Heart of the Ngahere Sanctuary Proposal 
Mana Whenua of the Waitākere Ranges, Te Kawerau ā Maki, has put forward a proposal for a 6,145 hectare pest-free sanctuary within the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. Feedback was sought by means of a short survey, which has now closed.

The proposed protected area would limit public access to over a third of the park. Friends of Regional Parks has significant concerns about continuing to limit public access to Auckland's premier regional park, how long this limitation would be in place and how such a sanctuary would be managed.

FOR Parks believes that the proposal should be discussed robustly with wide public input as part of the creation of a Recreation and Track Plan for the entire park, which was identified in 2022 as the top priority action in the Regional Parks Management Plan.

FOR Parks members who completed the survey were invited to copy their responses to secretary@forparks.org.nz so that the organisation's position on the proposal reflects that of its members, park users and Auckland residents.

Click here to read the proposal.

Click here to read FOR Parks member responses to the survey (anonymous).

There is more information in the FOR Parks November 2024 newsletter, which also describes a visit to Glenfern Sanctuary Regional Park on Aotea/Great Barrier Island, and developments at Tāwharanui and Te Muri Regional Park.

Click here to read the FOR Parks newsletter.