Elected representatives and community members came together last night to celebrate 10 years since the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008 was passed.
Waitākere Ward Councillor and Environment and Community Committee Chair Penny Hulse says ten years is a significant milestone.
“A lot of people worked very hard to get the act passed. But it’s not surprising that it happened really, because there are so many passionate people who love the Waitākere Ranges and who work every day to protect it. I am very proud of the work done by all those involved.”
Waitākere Ranges Local Board Chair Greg Presland says they make Waitākere a special place.
“The Waitākere Ranges are a taonga not just for the west or for Auckland, but for all of New Zealand."
"They possess outstanding natural beauty and cultural heritage.”
“We acknowledge Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei as mana whenua in the heritage area and the role they played in establishing the act.”
Monitoring report
Council has also just produced the report, State of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area 2018, and a report summary. The report and summary can be found on the council’s website. The act requires that a monitoring report be prepared every five years. This is the second one since 2008.
The report provides information and data to assist council’s policy development and operational activities but does not make recommendations.
“The report shows that while the heritage area continues to face some big challenges, overall, the act is making a difference,” says Chair Presland.
“For example, some threatened animal and plant species are likely to have increased in population since the last report.”
“People are proud to live in a heritage area and there are a lot of community groups working to eradicate weeds, fight kauri dieback and restore ecosystems.”
Councillor Hulse says, “There is a lot to be done yet and we will be considering the report’s findings as we plan the next steps.”
“Kauri dieback is, of course, a huge threat. As part of the 10-year Budget, council has approved the higher environmental targeted rate to help fight kauri dieback, improve biodiversity and work on long-term planning in the heritage area.”
The report is dedicated to Waitākere Ranges Local Board member Denise Yates, who passed away earlier this year. Denise was chair of the local board when the first monitoring report was done in 2013. In her chair’s message she expressed her hope that the heritage area:
"…will remain intact as the heart and lungs and spiritual backdrop for the Aucklanders of the future."
