Review of Regional Parks Management Plan (RPMP) Submission from Waitākere Ranges Local Board, 12 October 2020
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Review of Regional Parks Management Plan (RPMP)
Submission from Waitākere Ranges Local Board, 12 October 2020
This submission is written with the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park in mind. It is
one of largest regional parks (17,000 ha, along with the Hunua Ranges), the oldest
regional park, the foundational park of the regional parks’ network, and as it is has
significant number of people living with in the park and is close to the most populated
part of the Auckland region, the Waitākere Ranges parkland deserves special
attention and faces particular challenges from kauri dieback and over-use.
(Recommendations are shown in blue)
The existing RPMP sections on the Waitākere Ranges followed extensive
consultation about the future of the Ranges. It is critical that the new RPMP does not
deviate significantly from the values and management focus that were established in
the existing plan which set a benchmark of public interest and ownership,
environmental and landscape protection, and did not promote
tourism/commercialisation.
The Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland is especially significant as this park was
the first park of national significance established in the Auckland region (Auckland
Centennial Memorial Park Act 1941). It is within the Waitākere Ranges Heritage
Area established through legislation in 2008 which gives it national significance and
says that a management plan for the Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland will be
developed (this can be as a section of a wider regional plan). The WRHA Act
requires the Council to adopt the special consultative procedure set out in Section 83
of the Local Government Act 2002.
The WRLB believes that before a draft of the RMPM is developed, consideration
should be given as to whether the WRHA is best served by a “stand-alone”
management plan as envisaged in the WRHA Act or being part of the region-wide
management plan. As already stated, because of its history, scale, residential
population, the legal requirements of the WRHA Act and proximity to Auckland, there
is a case to be made for a stand-alone plan. This would allow stronger consideration
of kauri dieback and responses within the park, and of the increasing visitation to the
park and over-use of some areas, especially with the temporary closure of many
tracks in the park. This would also allow stakeholders and communities within the
park the opportunity to discuss Waitākere-specific issues in a collegial and coherent
way.
A Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland-specific plan should be developed as
opposed to being a section of a region-wide plan. This plan can adopt the generic
policies of the region-wide plan.
It is important to recognise that the regional parks are not just a collection of parks
but a network with common values, management policies and style. Regional parks
are recognisable for their natural values, farmed areas and their management using
1
Recommendations are shown in bluea dedicated ranger service. In Auckland Council most of the tasks carried out in
local parks are carried out by contractors managed by managers. During the period
of Auckland Council (2010-2020) considerable inroads have been made into the way
regional parks are managed, the roles of rangers have been reduced and many
specialised staff removed from the regional parks’ team. In particular, the regional
parks farm business unit has been disbanded and farming is now managed by a
regionwide team outside regional parks which has reduced its focus on
demonstrating sustainable farming as an exemplar for the Auckland region.
The regional network enables the parks to be managed in a consistent way, to have
a single over-arching identity that is known to Aucklanders, and allows efficiencies in
day-to-day management, for example, rangers can be shifted around to where the
need is. It is important that this network remains intact and coherent and is not
broken up.
Key changes in the review of the RPMP
There have been new park additions since the RPMP was adopted in 2010. These
have been on the South Head of the Kaipara, Mahurangi and in the Waitākere
Ranges, the 78 hectare Taitomo Block at Piha and an addition to McCreadies
Paddock at Karekare. The Taitomo Block was the subject of a variation so is already
integrated into the plan.
The other key change is actions around kauri dieback. Regional parks lead a
consultation on which tracks people wanted upgraded first, listed in order of priority.
Some tracks it was proposed to permanently shut. Council has then applied a
Controlled Area Notice or CAN to these tracks, closing most tracks and re-opening
them when upgrading has taken place.
However, this work occurred without locating it within the context of the RPMP,
consequently the policies of the RPMP have not been integrated into this work. This
means much of the track upgrading work is actually contrary to the existing
management plan. The track upgrading work has resulted in a proliferation of built
structures in the park – boardwalks, steps, hand railings etc - which the management
plan says should be avoided.
The whole length of tracks have been upgraded when sometimes there are only,
one, two or three kauri trees on them.
This management plan review is a chance to re-address the kauri dieback upgrading
and embed it within a framework which seeks to protect the park values.
The review of the RPMP should revisit the direction of works to protect kauri in the
park.
The track upgrading should be embedded in a policy context that seeks to protect
the values of the park, the natural features within it and the visitor experience.
Any proposals to close tracks permanently should be reviewed as part of this RPMP
review.
2
Recommendations are shown in blueThe heritage and history of individual tracks should be part of such a review.
