TE ATATU MARAE CHRONOLOGY PART 1
1989 115 ha land transferred from Auckland Harbour Board to WCC.
1992 Council initiates public consultation on future use of land. Most written submissions
wanted land retained as a reserve.
1995 Eco-Council adopts a concept plan for land without further public consultation. 30 ha for
housing.
1996 Public protest about proposal including 7000 signature petition supporting creation of a
Park on the entire area.
1997 More protests. 450 submissions presented to Council asking for a hearing. No response.
3/9/97 Projects Special Committee proposes a letter to submitters advising how the public will
be involved.
1998 Mayor Harvey proposes to establish a Museum of Gardens on all the undeveloped land.
Council resolves to prepare a concept development plan for Harbourview South and
Severance land.
Proposed Commercial development including marae and community facilities, tourism,
visitor services and accommodation, ferry service, events centre, cafes, restaurants,
residential apartment development, commercial activities associated with these.
1999 More public opposition.
MP’s Carter and Neeson conduct independent surveys. More than 70% of respondents
want the remaining land undeveloped as a park.
2000 A deputation from TARRA (Te Atatu Residents and Ratepayers Association0 is received by
Council. The Council resolves to retrieve Stage 2A from Waitakere Properties Ltd. It also
resolves to undertake public consultation setting out the options for use of the southern
area:
Option 1 Museum of Gardens and Commercial development
Option 2 Park and Commercial Development
Option 3 People’s Park (no commercial development)
20/2/00 Te Taumata Runanga supported and recognised the “Te Atatu Coalition Group” and its
commitments to develop a community based marae complex within the Te Atatu
Peninsula.
30/3/00 Te Taumata Runanga reports on possible marae sites. Sites investigated and rejected by
Council or the Henderson Community Board were Jack Pringle Park, Kaumatua Reserve,
Severance Land, End of Harbourview South Rd. Alternative sites investigated were
Harbourview, Gloria Reserve, Taipari Strand, Industrial sites around Totora/Wharf Rds.
25/10/00 Council resolved “That the Council’s future intention is to gazette all the undeveloped
land on Harbourview South as Open Space Reserve including 2A and the Lowland Reserve
and request the interested parties through the Te Atatu Residents Association to present
their proposals for the establishment of a community self-funding Trust and park concept
to this Council within nine months, at no cost to Council after which the gazette process
can proceed.”
A motion to provide a minimum of 2.5 ha of land for development of a marae on
Harbourview was lost.
Council rejected the Museum of Gardens proposal.
29/5/01 Council receives TARRA’s proposal and resolves
“That the Council introduce, within three months, a variation to the proposed District
Plan covering all the land of Harbourview to be encompassed by the People’s Park
concept, including the land to be revested by Waitakere Properties, to impose a zoning
suitable in all respects to deliver the People’s Park concept.”
“That an Open Space Management Plan be prepared to now encompass the whole of the
Harbourview land to be integrated with the People’s Park concept to demonstrate the
final design prior to any gazetted action under the Reserves Act 1977.”
“That the Council commit to providing funding towards the concept, and during the
Annual Plan/Budget 2001 consider a Uniform Annual Charge of $8.00 plus GST called the
‘People’s Park Development Charge’ to be charged for a maximum of five years as from
July 2001 towards the funding required by the ‘People’s Park’ for the initial five years
planned development, and that dialogue continue with the Auckland Regional Council.’
June 2001 Mayor Bob Harvey states “The people have told us loud and clear that they want no
development on this land and we’ve listened.”
10/12/01 The City Development Committee resolved
“That the three month time-frame for lodging of a District Plan for the re-zoning of
Harbour view South land (as established in minute no. 1154/2002) be extended until such
time as issues relating to the possible provision of land for Marae purposes at Harbour
view South is determined.”
“That the City Development Committee approves the proposed process for the Open
Space Management Plan and that public notification of the intent to prepare a Draft
Open Space Management Plan be undertaken in February.
18/2/02 Te Taumata Runanga resolved
“That the Te Taumata Runanga support Council provision of 2.5 ha of land on Te Atatu
Peninsula for a Marae.”
27/2/02 Council resolved
“That 2.5 ha of land at the Harbourview no. 2 site on the Harbourview People’s Park land
be provided for the Te Atatu Marae.”
Feb 2003 Following public consultation and extensive work put in by TARRA and, in particular, Anne
Grace the Open Space Management Plan was adopted by Council.
June 2003 Proposed plan change to allow a marae. Further to public consultation it was revealed in
November 2003 there were 91 submissions — 74 against , 17 for.
29/1/04 TARRA files an appeal in the Environment Court to block WCC district plan change 2
allowing a marae on Harbourview.
2/2/06 Environment Court decision deferred until outcome of Council’s proposed Plan Change
12 is known.
24/3/07 Environment Court gives approval for a marae, listing a number of conditions.
28/3/07 Melba Wellington says they intend to register as a marae reservation with the Maori Land
Court by October.
24/5/13 David Tanenui says there is an opportunity to create a business out of the marae by
charging overseas visitors to stay there and giving them a Maori cultural experience.
9/10/15 High Court decides Harbourview land not to be offered back to descendants of original
owners.
2016 The Auckland Unitary Plan zoned the 2.5 ha area as Maori Purpose.
18/6/16 Tree planting day at “Orangihina Park.”
15/11/16 Unitary Plan partly operative.
17/2/17 David Tanenui claimed at a meeting of HMLB “In 2003 Waitakere City Council were
about to gift/handover 2.5 hectares of land to Te Atatu Coalition Marae.”
2/5/17 HMLB endorses $120,000 for a Harbourview-Orangihina Masterplan.
April 2018 Council met with members of the Coalition Trust. Four tenure options were discussed.
- Title to the occupants in fee simple with revisionary interest to Council
- Reserves Act classification – local purpose (marae)
- A long-term lease pursuant to the Local Government Act 2002
- A Maori reservation pursuant to Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993
2018 Council granted $150,000 to the Coalition Trust from the contestable Cultural Initiatives
Fund
August 2018 Ratepayers were invited to make submissions on the Harbourview-Orangihina
Masterplan.
4/12/18 The Chairman of HMLB, Shane Henderson, attempted to stifle any comments on the
Marae by saying it was out of scope.
February 2019 The Harbourview-Orangihina Park Masterplan was adopted with an area for the marae
clearly carved out.
July 2019 The Te Atatu Marae Development Plan was completed. Resources to develop the marae
were significant.
18/2/20 HMLB received a deputation from Te Atatu Marae Coalition Trust Board. Spokesperson
was identified as Mihi Te Huia, Chairperson. She said they had planted trees involving
the Muslim community. She said the Council kept shifting the goalposts. They did not
want a lease –that’s what the Council wanted.
Local Board member Brenda Brady said she had supported the marae from the
beginning.
Councillor Cooper said she was disappointed it had taken so long.
March 2020 HMLB resolved to request that the land tenure for the marae be resolved by the Parks,
Arts, Community and Events Committee (or most appropriate committee).
2020 The Coalition Trust decided to proceed with a long-term lease while retaining the option
to pursue a Maori reservation at some time in the future.
Council has an agreement with the Coalition Trust to contribute to the scope, detailed
design, consent and stage one of the marae development.
15/9/20 A report was presented to HMLB recommending that it request the Governing Body to
grant a long-term lease to the Te Atatu Marae Coalition Trust subject to any relevant
statutory processes. Council has a grant agreement with the Coalition Trust to contribute.
The funding needs to be spent in the 2020/21 year.
Accountability in Auckland Council 