Maori call to ban access to large Auckland regional park to save the kauri

Date: 15/11/2017

Western Leader by Simon Smith

An iwi will press ahead with a public ban on entering one of Auckland's largest parks before the end of this year.

Kauri in the Waitakere Ranges have been extensively logged in the past, and now an incurable disease was killing what's left – spread by human feet.

They were the life-force and spirit of the forest and their destruction was an existential threat to Te Kawerau a Maki, its executive manager Edward Ashby said in a letter to Auckland Council.

The iwi faced the loss of its heartland, and the rahui - or prohibition on entering - on the entire Waitakere Ranges was necessary as its concern has not been taken seriously.

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"When the issue has been raised, our voice is drowned by a cacophony of self-interested community voices, operational policies, and political lethargy," he said.

"The time to act is now, and to act boldly."

Ashby has asked Auckland Council to impose a Controlled Area Notice in support of the ban, but said mana whenua intended to press ahead regardless.

Auckland Council confirmed it was considering the measure, but was weighing up its effect on people and the practicialities of such a ban. Te Kawerau a Maki would not wait another decade "for deliberations or further trialling of methods", he said

"Our forest will be dead by then.

"Subsequently as kaitiaki of the area, we have no choice but to close down the entire forest, [excluding] roads and private property, to ensure its long-term protection and survival."

Ashby said a ceremony would be held to close all the tracks before the end of this year, but they would be opened one by one over time as it was deemed safe to do so.

People doing activities such as pest control could be given warrants to allow them to access the forest after they had had cultural and scientific training, he said.

Auckland Council director community services Ian Maxwell said they were considering the effects of closing the 16,000 hectare park.

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