All regional parkland should be covered by an Order In Council for protection in
perpetuity. If not eg Taitomo Block, this action should be initiated immediately.
Issues raised in discussion document
The review of the RPMP also raises issues to consider such as climate change, new
forms of recreation and expanding commercial activity. The following
recommendations address some of the issues raised.
Climate change was addressed in the existing RPMP. The regional parks are
already the largest carbon sink provided by the Council. While there is significant
replanting every year, some areas of regional parks are kept open for farming and
for open space for recreation and visitor experience (for views). The discussion
document asks whether replanting should be expanded and whether faster-growing
exotics should be used.
Replanting in regional parks should continue at the current pace, with specific areas
kept in pasture for recreational purposes and to protect landscapes and cultural
features. Replanting should only be in indigenous species, not exotics.
Emissions can also be reduced by developing travel demand management so that
people can access parks on public transport or shuttle buses.
The policy of “pack in, pack out” for waste should be continued.
There should be no charge to enter regional parks. They should be free for informal
use. They are owned by the public of Auckland.
E bikes and drones should not be allowed in the Waitākere Ranges Regional
Parkland as it experiences high rainfall, the terrain would be damaged, and there
would be conflicts with other users. Both the existing RPMP and the Waitākere
Ranges Heritage Area Act emphasise protecting the naturalness of the Ranges and,
specifically, the quiet.
Before commenting on the issue of mobile phone connectivity for safety reasons, the
Board would like to see mapping of where this is a problem. We appreciate that
there is value in having areas where the trappings of modern urban life are absent
and people can connect directly with nature, not mediated through technology.
We are aware the Waitākere Ranges parkland already has many concessionaires
and that informal visitations in increasing. Therefore we do not believe that Revenue-
generating activities should not be expanded in the Waitākere Ranges Regional
Parkland to respect its heritage, and to not attract additional visitors because of
existing pressures on use. Such activities should be located in under-used parks.
3
Recommendations are shown in blueThe existing Regional Parks Management Plan - Key features of regional parks
network
Regional parks were acquired for their landscape, natural and cultural values, to
inculcate an ethic of stewardship in citizens and to provide low-key informal
recreational opportunities. The first park was the Waitākere Ranges, followed by
Wenderholm in 1965. There are now 28 regional parks. Waitākere Ranges is the
largest and contains the largest eco-system.
Vision regional parks (Section 1)
“Regional parks are exemplars of the diverse landscapes and natural environments
of the Auckland region, enabling people to enjoy respite and recreation in
outstanding locations, and through linking them to the land and sea, encouraging
them to become stewards of this legacy for future generations.”
Purpose regional parks (Section 2)
“The regional parks represent many of the special natural and cultural qualities of the
Auckland region. The parks are purchased and managed to protect their intrinsic,
natural, cultural and landscape values and to provide outdoor recreational
opportunities for the enjoyment and benefit of the people of the region.”
The existing vision and purpose of the regional parks network should be retained.
The regional parks should remain part of a network under the Governing Body of
Auckland Council as befits their origins and purpose.
The foundation of the regional parks was the Auckland Centennial Memorial Park
which was created in 1941 to commemorate the centenary of Auckland city. After
work to assess the whole region and suitable areas for regional parks the next
regional park was Wenderholm in 1965 which otherwise was to be subdivided. In
other words, the regional parks network was established in a considered, planned
manner to ensure it contained a representation of the key landscapes and eco-
systems of Auckland. The parks contain areas significant to iwi so provide an
opportunity for tangata whenua to maintain cultural identity and connection to places
they value.
There is a need to expand the parks network to protect valued coastline and open
space from development and cater for an expanding population.
The Auckland Regional Parks Acquisition Plan is dated 1999, so was done 21 years
ago. There is an urgent need to update it to provide guidance for future purchases.
Auckland Council needs to develop an acquisition plan for regional parks to guide
the next 20 years. There are opportunities for new regional parks close to urban
areas and linkages between parks and maunga.
4
Recommendations are shown in bluePark values (Section 3)
The values of regional parks are: intrinsic, natural (ecosystems and biodiversity,
national and regional significance, viable ecosystems, getting in touch with and
restoring nature), landscape (iconic scenery, minimal development), tangata whenua
(expression of kaitiakitanga, tangata whenua hauora), cultural (historic associations,
sense of identity and place, farming), recreational (freedom of access, available for
future generations, experiencing wilderness and nature, range of outdoor activities,
access to the coastline, health benefits, ability to socialise, opportunity to volunteer,
ability to learn, ability to stay in a park), economic values.
