CULTURAL IMPACT REPORT EASTERN BAYS SHARED PATH IN ASSOCIATION WITH WELLINGTON TENTHS TRUST, PORT NICHOLSON BLOCK SETTLEMENT TRUST AND TE ATIAWA KI TE UPOKO O TE IKA A MAUI POTIKI TRUST (FISHERIES) APRIL 2018 CULTURAL IMPACT REPORT EASTERN BAYS SHARE PATH HUTT CITY TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT OVERVIEW & TECHNICAL DETAIL .................................................................................3 EASTERN BAYS SHARED PATH – LOWER HUTT ..............................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CULTURAL IMPACT REPORT ...........................................................7 MAORI SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE ..........................................................................................................8 STATUTORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO WELLINGTON HARBOUR/TE WHANGANUI A TARA ..............................................................................................................................................................9 MANA WHENUA ORGANISATIONS OF WELLINGTON TODAY ....................................................9 THE IMPORTANCE OF TE WHANGANUI A TARA, AND FISHERIES ......................................... 11 MARINE AND COASTAL AREAS ACT .......................................................................................................... 12 GEORGE GREY AND LOWRY BAY ...................................................................................................... 14 CONCLUDING COMMENTS .................................................................................................................. 15 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 15 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................ 16 APPENDIX I- DRAFT ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY PROTOCOL .................................................... 17 APPENDIX II STATUTORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................... 18 APPENDIX III – HCC DISTRICT PLAN ................................................................................................ 23 April 2018 © Raukura Consultants 2 PROJECT OVERVIEW & TECHNICAL DETAIL 1. The Hutt City Council (HCC) transport strategy is seeking to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists along part of the Marine Drive in the Eastern Bays of Wellington by creating a wider cycle/pedestrian path and replacing a number of seawalls to provide fit-for-purpose structures that are resilient to storm surges and future sea level rise. 2. The proposed Eastern Bays Shared Path is a part of a shared path concept on the foreshore extending from east of Ngau Matau (Point Howard), Sorrento Bay around the eastern Bays almost to Oruamotoro (Days Bay). This includes Whio-rau (Lowry Bay) and including York Bay, Mahina Bay, Sunshine Bay to Muritai Road, Eastbourne – some 4.2 kilometres. The work will exclude the Days Bay area. 3. There is some 2 kilometre of the project length that is below MHWS and thus into the intertidal area, however approximately 90% of the shoreline that will be undergoing change already has a seawall. 4. The proposed sea wall will include in places a double or triple curved wall designed to deflect waves at both low and high tides to better protect the road edge and to provide a secure foundation for a shared pathway for cyclists and walkers at the water’s edge. 5. Along some sections a single curved reinforced concrete wall will be used and in other places rock revetment protection wall will be used. The will also be some with both a single curve and rock revetment. 6. The compact curved walls will in places replace a sloping rock revetment structure or even the existing rocky shore structure taking a flat surface at road level out further into the harbour to provide a platform for the shared path for both cyclists and walkers. The walls in places will intrude into the harbour past the line of mean high water and at times to the low water mark replacing the rocky shoreline or the beach with the reinforced concrete structure. 3 7. The Eastern Bays were the sites of Maori occupation from the earliest times following the arrival in the Harbour of the Polynesian explorer Kupe and the subsequent later settlement by the Whatonga people particularly Taraika (Whatonga’s son) whose name recognised in Te Whanganui a Tara along with his half-brother Tautoki.. Maori Pa and Kainga were close around the coastline at regular intervals in a pattern not unlike present settlements. These Maori settlements used the abundant local resources such as kaimoana – shellfish and fin fish along with seaweeds. Bird were also abundant as is recognised by the name Whiorau (many blue duck). 4 8. Physically, little remains of these Maori settlements in the coastal margins particularly given the degree of tectonic uplift that has occurred around this coastline. For these works Maori archaeology is unlikely to be revealed, however this report proposes having an accidental discovery protocol in place for the whole scheme. 9. There are parts of the coastline where there are substantial rocky headland outcrops where no wall is required, however there are long lengths of the embayment which will require the concrete seawalls or rock revetments. 10. The seawalls will provide a shared path between 2.5 - 3.5 metres wide visibly delineated along the path. Along the route existing and new steps and ramps will give good access to the beach. EASTERN BAYS SHARED PATH – LOWER HUTT 11. This 4.4 km shared path along the primary corridor will connect residents in the Eastern Bays to workplaces, schools, shops and public transport facilities in the rest of Hutt City, and further through to the Wellington CBD in the future by joining up and connecting to existing cycleways. It will also connect to the Wainuiomata Hill shared path (which is now in construction) and the Beltway path. 5 12. This project will provide for a safer and continuous cycling route for residents wishing to cycle between the Eastern Bays and the rest of Hutt City. It will help to attract new people to commute by bike, especially those who currently lack confidence or perceive the route as unsafe. Penguin and Fish Passage 13. Specific provision has been made in the design to allow penguin seeking to nest inland of the roadway have used culverts to access nest sites. Rock riprap could assist this access. 14. There are also some places where fish passage is provided for. Indigenous fish species such as tuna/eel, inanga/whitebait, and kokopu. Perched culverts need to be avoided to allow fish passage. 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CULTURAL IMPACT REPORT 15. The harbour edge from Point Howard to Eastbourne has been the subject of storms in certain winds from the Cook Strait. The shoreline is subject to the southerly storms which can develop large waves which erode the shoreline and breaks up sea walls. The new seawalls will at times be overtopped, but generally the wave will be deflected back to sea. 16. From the historical Maori perspective these shorelines used to provided mahinga kai or a place to gather shellfish like pipi and various species collectively now known as surf clams. At the time of the arrival of European settlers into the Hutt Valley the forest grew right down to the harbours edge in many places and so a habitat for various birds species used by Maori for food and clothing. 17. The proposed seawall although often replacing or covering existing seaside protection which had previously been constructed, there will be places where the excavation may expose cultural materials such as shell middens, burned stone and perhaps even objects which have arisen in this coastline from time to time. However it is not possible to accurately identify such areas and it is not thought that an archaeological authority is required for this project with respect to Maori archaeology. 18. The Maori sites of significance along this coastline listed in the Hutt District Plan include Whiorau/Lowry Bay which was an old Pa site and well as being a place known as mahinga kai or a place to gather seafood. Whiorau meaning the place was abundant with the native blue duck (whio) showing it was not only a source of seafood but also for birding (when whio were much more numerous). Although Oruamotoro/Days Bay is not listed in the District Plan it also is an old Pa site of significance in the area, however it is slightly outside the project area. 19. There are two statutory acknowledgments in relation to settlements with Taranaki whanui (PNBST) and Ngati Toa over Wellington harbour requiring consultation and acknowledgment of the tradition connection with the harbour. Details of these mechanism are given in the appendicies to this report. 7 MAORI SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE 20. Whio-rau1 Lowry Bay. The name means ‘[the place of] many blue duck, whio, (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus)’, and was apparently a favorable place for securing this species. Best (6, p 151) mentions that Whio-rau was not only the haunt of numerous waterfowl, but that the beach there was also one of the favorite fishing grounds, within the confines of the harbour, of the Ngāti-Ira people. 21. Ngau-matau ‘Northern headland of Lowry Bay’ (8, Pt5, p166), now called Point Howard. The name means ‘bite the fish hook’. 22. Orua- motoro Pa was located at Days Bay and was said to have been built by Te Hiha of Ngati Kahungunu (Ngati Ira?). 23. Although there are likely to be shell midden