Draft Regional Parks Management Plan
Consultation has concluded
Auckland’s 28 regional parks cover 41,000 hectares of public space. They are valued for their natural and heritage qualities and for the many wonderful experiences they offer us to connect to natural places.
The Regional Parks Management Plan is the council’s plan that guides our management of these parks to both protect them and to enable people to enjoy the parks. This review of the 2010 plan has resulted in an updated management plan to guide regional parks management over the next 10 years.
Following review of submissions and hearings, the amended plan was approved by the council on 22 September 2022.
Read the 29 September 2022 media release ‘Auckland Council adopts 10-year plan to guide the management of our regional parks’.
The approved Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 is published online.
The report presenting the plan for approval, including the Hearings Panel report and attachments, is available online here (item 18) and minutes are online here (item 18).
This review is now complete. Please direct any queries relating to the Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 to regionalparksplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Auckland’s 28 regional parks cover 41,000 hectares of public space. They are valued for their natural and heritage qualities and for the many wonderful experiences they offer us to connect to natural places.
The Regional Parks Management Plan is the council’s plan that guides our management of these parks to both protect them and to enable people to enjoy the parks. This review of the 2010 plan has resulted in an updated management plan to guide regional parks management over the next 10 years.
Following review of submissions and hearings, the amended plan was approved by the council on 22 September 2022.
Read the 29 September 2022 media release ‘Auckland Council adopts 10-year plan to guide the management of our regional parks’.
The approved Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 is published online.
The report presenting the plan for approval, including the Hearings Panel report and attachments, is available online here (item 18) and minutes are online here (item 18).
This review is now complete. Please direct any queries relating to the Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 to regionalparksplan@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Do you have a question on the Regional Parks Management Plan Review?
Ask us here:
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What month will the draft management plan go out for consultation?
Alexis Poppelbaum asked about 2 years agoKia ora Alexis,
Thanks for your question.
As at January 2021 we are just starting preparation of the draft plan. We will post updates on this site when our target date for draft plan publication becomes more definite.
Ngā mihi
The project team
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will dogs still be able to be off leash here, or will we need to adjust to the before 10am and after 5pm Auckland rule during holiday periods?
della asked over 2 years agoKia ora Della,
The rules about dogs on parks are contained in the Dog Management Bylaw 2019 and Policy on Dogs. These were consulted on across the region, including for regional parks, in 2019 and are reviewed every five years. The changes to the bylaw included an agreed time and season rule of 10am to 5pm from 1 December to 1 March, which is consistent across the Auckland region.
The rules will not be reviewed through the management plan review as the council now manages all rules about dogs through bylaws. This is a change from 2010 when the last regional parks management plan was published.
Ngā mihi,
Regional Parks Management Plan Review Project Team.
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How will Council protect inground features and wahi tapu on their level 2 and 3 parks? How will Council protect heritage or notable trees, especially exotic, and is replanting the same species appropriate?
Fiona McKenzie asked over 2 years agoThanks for your question. We will be looking at issues like these when drafting the next plan and at this stage are seeking your suggestions for how you would like us to protect trees and wāhi tapu, please let us know what your views are.
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What will happen to the tracks not on the five year track upgrade plan in the waitakere ranges.
alex ward asked over 2 years agoA five-year track upgrade plan was developed for the Waitakere Ranges following public consultation and covers the tracks that we intend to upgrade and re-open between July 2019 to June 2024. The plan also includes tracks for further investigation, which could be included in the five-year work programme as well as listing those tracks for which no decision has been made but will need to be considered at some point into the future.
Through this regional parks management plan review we are considering creating a decision-making framework for determining future tracks for upgrade and opening and those to remain closed (beyond those in five-year plan).
The reason for having a decision-making framework, rather than specifying the fate of individual tracks in the plan review is that:
- science and the guidance around kauri protection continue to evolve
- over this coming year we are undertaking a repeat aerial surveillance and ground-truthing of the state of kauri in the ranges. Updated information about the overall state of kauri will contribute to future track assessment
- the cost of track upgrades: we will need to assess how to get the best benefit from available funding, particularly noting there is some uncertainty around on the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on Council’s budgets
- the consultation process may reveal other recreational opportunities that the public wish to see activated
We welcome your suggestions on the types of walking experiences that you would like to see more of in the Waitākere Ranges to complement those already open and on the five-year plan. For example, do you want more short tracks, or loop tracks, tracks with views, half or full-day walks, tracks with certain levels of challenge (or not).
