CULTURAL PRESERVATION
RESTORING RESPECT AND ANCESTRAL MOUNTAINS
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Photo: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
As you travel, recognize the historical and cultural importance of landscapes for Indigenous communities. This is the case for ancestral mountains around Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. These sites, returned to their original stewards, contribute to conservation and honor customs.
What's
changing
Around the world, many significant natural landmarks sacred to Indigenous communities have been lost, damaged or altered. Innovative management practices are emerging as crucial to their restoration and long-term survival.
What's already
possible
In Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau), Aotearoa New Zealand, volcanic cones, known as Tūpuna Maunga or ancestral mountains, carry deep spiritual and cultural significance for the region's Māori communities. However, 70% of these maunga have been lost or damaged. In a landmark treaty settlement in 2014, the city returned 14 Tūpuna Maunga to Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau, a collective of 13 of 19 Indigenous tribes in the area.
Seizing
the opportunity
A 2014 treaty established the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, which is a co-governance entity between the group and Auckland Council. The authority manages the maunga and stewards them through a Māori lens. A 2022 project on Maungawhau/Mount Eden added boardwalks at the summit, a large gathering place and native plants to provide habitats for wildlife. The boardwalk, following the natural contours of the maunga, is made of biodegradable materials constructed above the ground to protect the environment and respect Māori beliefs related to the life essence and spirit of the landscape and archaeological sites.
Standout
tactic
The stone blocks used to build a nearby prison in the 19th century were quarried from Mount Eden. When several prison buildings were demolished in recent years, the authority returned the stones to the hill to restore the maunga’s appearance closer to how it looked prior to European settlement.
How
it helps
The treaty settlement is a step toward cultural revitalization and environmental stewardship. It ensures that heritage sites can be managed with a indigenous lens to respect the past of the area and preserve it for the future. Pedestrianization of the maunga has had no negative effect on visitor numbers, and volunteers have planted more than 22,000 plants at the culturally sensitive sites.
Diving
deeper
How can organizations ensure that a focus on enhancing tourism infrastructure, such as new boardwalks and gathering places, does not prioritize visitor experiences and economic benefits over genuine environmental and cultural preservation of heritage sites?
Increasing
impact
Aiming to have tourism in the area be respectful and meaningful, the Tūpuna Maunga Authority works with local businesses to improve what they offer and teach them about the site’s cultural significance and proper visitor behavior. The authority is pursuing UNESCO heritage status for the maunga.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