Pressures and challenges (Section 4)
The pressures and challenges are: socio-economic (population growth, demographic
change, economic change, cost of travel, tangata whenua aspirations), development
(urban expansion and intensification, development of the coastline), recreation (loss
of open space, lack of confidence in outdoor experience, farming – sustainable
farming, public involvement requires investment), environment (attitude to
environment, human disturbance – unsuitable activities/high impact, pest control,
threatened species, climate change, pathogens), management (sustainable
management, prioritisation of conservation efforts, managing transition to Auckland
Council, monitoring and research).
Management principles (Section 6)
• Protect the intrinsic value, worth and integrity of regional parks.
• Protect and enhance Auckland’s unique landscapes
• Enhance the native diversity and the viability of ecosystems of the region
• Recognise and provide for the relationship of tangata whenua with their
ancestral taonga
• Promote and demonstrate wise stewardship of the region’s environment
• Protect heritage features and tell the region’s stories
• Public ownership
• Guarantee free access to regional parks
• Provide a range of quality outdoor visitor experiences
• Enable access to the coastline
• Manage land and core visitor services through a dedicated ranger service
• Protect and enhance the amenity of the regional parks
• Minimise the impacts of development
• Limit activities that have an adverse impact on the environment and other
park uses
• Facilitate public knowledge and safe enjoyment of the parks
• Be adaptive and responsive
• Provide for a range of activities within the regional parks network
• Facilitate community participation
• Be a good neighbour
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Recommendations are shown in blueThe regional parks network’s park values, pressures and challenges and
management principles should be retained in the revised RPMP.
The Local Board is concerned that the dedicated ranger service has been reduced
since amalgamation. We would like to see some information about numbers of
rangers and the current role of rangers, particularly in the Waitākere Rangers
Regional Parkland, in comparison with a decade ago. If anything the Board believes
there is a case for growing the ranger service in Waitākere Ranges parkland to
better address the growth in visitation, track closures and changes in public
behaviour. Rangers could also play a role in guided walks to introduce newcomers to
the wilderness. The educational role of the ranger service for children and young
people should remain.
The Board believes that communication and relationships need to be strengthened
between regional parks management and stakeholders and local communities. The
Review could consider regular community forums perhaps twice a year involving the
local community would help keep stakeholders informed, and that there should be
regular meetings with the Waitākere Ranges Local Board to improve relationships.
Integrated management framework (Section 7)
Parks are grouped into classes which defines how they are managed.
Class 1 Natural
Class 2 Natural and recreation
Class 3 Recreation
Waitākere Ranges and Hunuas are the prime Class 1 parks which means there will
be “a wilderness experience in a predominantly natural landscape”. The emphasis is
on protection of the natural and cultural environments and scenic landscapes which
providing for recreation “where appropriate”. Informal activities such as walking,
tramping, remote camping and picnicking. Limited group activities and events.
Number of people limited and dispersed. Minimal infrastructure and parking. Limited
structured programmes and interp.
Regional parks should continue to be grouped according to the class system and
managed according to that class.
The entire Waitākere Ranges to remain a Class 1 park with the emphasis on
wilderness and low-key appropriate recreation and minimal infrastructure.
The Auckland Council `will develop and implement strategies to control visitor
numbers in the Waitākeres and to disperse visitation. In particular, it will not market
the Waitākere Ranges parkland, will hold concessions at current numbers, and will
not develop specific visitor destination ‘skite sites’ such as selfie lookouts or bridges.
Investigate expanded opportunities for family-camping in the Waitākere Ranges.
6
Recommendations are shown in blueDesign principles (Section 7.2) are set out to ensure any development on a park
meets the vision for the park and does not threaten park values. Formalisation is to
be avoided, minimise intrusion of structures, avoid prominent locations such as hill
tops and prominent ridges, use natural materials, avoid archaeological sites,
minimise vegetation clearance.
As part of any concept or development plan “undertake a landscape and parks
values assessment”.
Note: Piha has specific Parks Design Guidelines for regional parks.
Any significant development on a park must have a concept plan (Section 7.3), as
must any new addition to a park or a new park. This is to be followed by a
development plan. The public must be able to consult on both. If any significant
change is to be made to a concept or development plan it must be done as a
variation to the RPMP or the Council annual plan.
There can be Special Management Zones SMZs (Section 7.5) to protect park
values in high use or sensitive areas. Management actions will limit some activities in
these zones. In the last management plan, this was usually a limit on large sporting
activities in an area, however, through this Review, other activities could also be
limited.
