Forest & Bird supports the long term vision to restore Auckland’s maunga so these volcanic cones become sanctuaries for native wildlife and vegetation in New Zealand’s largest city. These special places will offer a glimpse of what Auckland was like in pre-human times and provide secure places for native birds such as tūī and kererū to feed and breed amongst native trees and plants.
The maunga will provide a base for native wildlife to spread further through the city and also act as stepping stones for birds traveling between the Waitakere Ranges and Hauraki Gulf sanctuary islands.
On Ōwairaka/Mt Albert around 3000 natives have already been planted and another 10,000 are scheduled to follow. A total of 345 exotic trees will be removed, over half of which are pest or weed species.
So far there are plans to plant 74,000 native trees and shrubs by 2021 on the 14 maunga in Auckland controlled by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority. These maunga will become beacons for nature in the city.
This work will ensure our children and grandhildren will have more opportunities to get close to nature. It has been shown that getting into natural places is beneficial for human wellbeing so all Aucklanders will gain from the restoration of the maunga.
We also recognise the maunga have great cultural importance for the iwi and hapu of Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. The 2014 Waitaingi Tribunal decision to return the maunga to iwi and hapu led to the creation of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, which is leading the restoration on behalf of all Aucklanders.