Kaikōura guardians seek feedback on world heritage proposal
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Kaikōura has come a long way since the idea of applying for world heritage status was first mooted 20 years ago, a community advocate says.
Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura (Kaikōura’s marine guardians) is hoping to make a bid for the World Heritage list, but first wants to hear from locals.
A community hui will be held at Donegal House, Kaikōura, on Tuesday, December 10, from 5.30pm to discuss the concept of world heritage for Kaikōura.
World heritage sites are landmark locations which are protected by an international treaty administered by Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
Te Korowai committee member Mel Skinner said Kaikōura’s world heritage journey began in 2004 when it was included in a tentative global list of 304 sites.
It was not progressed at the time because of a lack of protected marine and land areas, and the fragmented nature of marine planning and management in place.
‘‘A huge amount of work has been done since then,’’ Skinner said.
Te Korowai was established by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura in 2005 and successfully lobbied both local and central government for protections to be put in place.
The Kaikōura Marine Strategy was published in 2012, which led to the Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act being passed by Parliament two years later.
The legislation established the Kaikōura Marine Area, which comprises the 10,416 hectare Hikurangi marine reserve, a 4686ha whale sanctuary, five customary management areas, a fur seal sanctuary and restricted fishing areas.
On land, Te Rae o Atiu Hutton’s shearwater colony was establish on Kaikōura Peninsula in 2005, The Ka Whata Tu o Rakihouia Conservation Park was created in 2008, and other initiatives have been established since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2016.
The Kaikōura district’s international dark sky sanctuary status, obtained in September, boosted to the district’s case, Skinner said.
‘‘After the earthquake, WhaleWatch did a push to get it (world heritage status) relooked at and we’ve got people across the community doing some amazing things.’’
There are just three world heritage sites in New Zealand, including southwest New Zealand (the Westland, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring and Fiordland national parks), Tongariro National Park and the Subantarctic Islands.
Ten sites are on a tentative list prepared by the Department of Conservation.
‘‘The big difference between Kaikōura and the other sites, is they are on DOC controlled land, whereas we are looking at the whole district and the marine area,’’ Skinner said.
‘‘Aligning ourselves with the dark sky area and the marine space gives us something unique.’’
She said world heritage status will provide ‘‘clear direction for where Kaikōura is going’’ and will lead to global recognition.
The community hui on December 10 will be chaired by Te Korowai chairperson Tā Mark Solomon, the former Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere (chairperson).
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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