There are a number of tools that can be used (Section 7.6) to manage parks
including using the ranger service, placing conditions on some activities, placing
limits or caps on some activities, prohibiting inappropriate activities, education, codes
of conduct etc. Monitoring, researching and benchmarking will be used to ensure the
values of parks are protected.
The RPMP will retain the existing range of management tools, in particular running
the parks by a ranger service.
Sustainability (Section 8)
Climate change is addressed in Section 8.1 which focusses on increasing net carbon
sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by ecological restoration.
Sea level rise, flooding and fire are addressed in 8.4. Parks are no smoking.
Travel Demand Management (Section 8.3) aimed to encourage people reaching
parks by walking, biking and public transport and minimising carparking and roading
within parks.
Parks management will implement travel demand management by linking track
entrances and Arataki to shuttle or other public transport services.
The RPMP to protect natural settings (Section 10)
Protection is provided by maintaining the naturalness and undeveloped character of
landscapes and by protecting the dark night sky. The Waitākere Ranges regional
park contains 22 significant geological features such as Anawhata Gorge, Lion Rock,
The Gap, Wainamu Lakes that are specifically protected in regional plans.
7
Recommendations are shown in blueIndigenous species, habitat and eco-systems are to be protected, by managing
species and habitats, maintaining water quality, address fish passage and avoid
adverse effects. The parks management will maintain biosecurity programmes to
control pests.
The naturalness of the Waitākere Ranges will be the priority for protection and
management programmes will be directed to this end.
The regional parks’ management will control harmful plant and animal pests in line
with the Regional Pest Management Plan, will liaise with Watercare to improve its
biosecurity and will support Auckland Council and other agencies improving their
research programme and monitoring/reporting on kauri dieback.
Farmed settings (Section 12)
Pastoral farming is retained on some regional parks, to protect rural landscapes,
provide open areas and to allow urban citizens to experience farming. While most of
the Waitākere Ranges regional parkland is vegetated, farmed areas remain at Little
Huia, Whatipu and Pae o te Rangi. At the time the RPMP was adopted farms in
regional parks were run by a special business unit which ensured stock were people
friendly, best practices were followed with animal welfare and husbandry, some
unique stock were carried on farms, sustainable farming practices were followed and
demonstrated, and the income from farming broke even with costs. When Auckland
Council took over, the farming role was removed from regional parks and given to a
Council-wide farming unit.
A Farming Business Unit will be reinstated within the Regional Parks management.
Reinvigorate the sustainable farming practices and explore moving to being
regenerative exemplars.
The Board supports the retention of farmed areas in the Waitākere Ranges parkland
of which there are only a few in the Waitākere and recommend that these could be
used to provide short loop walks that would take pressure off other tracks without
risking spread of kauri dieback.
Recreation and Use Management (Section 13)
Recreation is provided for but is aligned to the park class and vision and does not
unduly compromise park values and visitor experience. Recreational activities are
primarily for the enjoyment and use of the people of Auckland “while making
provision for commercial activities where they are aligned…” When considering
these the council must take into account “cumulative impacts”, high public use and
adverse effects on parks’ values.
The principal permitted activity in parks is “walking, tramping and running”. People
are discouraged from going “off-track” and going forward opportunities will be sought
for longer routes, connectivity within and outside parks, providing accessible
walkways for people with limited mobility.
8
Recommendations are shown in blueDogs are excluded from some areas of high biodiversity. In other areas they must be
on-leash. There is one off-leash area in the Waitākere Ranges parkland and that is
Kakamatua.
Recreational cycling and mountain-biking are not allowed in the Waitākere Ranges
parkland except for family cycling at Exhibition Drive which is sealed. The reason for
this is to prevent damage to tracks and to vegetation, spreading pest species, and
user conflict. The Waitākere Ranges is particularly prone to damage because of the
high rainfall.
Maintain the prohibition on any form of cycling in the Waitākere Ranges to prevent
damage to tracks and vegetation, spread of kauri dieback and to avoid conflict with
walkers.
Continue to prohibit off road use of vehicles and access to beaches except for
emergency use and launching boats in designated places.
Controlled activities (Section 13.4)
These are activities that could have negative impacts.
Continue to allow horse riding only in designated places.
Continue to provide for overnight stays in designated campgrounds, baches, lodges
and at designated sites and parking areas.
Continue to prohibit freedom camping.
Continue to provide bach escapes as an opportunity to cater for the public at
reasonable cost, run by Auckland Council (not commercialised).
Discretionary activities (Section 13.5.1)
Continue to manage all commercial activities, activities that require a permanent
presence, and those set out in 13.5.1.2 in the existing plan, as discretionary activities
requiring approval. Continue to allow for notification and set a benchmark for
notification, such as number of people involved and the sensitivity of the location.
