Maungakiekie One Tree Hill. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
Auckland's volcanic cones are now expected to make New Zealand's tentative World Heritage list with Ngati Whatua o Orakei's blessing.
But it could still be up to seven years before that process can start.
Two weeks ago, the Auckland iwi scuttled the Government's plans to announce New Zealand's
proposed sites ahead of the United Nations World Heritage Committee annual meeting which starts tomorrow in Christchurch.
Ngati Whatua o Orakei chairman Grant Hawke said the tribe was uncertain about how the settlement would affect its proposed Treaty of Waitangi settlement, which has been complicated by cross claims from other Auckland iwi.
That settlement's cultural redress component includes the title transfer of three of the volcanic field's 50 cones - Maungawhau Mt Eden, Maungakiekie One Tree Hill and Puketapapa Mt Roskill. The iwi also had concerns that extra legislation would complicate the cones' management.
Mr Hawke said the tribe was "surprised" by the planned announcement, given that no consultation on the issue had taken place with the Department of Conservation.
Meetings between DoC and Ngati Whatua meant the tribe was assured the nomination would have no effect on its settlement.
He said Ngati Whatua was now happy to support the field's nomination.
Meetings with World Heritage Committee chairman and Ngati Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu's representatives also changed Ngati Whatua's mind, Mr Hawke said.
Conservation Minister Chris Carter said he accepted Ngati Whatua could have been kept more informed, however he was delighted the tribe was now on board.
New Zealand has eight sites on its tentative list, and DoC has ordered them according to the technical difficulty it will take to get them on the official list. Only one a year is allowed to be nominated so it could be seven years before work can even begin on the cones' application.
In order, they are: Kahurangi National Park, the waters and seabed of the fiords of Fiordland, Napier Art Deco, Kerikeri's historic basin, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Kermadec Islands, Auckland's volcanic cones and the Poor Knights Islands.
