) by producing a Deed of Acknowledgment recognising the important role tangata whenua have in the area.

This Deed is a legal requirement of the Act and Auckland Council is not obliged to consult publicly on its content, or whether it should be produced, so we acknowledge the transparency of the decision making process entered into in this consultation.

However, we are disturbed by the misinformation and racist anti-iwi sentiment that is being circulated by a small minority in a campaign seeking to distort the facts and derail the process. We expect that Auckland Councillors will not be misled by this disingenuous mischief-making and will support the partnership proposed in the Deed. It is not some kind of land grab or undermining of democracy, as is being claimed.

Forest & Bird Waitākere’s Chair Annalily van den Broeke says that “the reality is that the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act is legislation passed in 2008 that says the place is special, should be protected and made even better than it is, and that everyone needs to work together to make this happen. The Deed is simply the mechanism to ensure that the three parties of The Crown, Auckland Council and tangata whenua will work together to ensure the Act is implemented effectively. It is long overdue and should have been produced soon after the Act was passed in 2008, over 17 years ago”.

The Tree Council’s Secretary Dr Mels Barton says that “the problem that this proposal seeks to address is the fact that Auckland Council has neglected the implementation of the Act, so that the national significance of the area is not recognised by most people. There is no plan for its management, decision making is siloed, enhancement and monitoring is not resourced and cumulative impacts are ignored. All of these things are legally required to be implemented by the Act and are also long overdue. The Deed and the actions that will flow from it will greatly enhance the integrated management of this special area - and everyone will benefit as a result of a more healthy Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area”.

The Waitākere Ranges Protection Society President Anna Fomison “is confident that the public cares deeply about the protection and enhancement of the Waitākere Ranges and the significant benefits that the area provides to the people of Auckland. Not just for recreation, but for cleaning our air, providing our clean drinking water, absorbing our carbon emissions and the conservation of the largest indigenous forest in the region and the ecosystems that it supports that are so important for a healthy future for us all. We all need the Deed to deliver a healthy and vibrant Waitākere Ranges for future generations.”

The Tree Council, Forest & Bird Waitākere and the Waitākere Ranges Protection Society encourage the public to make a brief submission to Auckland Council supporting the Deed of Acknowledgement before the closing date of 28 April. The more people that make a submission the better.

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