Section 13 of the RPMP also covers concessionaires and filming. In the past
decades there have been examples of concessions being granted for activities that
are potentially damaging or harmful to the visitor experience. For example,
canyoning at Kitekite Falls, and granting a concession for a firm to provide caravan
camping on the scheduled Radar Station site at Piha and allowing filming at night on
a site where there are nesting grey-faced petrels.
Continue to facilitate filming in regional parks but develop the code of conduct or
protocol as outlined in 13.5.3.3 of the existing RPMP. Also develop an environmental
framework for filming in conjunction with the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.
Avoid high-impact and adventure tourism such as bungy jumping or canyoning and
avoid sites that are scheduled or part of an Outstanding Natural Feature or
Outstanding Natural Landscape in the Unitary Plan.
9
Recommendations are shown in blueRetain the policy on plaques and memorials.
Prohibited activities (Section 13.6)
These are activities considered inappropriate for regional parks and include
recreational hunting, burials, scattering of ashes, mining and set netting.
Retain the policy on prohibited activities. In particular continue to prohibit recreational
hunting and set netting in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland.
Infrastructure (Section 14)
This has the objective of providing the minimum needed for visitor and park
operational needs, in a manner that does not compromise park values. Infrastructure
should avoid prominent locations and avoid the foreshore and coastal environment.
They should not impact on views to and from the water. Structures should be
grouped, and appropriately located at carparks.
Continue to keep infrastructure to a minimum and do not locate in prominent
positions such as cliff edges or on the foreshore.
Roads should preferably be gravel, preferably single lane, have natural and
revegetated edges.
Do not formalise roads or parking by sealing, marking out or curbing and
channelling.
Tracks should minimise structures such as steps, boardwalks, seats, signs, and
safety barriers, can be of variable standard along the length, should direct water
away from track surfaces and minimise vegetation clearance.
Manage risk by putting signs at the carparks and beginnings of tracks rather than at
the hazard.
Provide for a range of selected tracks for people with mobility issues. Ensure these
tracks are not those which already suffer from congestion and limited space.
The plan provides for five types of tracks: paths (in arrival zones only or for people
with mobility issues); Walking Tracks (walks up to one hour with compacted track
surfaces and bridges and boardwalks over permanently wet areas; tramping tracks
(access to remote areas, tracks will be formed and drained, may have difficult
terrain); routes (unformed trails with marker posts, across farmland); shared use
tracks and roads (internal park and service roads).
These standards have been increasingly disregarded with many tracks upgraded
because of kauri dieback even if there is only a single or a few kauri on the track
length.
10
Recommendations are shown in blueIndividual Parks – Waitākere Ranges Regional Park (Section 17.19)
The introduction to this section notes that the parks unique values “are under
pressure from increasing visitor numbers and its proximity to the growing urban
area”. When a variation to the plan for Waitākere was developed in 2007 “there was
a strong message from submitters that there was a need to protect these values”
(natural and cultural values). The parkland is increasingly popular for tourism
operators, screen production companies and for sporting events…
”compared to other parks in the network, demand for these discretionary
activities in the Waitākere Ranges is very high. Because of this, a
precautionary approach has been taken. Limits have been paced on the size
and nature of some activities that can take place at certain locations as a way
of managing cumulative impacts on the park and the enjoyment of the park by
other users.”
Regarding the track network, “There is a desire to maintain natural surfaces and
avoid unnecessary structures or introduced material on the tracks. The focus on
maintenance should be on good drainage of the track surfaces.”
This approach has been considerably undermined in recent years, first of all by the
policies surrounding kauri dieback protection, and secondly by a drift towards
catering more overtly to tourists and visitors seeking places and locations where they
can take selfies and experience spectacular sights, even where this is contrary to the
management plan.
Park vision for Waitākere Ranges (Section 17.19.2)
“A regional conservation and scenic park that is managed to protect and enhance its
unique natural, cultural and historic values and wilderness qualities; to provide a
place of respite for the people of Auckland, to provide for a range of compatible
recreational activities in natural settings, and to cultivate an ethic of stewardship.”
Maintain the existing vision for the Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland.
Special management zones SMZs are set out on 17.19.3 and include Anawhata,
Hillary Trail, Huia, Kaitarakihi, Kakamatua, Karamatura, Karekare, Lake Wainamu,
Lion Rock, Little Huia, Mercer Bay Loop Track and lookouts, Mt Donald McLean,
North Piha, Pararaha, Tasman and Gap lookouts, Wai O Kahu/Piha Valley, Whatipu
(go to the section for the complete list).
