Auckland Council statement
Updated 3 March 12:45pm
Auckland Council Director Regulatory Services Craig Hobbs:
“Following further conversations between Police, Auckland Council and protesters on Thursday morning, those occupying Pukekawa Auckland Domain agreed to move on peacefully.
“Auckland Council officers, with the support of the Police, subsequently worked with the protesters to remove the remaining camping equipment, and the site is now clear.
“We are pleased that we were able to come to an agreement and resolve the situation amicably, and that the occupation has not resulted in any significant damage to the culturally significant Pā site.
“I want to thank those involved in the response over the past few days, not just our own staff but those from Auckland Transport and the Police, too. It was only by working together that we were able to achieve this outcome.
"I want to take this time to acknowledge the support of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, for whom the site holds special cultural significance, and who strongly opposed the occupation.
“I also want to acknowledge those working in the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Wintergarden Café, and other businesses operating on site, and to thank them for their patience and understanding. We know that the disruption caused by the ongoing protest action has added extra pressure during what is an already extremely difficult time for Auckland businesses, and I would like to encourage Aucklanders to head to the Domain this weekend to show their support.”
Updated 2 March 5:00pm
Auckland Council Director Regulatory Services, Craig Hobbs:
“Those occupying the Auckland Domain have reached out to us and conversations are ongoing. We are still hopeful that an agreement can be made, and that the situation can be resolved amicably.
“However, we want to stress that should talks be unsuccessful, we will take action, with the support of the Police, to enforce the breach of bylaw notices that were issued to the group on Tuesday.
“While the council respects people’s rights to protest peacefully, we have concerns that this gathering is a major health risk in light of the current Omicron outbreak, and about the disrespect that has been shown to a culturally significant Pā site.
“In addition, Auckland council bylaws prohibit camping on the Domain, driving vehicles across the grounds and sports fields, and parking on the grass. Breaching these bylaws creates safety risks for others, risks damages to public property and limits the right of all Aucklanders to enjoy this beloved public space.”
28 February 2022
Auckland Council and Police continue to monitor the situation at Pukekawa Auckland Domain, where, following the conclusion of a gathering on Saturday afternoon, a small number of attendees set up tents and remained on site.
While Auckland Council respects the rights of freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression, parking on the grass is a breach of bylaw and camping in the Auckland Domain is prohibited. We also have serious concerns regarding damage to public property and the disrespect shown towards a culturally significant pā site.
We continue in our attempts to engage constructively with the group in good faith, however with no progress made in this space, we are also working with Police to implement enforcement options if necessary. This can include a notice of a breach in bylaw and an intention to prosecute, in addition to issuing trespass notices and the removal of property and vehicles.
To ensure the safety of all Domain users, and due to concerns around the use of vehicles on the significant pā site, the Domain remains closed to cars until further notice. The road is open to public transport, pedestrian and bicycle access, and onsite businesses (including the café and Auckland Museum) are also open. Our operations teams are working with the hospital and emergency services to minimise any impact to these services.
In light of the current Omicron outbreak and with Auckland remaining under the Red setting of the Covid Protection Framework, we are concerned that the gathering has the potential to become a super-spreader event and with no capacity limit is a breach of COVID-19 restrictions.
Pukekawa Auckland Domain is one of Auckland’s premier parks, unique in not only its size and location, but through the many facilities it has on-site. It is Auckland’s oldest park and one of our largest urban parks, with a range of facilities on-site including the Wintergarden, a fernery, sports fields and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Many historical and cultural features are found at the park, including the significant pā site at Pukekawa, the Cenotaph representing a site of remembrance in front of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the carved ancestral guardians of Pukekaroa who surround and protect a sacred tōtara tree planted on the first centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi signing in 1940.