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Can we visit Brown Island. What is planned?
Betty Wilkings. asked over 2 years agoKia ora Betty,
Yes you can visit Motukorea / Browns Island, however you need a private boat or kayak to get there. People are allowed to make day trips to the island at any time.
We will be confirming the management direction for the island including any future development plans through this management plan review. We have published some information about the history and values and proposed management focus for the island in pages 46-48 of our discussion paper, which is published on this site. Please give us your feedback and suggestions to help us draft a plan for this beautiful little island.
Thanks for your question!
The project team
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why do you encourage private vehicles and not public transport?
damiansulser asked over 2 years agoThanks for your question, damiansulser. Answer below:
Auckland Transport sets public transport routes and its goal is to increase public transport numbers. To do this it focuses on improving public transport between places where people travel on a very regular basis, such as between home and work or education. Making these routes better first is most effective in reducing private vehicle travel within the Auckland region.
Some regional parks are on public transport routes, but many are too rural to meet Auckland Transport’s priorities for public transport. As there are limited resources for public transport, this situation is not likely to change soon.
We want to encourage people to visit and enjoy the parks and we want to encourage them to do it in the most sustainable way possible. However, most people find driving in a private vehicle to a regional park is the most convenient way, or the only way, to get to many parks. But driving private vehicles has an environmental cost and also creates congestion in the popular parks in summer. The 1.1 million vehicle trips that we count going to regional parks each year is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions relating to regional parks. This is a problem.
The question is: what to do about it. There is no obvious fix. On page 28 of on our discussion paper we make some suggestions of ways to reduce the carbon footprint associated with private vehicle trips to regional parks:
- electric vehicle charging stations
- reserving car parks for electric vehicles
- paid parking where public transport is available
- online information for visitors to check how busy a carpark is before they set out
- a voluntary carbon offset scheme for park visitors
- car-free days for regional parks where many visitors come from nearby areas.
We really want to hear your suggestions. Please read our discussion paper and tell us what methods you think we should propose that will be both effective and acceptable to people. How can we enable people to continue to enjoy the parks while reducing private vehicle use?
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Edward asked this question on the Suggestions Board: Where to we go to view the full report on the Hunua Trail?
over 2 years agoThe latest report on the Hunua Trail was considered by council’s Environment and Community Committee on 10 July 2019 (click on the link to access the report and attachment).
Regional Parks Management Plan Review Project Team
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Why are there permanent track closures in the Waitakeres?
Lauren asked over 2 years agoThere are only nine tracks in the Waitakere Ranges that have been permanently closed – these tracks have been closed to the public since 2012 as they traverse through areas of high value non-diseased kauri. The decision to permanently close recognised the need for ongoing protection of these areas.
Regional Parks Management Plan Project Team
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Why is regular track maintenance not being done in Waitakere Ranges? Some of these tracks are in need of cutting/ maintenance.
Morag Padfield asked over 2 years agoAll tracks that are open in the Waitakere Ranges are subject to regular maintenance. In most instances tracks are receiving a greater level of maintenance then prior to the decision to close the forested areas of the parks to ensure that upgraded tracks are kept at the required standards. Tracks that are temporarily closed also have maintenance programmed – this maintenance includes some vegetation management and ensuring track side drains are cleared to reduce damage to track surface during heavy rain events.
Regional Parks Management Plan Review Project Team
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What is happening g with kauri dieback track improvements
Morag Padfield asked over 2 years agoThank you for your questions – please see our responses below.
What we are doing to reduce the spread of kauri dieback
To protect healthy and at-risk kauri, we have closed a number of forested areas and tracks around the region.
These closures include:
- the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges, with some exemptions
- a number of high-risk tracks in the Hūnua Ranges, For more information about what tracks are closed, see the Protect our kauri trees page.
