Date:  15 June 2016

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne is an integral part of the ancestral lands and waters of Ngāti Whare. Recognising this, co-governance of the park was provided for as part of the Ngāti Whare Claims Settlement Act 2012. The park is also a precious taonga/treasure in the Bay of Plenty, valued by the community for its special features and opportunities to connect with the natural environment.

This draft management plan for Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne has been prepared by the Department in consultation with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare and the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board.

Written submissions can be made until 16 August 2016. View the draft plan and information about submissions. Copies of the draft plan can also be viewed at DOC offices in Whakatane, Rotorua, Murupara, Taupō and Tauranga.

The plan acknowledges Ngāti Whare as kaitiaki of the park and provides for co-governance of it by the Trustees of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whare and the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board.

The plan is a statutory document which will guide the management direction over the next 10 years. It acknowledges the role of tangata whenua, the local community and key stakeholders and is guided by the key principles contained in the settlement legislation.

DOC Senior Community Ranger, Mike Jones said the draft document has been developed in a collaborative manner with Ngāti Whare. It uses a lot of Māori vocabulary and values such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and mauri (life force) to shape the aspirations and outcomes for Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne.

"It has been a very special process to be part of. Local DOC staff have gained a new appreciation for this special forest, talking and working alongside kaumatua (elders) of Ngāti Whare about the special places in Whirinaki.

"If Whirinaki is important to you, make sure you read the draft management plan, get involved and make a submission" said Mr Jones.

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park was created in 1984 and was the site of numerous protests associated with attempts to stop native logging of indigenous forests in New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s. Today it covers 65,000 hectares, is a strong-hold of whio (blue duck), north island brown kiwi, short and long-tailed bats and supports many recreational opportunities including mountain biking, short to multi-day walks, hunting and camping experiences.

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