News at a glance from Tāmaki Makaurau
AT’s First Official CRL Map
Source: Greater Auckland
A critique from Greater Auckland reads, in part:
… this would be the perfect opportunity to brand the rapid transit network as a whole. Give it a name instead of just calling it Trains and Rapid Buses. The simplest would be something like Auckland Rapid Transit (ART) and there are heaps of ways clever marketing people could play off that.
Bringing the network properly together should also entail having a common naming convention for the lines that make up the network. Instead we continue to have a bit of a hodgepodge of names.
Ten sites of cultural significance to mana whenua recognised in Auckland’s planning rules
Source: Our Auckland - Tō Tātou Tāmaki Makaurau
Ten places with significant mana whenua values have been added to Auckland’s planning documents (the Auckland Unitary Plan and the Hauraki Gulf Islands section of the Auckland Council District Plan) this month:
Hirakimatā
Kaarearea Paa
Komahunga
Korotiti
Mānukapua
Pahurehure Islands
Poutekorua
Ruahine
Te Wai o Ruarangi / Oruarangi Awa and Waitomokia Creek
Whakahuranga Pā.
At its July meeting, Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning Committee voted unanimously to enhance protection of the sites to honour their historical and cultural importance and help prevent inappropriate use and development. Councillor Richard Hills chairs Auckland’s Policy and Planning Committee and says this mahi is an example of a strong partnership between Auckland Council and mana whenua.
“Adding these sites to the plan is a way we can help protect their cultural values through shared stewardship. The unitary plan includes around 2500 scheduled heritage buildings and objects, this decision brings sites of Māori cultural heritage up to 121.
“Each place is identified for its strong links to notable historic events, occupation and cultural practices. Protecting them now helps conserve them for future generations. It also acknowledges the lasting connection mana whenua have to these places,” he says.
Mapping and conserving Māori cultural heritage in Tāmaki Makaurau is a goal of Auckland’s Māori Cultural Heritage Programme, which began in 2014 as a collaboration between mana whenua and Auckland Council’s heritage team.
Auckland environmentalist wins battle to protect urban style jungle
Source: Radio New Zealand - Checkpoint and audio here
Biodiverse berm gardens that Freeman's Bay resident Mark van Kaathoven, 63, has worked on outside his home and neighbouring properties for more than three decades have been given protected status.
Auckland Council has now given most of the berms protected status under its restorative gardening initiative, meaning they can't be removed.
Mark van Kaathoven told Checkpoint the victory was very special.
"Nothing like this has ever been done before, and it's not just a first for New Zealand, but I think actually it's a first for all of Australasia."
He said the scale the berms had reached was all thanks to nature. "I've just quietly done my little bit. just putting a tree on the berm and then extending it with more planting ,and then lo and behold mother nature is along with me helping me”.
See also: An interview with Mark on Herald Now.