Preface
The management plan for Te Urewera National Park was reviewed in accordance with section 47 of the National Parks Act. The previous management plan was prepared by the Department of Conservation, Rotorua for the East Coast National Parks and Reserves Board and approved in February 1989.
This plan has been jointly prepared by the East Coast Hawke's Bay Conservancy in consultation with the East Coast Hawke's Bay Conservation Board, representatives from tangata whenua and other interested groups and individuals.
The purpose of this management plan is to guide the Department of Conservation in the administration and management of Te Urewera National Park in accordance with the National Parks Act and the General Policy for National Parks and the East Coast Conservation Management Strategy 1998 for the next ten years. The extent of its effectiveness will be determined by the availability of resources and to a large degree the level of community support. This plan does not establish a promised level of funding. However, the stated objectives are underscored by a commitment by the Department to endeavour to obtain the necessary funding.
In February 2000, the review of the management plan was initiated after public notification in local and national newspapers and letters were sent inviting comment from tangata whenua, interest groups and concessionaires. A flyer was included which outlined the legal parameters within which the Department must review the plan. As a result of the comments received through this consultation process and numerous meetings and workshops with Departmental staff and the Te Urewera Park sub-committee of the East Coast Hawke's Bay Conservation Board this draft plan was prepared.
The draft management plan was then notified on the 30th June 2001 and was open for comment until January 2002. 139 submissions were received. Hearings and a hui followed to consider the submissions. With this information the Conservancy, in consultation with the Board, amended the draft plan. This was then forwarded to the New Zealand Conservation Authority for approval. The plan was approved on 12 February 2003.
The plan will be reviewed again within ten years from the date of approval, but can be reviewed in whole or in part at any time if there is due cause to do so.
This management plan is a statutory document and replaces the previous plan approved in 1989.
Kerry Marshall
Chairperson
New Zealand Conservation Authority
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