In April 2018, the Environment and Community Committee resolved to close the forested areas of the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, with some exceptions, to respond to the on-going spread and impacts of kauri dieback (ENV/2018/44). The Environment and Community Committee decision anticipated the re-opening of tracks once they were brought to kauri safe standards. We keep an up to date list of open and closed tracks in the Waitākere Ranges on our website.
Track and park closures were implemented from 1 May 2018, at the same time as a Controlled Area Notice was placed over the Waitākere and Hūnua Ranges Regional Parks by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
In February 2019, a public consultation process was carried out to seek feedback on a draft plan for re-opening tracks in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park from 2019/2020 onwards. This has resulted in a five-year work programme and includes the list of tracks that will be prioritised for track re-opening over this timeframe.
A focus for the delivery of this plan will be to complete work as soon as possible, taking into account strong community interest.
Where possible work on some tracks will be brought forward if others are completed earlier than planned. Timeframes are indicative for this reason and also because with any operational programme, there can be unforeseen factors that can influence delivery.
Work is also being carried out across other regional parks where there are kauri, including Wenderholm, Shakespear, Āwhitu, Glenfern Sanctuary, Duder and Tāwharanui.
Regional Parks Management Plan Review Project Team
Who's Listening
Project Timeline
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Notification of intent to prepare a new plan: August 2020
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stage -
Consultation Round One: 1 September - 26 October 2020
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stageWe called for your suggestions on matters to address.
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Preparing a draft plan: During 2021
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stageWe reviewed all suggestions to help prepare the draft plan.
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Consultation on the draft plan: 10 December 2021 - 4 March 2022
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stageThe draft plan is published for 12 weeks for you to submit your feedback.
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Hearings on the draft plan: May 2022
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stageHearings will be held for those who wish to speak to their submission.
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Revision of the draft plan: June-August 2022
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan has finished this stageAfter review of the feedback on the draft plan, the draft will be updated and presented to the governing body to vote on adopting the plan.
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Implementation planning - from October 2022
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan is currently at this stageImplementation planning to deliver and report delivery against the new plan commences
Draft Regional Parks Management Plan
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Full draft Plan (excluding maps) - 19MB (18.7 MB) (pdf)
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Book One (General sections) - draft (6.34 MB) (pdf)
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Ambury - draft chapter (901 KB) (pdf)
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Ātiu Creek - draft chapter (438 KB) (pdf)
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Āwhitu - draft chapter (267 KB) (pdf)
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Duder - draft chapter (409 KB) (pdf)
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Glenfern - draft chapter (267 KB) (pdf)
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Hūnua Ranges - draft chapter (857 KB) (pdf)
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Long Bay - draft chapter (296 KB) (pdf)
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Mahurangi East - draft chapter (820 KB) (pdf)
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Mahurangi West - draft chapter (622 KB) (pdf)
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Motukorea Browns Island - draft chapter (999 KB) (pdf)
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Muriwai - draft chapter (915 KB) (pdf)
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Ōmana - draft chapter (1.02 MB) (pdf)
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Pakiri - draft chapter (228 KB) (pdf)
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Scandrett - draft chapter (719 KB) (pdf)
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Shakespear - draft chapter (893 KB) (pdf)
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Tāpapakanga - draft chapter (325 KB) (pdf)
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Tāwharanui - draft chapter (365 KB) (pdf)
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Tawhitokino & Ōrere Point - draft chapter (244 KB) (pdf)
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Te Ārai - draft chapter (296 KB) (pdf)
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Te Muri - draft chapter (992 KB) (pdf)
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Te Rau Pūriri - draft chapter (230 KB) (pdf)
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Waharau - draft chapter (442 KB) (pdf)
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Waitākere Ranges - draft chapter (747 KB) (pdf)