Management focus is set out with emphasis on opportunities for iwi to strengthen
connections, protection and restoration of forest, respite for people of Auckland,
protection of water supply, increased emphasis on stewardship and education
visitors, developing Hillary Trail, developing Arataki as visitor destination with
potential café.
11
Recommendations are shown in blueCouncil has to demonstrate that any decision taken on parkland has taken into
account the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Act especially, effects on a heritage
feature, impacts on landscape and wilderness qualities, visual impacts on character
of coastline, impacts on quietness and darkness, natural functioning of streams.
Council will assess and document how decisions impact on the heritage features of
the WRHA act.
Management policies for the whole Waitākere Ranges include the following
• Comprehensive pest animal control
• Restore sea and shorebird habitat
• Work with neighbours on pest plant control
• Isolate bank edges to deter rubbish dumping
• Review camping in park including expanded opportunities for camping and
overnight stays by campervans
• Avoid over-use of particular places. Limit the number of sporting events with
50 or more at Anawhata (1 per year), Karekare (4), North Piha (2), Pararaha
(1), Wai O Kahu Piha valley, includes Kitekite Falls) (3) Whatipu (not in
Scientific Reserve) (3).
The areas within the Waitākere Ranges parkland listed in 17.19.3 will continue to be
managed as Special Management Zones. Whether these should be extended to limit
other activities (in addition to sporting activities) will be assessed.
At Wai O Kahu (Piha Valley including Kitekite Falls) prohibit sporting events or
gatherings of any kind of more that 50 people, except in open grassy spaces (Byers
Track and Piha Mill Camp).
Assess whether these limits should be also be applied to filming, or other types of
gatherings, except for education groups, conservation groups, community gatherings
and similar.
This submission does not cover every single location in the Waitākeres but is
focused particularly on those on the outer perimeter usually near the coast. These
locations attract the highest numbers of visitors. In general, the policies and actions
for these areas are sound and should continue.
Anawhata
Keep remote, unsealed access road, retain farmland, investigate best way to protect
seabirds from dogs, reroute tracks to keep people walking off road, renovate Craw
Homestead and bring into bach escapes, maintain area around where Hettig House
stood as open grassland.
Since then Craw homestead has been renovated and a campground developed.
Track has been rerouted to keep people off road.
Maintain Anawhata as remote location and address visitor pressures around
parkland and private land.
12
Recommendations are shown in blueArataki
For Arataki there were actions to develop Beveridge Track and provide accessibility
for people in wheelchairs, make this the entry point to Hillary Trail, enhance role of
Arataki for education. By and large these developments have occurred and Arataki
hosts more programmes, especially Matariki. However, the proposal of a café was
sidelined and stalled even though plans had been drawn up by the original architect
Harry Turbott.
Continue to plan for the provision of a café at Arataki.
Institute a shuttle bus service which could be linked to Beveridge Track/Exhibition
Drive, and outer beach areas such as Piha.
Cornwallis
Manage as major beach destination and picnic area with boat ramp.
Remove pines on Puponga Point
Address weed incursions on Puponga Point.
Develop and implement a pest animal and plant management plan for Cornwallis.
Support Petrel Head community group.
Hillary Trail
Aim of the trail is to provide a multi-day over-night tramping experience for families
and young people with suitable fitness. As it is the first such trail for council adopt a
precautionary approach. There was extensive consultation with local groups and
communities before inaugurating the HT who said it would be OK as long as tracks
remained at current standards and the trail was not commercialised.
Hillary Trail will not undermine the wilderness focus of the parkland and a
precautionary approach will continue to apply.
There will be no commercialisation, packaged tours or concessions except for
groups of young people on a development programme or transport to and from the
trail.
The trail will use existing tracks and infrastructure and will not be upgraded to Great
Walk standard.
Develop an operational plan for the Trail.
Investigate whether Hillary Trail can be linked to Te Araroa Trail, as a Western route.
Kaitarakihi
Continue to maintain vistas to and from Spragg Memorial consistent with the deed of
gift.
13
Recommendations are shown in blueKakamatua
Following the adoption of the RPMP, the seaward end of parkland at Kakamatua
was made a dog off-leash area by Auckland Council in a separate bylaw process.
The consequence is that dog owners and commercial dog exercisers flock to this
area and it has become significantly degraded. Currently the management plan says
Kakamatua should offer a “remote coastal wilderness experiences” and “protect and
enhance the coastal estuarine and wetland habitats”.
Urgently assess the impact on Kakamatua of being a dog off-leash area on kauri, the
riparian margins of the Kakamatua Stream, and the coastal and estuarine habitats.
