There have been ongoing discussions about returning ownership and management of Purau Maori Reserve to local rūnanga over the past century.
A report was presented to the Banks Peninsula Community Board in May last year which gave two options to return ownership to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, one of which would reclassify the land from recreation reserve to historic reserve.
The second and preferred option was to revoke the reserve status, which would enable the city council to then consider returning the land to Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke
The report was laid on the table while clarification was sought on the derivation of the reserve and claims of error in the report.
This was because the Purau Residents Association argued any decision to revoke the reserve status would be an ill-considered act of privatisation.
However, that report has now been “formally withdrawn by city council staff.”
The community board was presented with information within the area report at its meeting on Monday.
It said the report was withdrawn due to it being unlikely that the original recommendation from staff can proceed.
DoC staff stated that given the current location, use and historical significance of the reserve, they did not believe an argument could be made that the land has no reserve value.
Ngāti Wheke representatives have indicated to the city council they are now seeking further advice and the process is ongoing.
At the meeting on Monday, Deputy Mayor and Banks Peninsula councillor Andrew Turner requested clearer wording around DoC’s statement that they did “not believe” the reserve status could be revoked.
He said wording needed to be clearer before the community board accepted the statement as there has been a lot of community interest in the issue.
It is expected that a revised report will come to the community board within the next three years.