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Waitawa - draft chapter (1010 KB) (pdf)
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Wenderholm - draft chapter (212 KB) (pdf)
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Whakanewha - draft chapter (417 KB) (pdf)
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Whakatīwai - draft chapter (672 KB) (pdf)
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Appendices 1-7 (406 KB) (pdf)
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Appendix 8 (864 KB) (pdf)
Maps - draft Plan
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Regional Parks Overview.pdf (1.33 MB) (pdf)
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Maps Legend.pdf (1010 KB) (pdf)
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Ambury Regional Park - Map 1.pdf (1.65 MB) (pdf)
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Ātiu Creek Regional Park - Map 2.1 - 2.2.pdf (3.47 MB) (pdf)
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Āwhitu Regional Park - Map 3.pdf (1.59 MB) (pdf)
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Duder Regional Park - Map 4.pdf (1.46 MB) (pdf)
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Glenfern Regional Park - Map 24.pdf (1.15 MB) (pdf)
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Hūnua Ranges Regional Park - Map 5.1 - 5.7.pdf (32.9 MB) (pdf)
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Long Bay Regional Park - Map 6.1 -6.2.pdf (2.6 MB) (pdf)
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Mahurangi East Regional Park - Map 7.1.pdf (1.32 MB) (pdf)
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Mahurangi West Regional Park - Map 7.2.pdf (1.72 MB) (pdf)
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Motukorea _ Browns Island Regional Park - Map 28.pdf (938 KB) (pdf)
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Muriwai Regional Park - Map 8.1 - 8.2.pdf (3.12 MB) (pdf)
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Ōmana Regional Park - Map 9.pdf (1.57 MB) (pdf)
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Ōrere Point Regional Park - Map 15.2.pdf (936 KB) (pdf)
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Pakiri Regional Park - Map 10.pdf (1.29 MB) (pdf)
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Scandrett Regional Park - Map 11.pdf (1.14 MB) (pdf)
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Shakespear Regional Park - Map 12.pdf (1.62 MB) (pdf)
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Tāpapakanga Regional Park - Map 13.pdf (1.55 MB) (pdf)
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Tāwharanui Regional Park - Map 14.1 - 14.2.pdf (3 MB) (pdf)
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Tawhitokino Regional Park - Map 15.1.pdf (1.03 MB) (pdf)
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Te Ārai Regional Park - Map 16.pdf (1.57 MB) (pdf)
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Te Muri Regional Park - Map 26.pdf (1.84 MB) (pdf)
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Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park - Map 17.pdf (1.53 MB) (pdf)
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Waharau Regional Park - Map 18.pdf (1.4 MB) (pdf)
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Waitākere Ranges Regional Park - Map 19.1 - 19.17.pdf (33.8 MB) (pdf)
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Waitawa Regional Park - Map 20.pdf (1.48 MB) (pdf)
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Wenderholm Regional Park - Map 21.pdf (1.71 MB) (pdf)
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Whakanewha Regional Park - Map 22.pdf (1.69 MB) (pdf)
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Whakatīwai Regional Park - Map 23.pdf (1.11 MB) (pdf)
Hardcopy Feedback Form
Supplementary Documents
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Powerpoint for the Public Online Briefing - see recording in the links below (1.82 MB) (pdf)
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Frequently asked Questions 11 February 2022.pdf (173 KB) (pdf)
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2021 Tracks Research Summary (1.69 MB) (pdf)
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2021 Tracks Research - Full Report (9.7 MB) (pdf)
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2019-24 Waitakere Ranges Track Reopening Work Programme (1.61 MB) (pdf)
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Waitakere Ranges Track Plan 2019 (map) (1.97 MB) (pdf)
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Appendix 8 - land inventory maps Ambury to Hūnua Ranges (7.77 MB) (pdf)
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Appendix 8 - land inventory maps Long Bay to Waharau (11.2 MB) (pdf)
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Appendix 8 - land inventory maps Waitākere to Whakatīwai (19.1 MB) (pdf)
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Summary of suggestions - January 2021 (1.45 MB) (pdf)
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Discussion Paper - September 2020 (5.78 MB) (pdf)
Important Links
- Hearings page
- Recording - Public Online Briefing - 17 February 2022
- Our Auckland story - 11 February 2022 - No plan to change ownership or management of Auckland’s regional parks
- Public notice: Reclassification of reserves within regional parks (10 December 2021)
- OurAuckland story - 10 December 2021 - Have your say on our draft management plan for regional parks
- OurAuckland story – 6 December 2021 – Regional Parks to receive Māori names and share history
- PACE Committee Agenda (item 8) – 2 December 2021 meeting