Improve signage about dog control at Kakamatua.
Improve removal of dog faeces at Kakamatua.
Work with dog control to improve surveillance of Kakamatua to ensure dog rules are
adhered to.
Karekare
The RPMP states that the dune and forest ecosystems and habitats will be
maintained, however, the dunes at Karekare are heavily infested with lupins.
Continue prohibition on dogs in Whatipu Scientific Reserve.
Control lupins and restore dune systems.
Maintain intensive protection of dotterel habitat.
Lake Wainamu
Consider opening and closing hours, expand ranger services, review toilet and
parking, protect the quiet enjoyment through decreasing drones, amplified music and
commercial activities.
Reintroduce working with adjoining land owners and community to control terrestrial
and aquatic pests and restore Lake Wainamu.
Continue to prohibit motorised vehicles and watercraft from land and lake park
areas.
Lion Rock
The RPMP says public access will be limited to the lower two-thirds of Lion Rock
because of safety concerns, however, this is not being enforced.
Clarify if it is intended to provide access to the top of Lion Rock, and if not, reinstall
barriers. No infrastructure should be installed on Lion Rock to enable access.
Little Huia
Assess the future of Project K lodge and investigate opportunities for community
use.
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Recommendations are shown in blueMercer Bay Loop Walk
The RPMP says the track will be managed as an accessible track to lookouts. It also
states that a development plan will be developed for the arrival area to review the
layout of the area while maintained its undeveloped and rugged nature of the area. It
seems that such development plans may exist however they have not been shared
with the public. There have also been plans to close off part of Mercer Bay Loop
Track, and to build a track through the scheduled radar site. The radar site was
scheduled after the adoption of the RPMP and interpretation installed. This area has
seen a dramatic increase in numbers in recent years with consequent over-crowding.
Urgently develop a plan for the maintenance and protection of the scheduled radar
site with input from heritage specialists.
Take steps to prevent people parking on the grassed areas while maintaining access
for rangers and the Marine Dept, Police etc.
Retain the full extent of the existing Mercer Bay Loop Track. Do not build any
additional tracks to lookouts.
Address the informal usage of the cliff edge for launching of paragliders by ensuring
this is safe and does not damage vegetation.
Restore the fire area on Mercer Bay Loop Track.
Ensure the existing lookouts are safe but unobtrusive. Do not build lookouts for
people taking selfies.
Deter people making their way into cliff areas and informal routes to Mercer Bay.
Do not allow any concessions on this site.
North Piha
This is another area where pressure of numbers has grown, with the area popular
with surfers, fishermen and informal groups. A seabird and shorebird survey
identified that there are nesting grey-faced petrels and penguins in many places in
this area. It is dog prohibited but this is not enforced. While the RPMP says to keep
infrastructure to a minimum there was allowance for a public toilet which has not
been actioned. Because of the relatively high use of this area and because it
provides one of the few open grassed spaces at Piha for events, a toilet is urgently
needed. The lack of a toilet can result in people going under trees which now have
seabird burrows under them.
Urgently install public toilets in a discrete place at North Piha carpark.
Protect and restore the dunes at North Piha.
Protect seabirds and shorebirds by deterring people from going near caves, rocks
and vegetated areas where birds are nesting.
Formalise the arrangement with the North Piha Water Supply.
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Recommendations are shown in blueEnsure vehicles cannot access the dunes or beach.
Install interp about why dogs are prohibited and work with dog control to enforce
these rules.
Parau/Big Muddy Creek
Develop and implement a pest plant control programmes especially for the
Manchester Unity Block
Investigate park linkages through Manchester Unity Block.
Taitomo variation
This was adopted in 2016 but has not been integrated into the RPMP available
online at Auckland Council. It is essentially up-to-date and sound but already some
actions have not conformed to the policies of the plan.
Implement the actions in the Taitomo variation of the RPMP.
Develop a link in the Hillary Trail from Mercer Bay Loop Track to Tasman Lookout
Track that avoids visibility on the Gentle Annie landscape. Consult on this design.
Consistent with the plan, locate the track between The Gap and the “tennis courts”
away from the edge of the Blowhole and therefore avoid the need for a fence.
Do not install steps into the Blowhole and thus respect the wahi tapu.
Restore previously burned areas as a priority with suitable (low flammable) native
plants.
Tasman and Gap Lookouts (Piha)
There have been suggestions within the Council that Tasman Lookout Track is
formalised and widened to 1.2 metres. This is undesirable because significant
widening would need to be done to reach this width, it would impact on rock
formations in places, and would endanger grey-faced petrels which nest in this area
near tracks. However, work undertaken in about 2005 has not been completed and
there have been fires at Tasman Lookout and at other places along the track in the
last few years.
