Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 8, 2018 16:19:29 GMT 12
COUNCIL CONSIDERS PROTECTING TE MATA PEAK BY MAKING IT A WĀHI TAONGA
The option of recognising Te Mata Peak as a wāhi taonga, or sacred place, will be considered by Hastings District Council.
The council's planning and regulatory committee met on Thursday to discuss the adequacy of the Hastings district plan in light of the controversial track cut up the eastern side of Te Mata Peak late last year.
The track, built by Craggy Range winery, was deemed to have "no more than minor" environmental effects when the council issued resource consent, without public notification, in October 2017.
Last month an independent review found multiple issues had not been thoroughly scrutinised by the council, particularly the peak's importance to Ngāti Kahungunu.
This is partly because the peak is not a listed wāhi taonga, or wāhi tapu, and therefore cultural effects were not fully considered.
At Thursday's meeting councillors discussed the fact that if the peak was identified as a wāhi taonga it would mean hapu were treated as an affected party in any resource consent application received by the council.
Any activities involving excavation, modification or disturbance of the ground that would destroy wāhi taonga would be a discretionary activity.
An area can only be declared wāhi taonga if it is advanced as such by the hapu with mana whenua......
www.stuff.co.nz/environment/101252181/council-considers-protecting-te-mata-peak-by-making-it-a-whi-taonga
The option of recognising Te Mata Peak as a wāhi taonga, or sacred place, will be considered by Hastings District Council.
The council's planning and regulatory committee met on Thursday to discuss the adequacy of the Hastings district plan in light of the controversial track cut up the eastern side of Te Mata Peak late last year.
The track, built by Craggy Range winery, was deemed to have "no more than minor" environmental effects when the council issued resource consent, without public notification, in October 2017.
Last month an independent review found multiple issues had not been thoroughly scrutinised by the council, particularly the peak's importance to Ngāti Kahungunu.
This is partly because the peak is not a listed wāhi taonga, or wāhi tapu, and therefore cultural effects were not fully considered.
At Thursday's meeting councillors discussed the fact that if the peak was identified as a wāhi taonga it would mean hapu were treated as an affected party in any resource consent application received by the council.
Any activities involving excavation, modification or disturbance of the ground that would destroy wāhi taonga would be a discretionary activity.
An area can only be declared wāhi taonga if it is advanced as such by the hapu with mana whenua......
www.stuff.co.nz/environment/101252181/council-considers-protecting-te-mata-peak-by-making-it-a-whi-taonga