Plans, policies and reports
Hauraki Gulf Islands review
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Issues and options papers
Iwi Heritage
Issue
Section 6 of the Resource Management Act 1991 recognises and provides for Maori
heritage sites as a matter of national importance. These sites may include:
- Wai tapu: canoe boarding places, burial grounds (urupa),
battlefields, areas of spiritual significance.
- Waitapu: sacred waters including mudflats, lakes, rivers, streams
and swamps.
Waahi tapu are generally defined as places sacred to Maori in the
traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual or mythological sense.
A few Maori heritage sites are defined under the current Hauraki Gulf Islands
(HGI) District Plan. Under the review process there is an opportunity to
identify and schedule all significant Maori heritage sites in consultation with
the iwi that have mana whenua.
An important concern in the recognition of Maori heritage sites is the need
to ensure protection from accidental or intentional disruptive interference.
This is particularly true with some waahi tapu sites, where the precise locality
of certain features (for example, burial caves) is carefully guarded
information.
District Plans in the past have therefore tended only to record and schedule
for public information those sites which the iwi that have mana whenua have
indicated are not of such a highly sensitive nature. In order to protect any
significantly sensitive sites, the Council, in consultation with iwi, can
identify the area in which these significant waahi tapu are located. Auckland
City now has the ability to precisely identify these sites, and implement a
system of precise locations, but limited information published information about
the nature of each site. The district plan would list protected sites and
indicate in general the types of activity which may be permissible (or not) on
any particular site. This would give an owner clarity both as to location and in
regard to what can be done by way of change. In addition, 'predictive areas' can
be determined which are larger areas which may include clusters of protected
sites within which further archaeological remains are likely to be discovered.
These areas would require caution and supervision if any change was proposed. In
consultation with tangata whenua for the Gulf, these approaches are able to be
taken for the plan review.
The recognition and protection of heritage sites valued by iwi that have mana
whenua can result from the provisions of the District Plan. Inappropriate or
disruptive interference to highly sensitive sites can be avoided. The
identification of sites is up to iwi and their willingness to engage in this
process.
Possible approaches
You may have a better or alternative approach to those outlined below. If so,
we would like to hear from you.
- Status quo. Roll over the existing Maori heritage provisions within the
current District Plan. This would provide limited protection for Maori
heritage resources in the Hauraki Gulf.
- Attempt a Maori heritage assessment of the entire Hauraki Gulf, in
consultation with the iwi that have mana whenua using the current assessment
system. Any activity proposed for that defined area could be required to
apply for resource consent so that the Council may be sure the specific
waahi tapu is not disrupted or interfered with. Monitoring would be through
resource consents granted. This would ensure that the inclusion of any Maori
heritage system does not differentiate between the Inner and Outer Islands.
However, it is unlikely that there are sufficient resources or time to
complete a full Maori heritage assessment for the entire Hauraki Gulf prior
to notification of the HGI Plan review.
- Continue with the current Maori heritage assessment of the Inner Gulf
islands, in consultation with the iwi that have mana whenua using the
current assessment system. Any activity proposed for that defined area could
be required to apply for resource consent so that the Council may be sure
the specific waahi tapu is not disrupted or interfered with. This would mean
Maori heritage aspects that are perhaps the most at threat through
development pressures are afforded protection through the District Plan. A
plan change could be introduced for the Outer Islands when resources become
available. This would differentiate between the Inner and Outer Islands and
leave the Maori heritage resources of the Outer Islands with limited
protection until a plan change is developed.
- Ensure that iwi remain engaged in the review process to provide
recognition and protection of identified sites.
Note:
While this issue paper can be read in isolation, it is best read in
association with the issue papers relating to:
