Please tell key MPs why we need the Heritage Area

Have you time to send one email to help save the Ranges?

THE BACKGROUND

In February 2006, the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill passed its first reading in Parliament by just one vote. The Green Party, Labour Party, Maori Party and Progressive Party supported the Bill. National, United Future, NZ First and Act MPs voted against it.  Since then it has been at Select Committee (who support it by majority) but it is now ready for MPs to vote on it again.

THE RISK

In the 16 months since the first vote, the Labour Party has lost the vote of Philip Taito-Fields and he is now casting his vote on an issue by issue basis. We don't know if he will support the Bill. We are also not sure if all four Maori Party MPs will support the Bill this time. We expect National (incl local MPs John Key and Paula Bennet), NZ First and Act MPs to vote against it again.

This means there is a BIG RISK it may not pass.

Douglas Coupland, a vocal opponent of the Bill, has left United Future which may mean Peter Dunne and Judy Turner are more open to supporting it.

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO

Please email (or telephone) one or more of the following MPs by 10am Monday morning and ask them to support the people of Waitakere and vote for the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill:

1) Email Philip Taito-Field

taito.phillip.field@parliament.govt.nz

2) Email Peter Dunne and Judy Turner of United Future

Peter - anne.small@parliament.govt.nz

Judy - judy.turner@parliament.govt.nz

3) Email the Maori Party MPs

Tariana Turia   tariana.turia@parliament.govt.nz

Te Ururoa Flavell teuruoa@parliament.gov.nz 

Hone Harawira  hone.harawira@parliament.govt.nz

Dr Pita Sharples Pita.Sharples@parliament.govt.nz

THINGS YOU CAN SAY

- Where you live and why you care about the Ranges

- Research shows 75-80% of Aucklanders and Waitakere residents want the Heritage Area Bill

- Urban sprawl is a proven threat to the landscape and ecology of the unique Waitakere Ranges and all the local authorities want the Bill to help them reduce that threat

- We have a duty to our families, children and grandchildren to protect the fragile Waitakere Ranges landscape and its small populations of rare plants and creatures

- The Bill is urgently needed because development is advancing fast and the Ranges are uniquely vulnerable being right on the edge of Auckland

- The Bill does not restrict any existing private property rights

- The Bill is widely accepted as a done deal in Waitakere City and real estate agents regularly promote properties as being desirably 'inside the Heritage Area'

You can read all the background here:

www.waitakereranges.org.nz/docs/heritage/

and here (as well as read the Bill and select committee report):

www.waitakere.govt.nz/AbtCit/ne/ranges.asp

If you'd sooner telephone, all MPs phone numbers are on the contacts us page here:

www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/

Thanks for taking a few moments to do this. Every email helps. More information is below.

best wishes

Kath

About the Bill

The Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Bill aims to recognise the national, regional and local importance of the Waitakere Ranges, foothills and coastal areas and to promote long-term protection and enhancement of this area and its important heritage features, now and in the future, while enabling the area to be lived and worked in. 

The proposed legislation does NOT confiscate any private land or restrict any existing private property rights.

What the legislation will do, if passed, is ensure decisions about development in the Ranges take account the impact the cumulative effects of the development would have on the future of the things we value about the area.  It is moderate and well-structured.

Why do we need the Bill?

- It follows widespread community concern about the adverse cumulative effects urban growth is having on the natural, rural and coastal landscape and the ecological, historic, and cultural heritage of the area.

- It responds to the difficulties in managing such effects under the current regulatory framework.

- It acknowledges we can no longer expect the privately funded efforts of ratepayer groups and not-for profit groups, such as the Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, to fight inappropriate resource consents to the Environment Court.  Almost all such cases have been won in Waitakere but at a huge cost in donated time and money.  This can not continue indefinitely against the rising power of commercial property developers in Waitakere, soaring land prices and Auckland’s urban growth.

- We need to better manage development on private land –  other suggestions which have been made – such as a National Park -  won’t address the issue of urban sprawl on privately owned land.

The Bill – Key Points

- Recognises the national and regional significance of the Ranges, foothills and coastal areas and promotes long-term protection and enhancement (27,720 hectares of public and private land).

- Builds on the RMA and provides guidance to the Councils in decision-making around policy statements and proposed plans to consider the long-term and cumulative effects.

-  Provides for environmental protection and economic development within the area.

The Bill does not

- Replace the RMA

- Replace or undo district plans prepared under the RMA

- Confiscate land or change the status of any private land

- Turn private land into parkland or reserve

- Effect the ability to bring a claim under the Treaty of Waitangi

- Have any precedent setting effect for other areas of New Zealand

- Change anyone’s property rights.

You can read all the background here:

and here (as well as read the Bill and select committee report):