DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan and Amendment to the GWRC Parks Network Plan
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DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan and amendment to the GWRC Parks Network Plan He Taonga mo tatou Lakes & wetlands of national significance Mihi & acknowledgments by Roopu Tiaki Members of Te Roopu Tiaki Te Roopu Kaitiaki consists of three trustees of Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) and three senior officers from Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC). Mark Te One Te Rira (Teri) Liz Mellish Tim Porteous Nigel Corry Amanda Cox DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan Puketapu Manager General Manager Parks Biodiversity Manager Environment PNBST Trustee PNBST Trustee PNBST Trustee GWRC GWRC GWRC Cover Image: An aerial view of Pencarrow Lighthouse and the Parangarahu Lakes, looking northeast. Aidan, http://www.flickr.com/photos/31909437@N00/2738703326 1 Executive Summary The strength of a rope is in its many strands. geological, ecological and cultural heritage features This draft co-management plan is the result of of the Parangarahu Lakes Area. For example, the intertwining of multiple interest strands based on a 2011 NIWA survey, the lakes are ranked to develop a shared vision for preserving and very highly on the national Lakes SPI index: protecting the taonga of Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera’s condition is ‘excellent’ with Lake Kohangatera and the broader Parangarahu nationally outstanding botanical values, placing Lakes area. The lakes and wetlands are an it at 10th ranking out of a total of 206 lakes; and area of national significance and located along Lake Kohangapirpiri’s condition is ‘high’ and Wellington’s Southeast Coast adjacent to the main ranked 47th. Notwithstanding these national harbour entrance, nestled behind the distinctive Te rankings, there are still risk, threats and issues to Rae-akiaki (Pencarrow Head) where the historic be addressed. Key risks to the ecological integrity Pencarrow Lighthouse is located. include aquatic weeks, terrestrial weeds, pest animals and human activities. Furthermore, a The plan has been developed jointly through priority issue for Taranaki Whānui is to improve kōrero with members of the iwi of Taranaki the opening of the lakes at the sea outlets with Whānui, community groups, interested individuals a long term goal to restore the once abundant and staff of Hutt City Council, Department of eel fishery for customary purposes. Restoration Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional of the eel fishery is connected to the restoration Council under the guidance and leadership of the mouri of the lakes and this is reflected in of the Roopu Tiaki. The Roopu Tiaki needs Management Objective 1: Restore the mouri and strong relationships with others to successfully maintain the ecological integrity of the Parangarahu manage the Parangarahu Lakes Area and to Lakes Area ecosystem to sustain vital and healthy progress towards achieving the ‘Kohanga Ora’ indigenous flora and fauna populations in and around Moemoeā-Vision. This is reflected by Management the Lakes. Objective 8: Strategic partnerships between agencies, landowners and community groups are Section 5 covers current management by GWRC developed to achieve the Moemoeā-Vision of the of the reserves within the Parangarahu Lakes Area plan. Kohanga Ora may be interpreted as ‘a nest in relation to GWRC’s delegated management nurturing life and wellbeing’. responsibility under the Reserves Act 1977. The GWRC Parks Network Plan (the management plan DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan The use of the term ‘kohanga’ builds on the for the regional parks and forests) will include names of the two Lakes and it is aspirational a chapter on the Parangarahu Lakes Area (PNP that the combined catchments of the Lakes Amendment). This will state the relevant policies and the wetlands and lakes themselves will of the Co-Management Plan as they apply to be recognised and sought after as a place for the reserve land. The following management nurturing biodiversity, for regenerating life, and objectives reflect the need to balance recreation, for sustaining human well-being. The guiding community and kaitiaki interests: Objective 5: principles for management of the Parangarahu Foster kaitiakitanga and greater participation in Lakes Area are: Kaitiakitanga; Co-Management; activities at the lakes and management by Taranaki Integrated Catchment Management Approach; and Whānui iwi and the community. Objective 7: Mouri Ora. These principles are further explained Recreation opportunities lead to appreciation of the in the context of the Moemoeā-Vision framework natural environment and to visitors being refreshed and in Section 2. nurtured from the experience. Section 3 (Mahi Tangata) provides