Do not widen or upgrade Tasman Look Out Track, but continue regular
maintenance.
Protect grey-faced petrels and other birds and avoid disturbance.
With dog control, enforce prohibition on dogs on this track and at The Gap and install
explanatory interp at the beginning of Tasman Lookout Track.
Investigate discrete dogs prohibited signs near Pakiti Rock for people accessing The
Gap along the beach.
Complete the Tasman Lookout project by carrying out pest plant control, low
replanting, and removing temporary fencing.
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Recommendations are shown in blueRestore areas damaged by fires.
Wai O Kahu (Piha Valley)
This area has high ecological values and includes Sir Algernon Thomas Green, Nigel
Hanlon Hut, Piha Mill Camp – which is a historic heritage scheduled site - and
Kitekite Falls. This area attracts huge numbers of visitors and there are a number of
commercial concessions in place including canyoning and tourist walks.
A number of the actions in the last RPMP have not been carried out, including
riparian planting on the Piha Stream, pest pant control at the entrance to the
Maungaroa Lookout Track, remediate the informal tracks off Kitekite Falls Track.
The former site of the Piha Mill is a historic heritage scheduled site and a
development plan was developed. Despite this, a number of works have been
carried out that are not part of the plan. These include a fence across the open
space of the scheduled site, signs prohibiting the public from accessing much of the
site and formalised car parking with signs in what was supposed to be an over-flow
carpark. This is despite the RPMP stating that any work should “retain [ing] vistas of
the Piha Mill historic site, particularly from Glen Esk Road”.
In addition regional parks surveyed and proposed to proceed with a bridge across
Glen Esk Stream at the junction of the Knutzen and Kitekite Tracks, and a second
“selfie bridge” from the Knutzen Track to the Kitekite Track in close proximity to the
Falls. For the past 80 years people have been crossing these streams on foot and it
is part of the experience of being in the forest.
Manage the high visitor numbers at this destination by developing a management
plan to hold and reduce visitor numbers and arrivals by car.
Remove the fence across Piha Mill Camp site and remove the signs prohibiting
access by the public.
Do not proceed with any bridges across Glen Esk Stream including the “selfie
bridge”.
Provide signage that people who do not wish to cross the Glen Esk Stream on foot,
proceed to the lookout on Knutzen Track and return the same way.
Do not develop any further parking areas on the historic heritage site of Piha Mill
Camp.
Continue to investigate a track from Sir Algernon Thomas Green to the bush-covered
area he donated.
Take steps to interpret and protect the eels in Piha Stream at Piha Mill Camp.
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Recommendations are shown in blueWhatipu Scientific Reserve
Implement the conservation plan for the scientific reserve, controlling pest plant,
including gorse and alligator weed.
Recreation and use activities Section 17.19.6
Dogs permitted on lead except for picnic areas, campgrounds, water supply lands,
grassed areas at Cornwallis, Whatipu, Lion Rock, far end N Piha, Piha beach and
The Gap, Lake Wainamu, Tasman Lookout Track.
Informal groups are capped at 50 except for Cornwallis where number is 100. Larger
groups must get permission. No mountain biking anywhere in Waitākere Ranges but
family cycling on Exhibition Drive and Beveridge Track.
Off-track activity is actively discouraged.
There are a few campgrounds for self-contained vehicles but they must book.
Camping in designated camp sites.
Horse riding only at Pae o te Rangi
Continue recreational use of Waitākere Ranges as set in 2010 plan.
Monitoring Section 17.9.17
The Board is aware that many of the actions specified in the RPMP 2010 have not
been carried out and that other actions have been carried out that are not in the
Plan, and sometimes are contrary to the Plan. An example is the proposal for a
“selfie bridge” at Kitekite Falls which is not contemplated in the Plan. Therefore it
believes there needs to be better transparency and monitoring of the implementation
of the Plan and greater public accountability.
Regional Parks management should report on progress in implementing the plan
twice a year on the open PACE Committee agenda.
For the Waitākere Ranges there should be public forums to inform communities and
stakeholders.
The parks management should regularly brief the Waitākere Ranges Local Board on
matters relating to the Waitākere Ranges Regional Parkland.
There will be a Waitākere Terrestrial Monitoring Programme to meet requirements of
the WRHA Act.
The Council will also undertake baseline and long-term monitoring of the social and
environmental impacts of recreational activity on the park and regular reporting on
the range, number and cumulative impacts of activities on the park.
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