an insight into Section 6 provides details of the eight management aspects of Māori history and values associated objectives and the specific actions for each with the area that is perhaps less well known. objective, which are prioritised as: Current It includes an overview of the Parangarahu activities or ‘business as usual’; Immediate priority native reserve block history to demonstrate the actions or those that require resources and focus Taranaki Whānui history of connection, loss and within the next three years; Medium priority reconnection with the lakes area and a section on actions that require funding bids to achieve, the importance of karaka trees and dendroglyphs or can wait to be achieved within a 3-10 year (tree carvings). Management Objective 4 reflects timeframe; and Long-term actions which may the need to protect this heritage: Protect and manage not occur within the 10-year life of this plan but the historic and cultural heritage, sites of significance which contribute to the Moemoeā – Vision and and other waahi taonga of the Parangarahu Lakes Area are likely to have significant funding and resource in accordance with kaitiakitanga principles. That the implications. significance of the cultural and natural features of the landscape is understood and their histories (oral and Section 7 (Rules for use and development) written) preserved. outlines the rules relating to the provision for, and management of, customary activities and The Natural Environment section (Section 4 Te recreational pursuits at Parangarahu Lakes Area. Taiao) highlights some of the unique landscape, Legislation under the Reserves Act 1977 and 2 Resource Management Act 1991 provides some constraints on the type of activities that can occur as of right and others that require a concession (in the form of a lease, licence or easement) or resource consent. Activities are categorised as: Allowed activities; Taranaki Whānui Kaitiaki Activities; Managed activities; Restricted activities; and Prohibited activities. The final section of the plan sets out the implementation monitoring and review provisions and includes an annual work programme, planning and review cycle that aligns to current systems used by GWRC. The co-management plan is intended to have a 10 year lifespan and is both aspirational and practical in the way it directs managers to achieve the mutual goals of Taranaki Whānui and Greater Wellington Regional Council. DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan 3 Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Section 1: Introduction 6 Purpose of the Plan 6 Process for development of plan 6 Relationship to other documents 6 Location 7 Titles and legal status 7 Governance roles and management responsibilities 8 Section 2: Moemoeā – Vision 11 Structure of the Management Plan 11 Moemoeā – Vision 11 Framework of the Roopu Tiaki Moemoeā – Vision 12 He Kōrero Whakamarama 13 Section 3: Mahi Tangata – human activities and land transactions over the years 15 Early Māori 15 DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan Parangarahu Block reserve land title and alienation history 16 Parangarahu Lakes Area as part of East Harbour Regional Park 22 Post Treaty Settlement - a new era of partnership (PNBST & GWRC) 23 Archaeological sites 23 Section 4: Te Taiao – Natural Environment 27 Landscape and geology 27 Ecosystems 28 Key Native Ecosystems 28 Fauna 28 Flora 32 Cultural heritage resources 33 Threats 35 Section 5: Management of the land as a Regional Park 37 Section 6: Management Objectives and Actions 39 Section 7: Rules for use and development 45 Allowed activities 45 Taranaki Whānui kaitiaki activities 45 4 Managed activities 45 Restricted activities 46 Prohibited Activities 46 Rules applying to activities in the Parangarahu Lakes Area 47 Section 8: Implementation monitoring and review. 49 Works programming and funding 49 Monitoring 49 Reporting 49 Review 49 Appendix 1: List of lands and legal descriptions 51 Appendix 2: Recorded archaeological sites 53 Appendix 3: Submission Form and Information on submission/workshop process 55 References 59 Archaeological Sources 61 Other Reading 62 Amendment to the GWRC Parks Network Plan 63 DRAFT Parangarahu Lakes Area Co-Management Plan 5 Section 1: Introduction Purpose of the Plan This plan outlines the co-management approach Plan will include a section on the Parangarahu by GWRC and PNBST for the Parangarahu Lakes Lakes Area, providing the relevant policies Area. It is the guiding document for management contained within this plan as they apply to the of the Parangarahu Lakes Area, setting the vision, reserve land for which GWRC has delegated guiding principles and the management objectives, management responsibility under the Reserves policy and actions. The plan is both aspirational Act 1977. In management of these areas, GWRC and practical in the way it directs managers to will be guided