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New Zealand Herald, New Zealand
Jan 20 2005
Volcanic sites deserve UN recognition
by Brian Rudman
It would be nice, every now and again, if the Department of
Conservation's Wellington bureaucrats showed signs of appreciating
that a third of DoC's annual $300 million income comes out of the
pockets of Auckland taxpayers.
But once again, with the release of DoC's list of "six tentative
candidates" for World Heritage Site listing, Auckland gets the cold
shoulder.
Instead, remote and sparsely peopled sites far from the Big Smoke
pick up three of the six nominations: Kahurangi National Park at the
northwest corner of the South Island, the ghost-town of Oamaru
farther south, and the distant Kermadec Islands 1000km northeast of
civilisation.
The other three are Papamoa Pa near Tauranga, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
and Napier's dinky cluster of post-earthquake art deco buildings.
Now far be it from me to bad-mouth these places, or ponder whether
they're worthy of a place on a list that includes the Taj Mahal,
Great Wall of China and Tower of London.
But they are "also-rans" compared with Auckland's unique field of
50-odd volcanic cones, and DoC Auckland - if not DoC Wellington -
knows it. In 1995, the department's Auckland Conservancy declared
achieving World Heritage Site status for the volcanoes an integral
part of its conservation management strategy for the region. If the
head office wallahs don't have a copy, I can send them one.
DoC Auckland spokesman Warwick Murray loyally argues that
Wellington's list is only "indicative" and "is certainly not a
comprehensive one". To add Auckland's volcanic field, "what is needed
is some submissions from the public". His office has written to the
Auckland Volcanic Cones Protection Society and other groups telling
them to have their say.
Here's hoping Auckland's local politicians join the campaign. If
they're wondering what's the point, all they have to do is type in
"world heritage site" on an internet search engine and see the
tourism drawcard it is for existing title-holders.
There are 788 sites on the Unesco list. Everything from the Minaret
of Jam in Afghanistan and the Monastery of Haghpat in Armenia to
Fraser Island, Queensland, the last there because it claims to be the
largest sand island in the world. So?
The aim of listing is to seek "to encourage the identification,
protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around
the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity".
To be selected, a site must have "outstanding universal value" and
meet at least one of 10 listed criteria, which include cultural and
heritage conditions.
For the first time in the committee's 32-year history, New Zealand
has a representative on the selection panel, Ngati Tuwharetoa
paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu. As a man from volcano country
himself, he will appreciate the treasure that is Auckland's rich,
volcano-based past.
To Auckland's first visitors, both Maori and Pakeha, the volcanoes
were a thing of wonder. In 1858, Austrian geologist and explorer
Ferdinand von Hochstetter noted that "the isthmus of Auckland is one
of the most remarkable volcanic districts of the Earth".
He could have been penning the application to Unesco. "The remarkable
extinct volcanoes are unique in their kind, both with respect to
their number and the peculiar shape of their cones and craters and
streams of lava. In a circumference of only 10 miles [29km] from
Auckland, I had to note down no less than 53 extinct points of
eruption."
As to cultural import, he observed the extensive Maori terracing and
recorded that they once played "the part of mountain forts like the
castles of the Middle Ages ... As in Europe the ruins upon rock and
mountain heights are the gloomy mementoes of club-law, where might
alone made right ... "
World heritage listing will provide better protection next time
someone tries to drive a road or railway through one of the cones.
It will also be a great tourist draw. You can see the punters
browsing the internet. City of Sails, ho-hum. World Heritage City of
Volcanoes - "Wow. Let's don the hard-hats and go."
First, though, Auckland has to get on DoC's priority list. Details
for submissions at the Department of Conservation website (see link
below). We have until March 31.
Jan 20 2005
Volcanic sites deserve UN recognition
by Brian Rudman
It would be nice, every now and again, if the Department of
Conservation's Wellington bureaucrats showed signs of appreciating
that a third of DoC's annual $300 million income comes out of the
pockets of Auckland taxpayers.
But once again, with the release of DoC's list of "six tentative
candidates" for World Heritage Site listing, Auckland gets the cold
shoulder.
Instead, remote and sparsely peopled sites far from the Big Smoke
pick up three of the six nominations: Kahurangi National Park at the
northwest corner of the South Island, the ghost-town of Oamaru
farther south, and the distant Kermadec Islands 1000km northeast of
civilisation.
The other three are Papamoa Pa near Tauranga, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
and Napier's dinky cluster of post-earthquake art deco buildings.
Now far be it from me to bad-mouth these places, or ponder whether
they're worthy of a place on a list that includes the Taj Mahal,
Great Wall of China and Tower of London.
But they are "also-rans" compared with Auckland's unique field of
50-odd volcanic cones, and DoC Auckland - if not DoC Wellington -
knows it. In 1995, the department's Auckland Conservancy declared
achieving World Heritage Site status for the volcanoes an integral
part of its conservation management strategy for the region. If the
head office wallahs don't have a copy, I can send them one.
DoC Auckland spokesman Warwick Murray loyally argues that
Wellington's list is only "indicative" and "is certainly not a
comprehensive one". To add Auckland's volcanic field, "what is needed
is some submissions from the public". His office has written to the
Auckland Volcanic Cones Protection Society and other groups telling
them to have their say.
Here's hoping Auckland's local politicians join the campaign. If
they're wondering what's the point, all they have to do is type in
"world heritage site" on an internet search engine and see the
tourism drawcard it is for existing title-holders.
There are 788 sites on the Unesco list. Everything from the Minaret
of Jam in Afghanistan and the Monastery of Haghpat in Armenia to
Fraser Island, Queensland, the last there because it claims to be the
largest sand island in the world. So?
The aim of listing is to seek "to encourage the identification,
protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around
the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity".
To be selected, a site must have "outstanding universal value" and
meet at least one of 10 listed criteria, which include cultural and
heritage conditions.
For the first time in the committee's 32-year history, New Zealand
has a representative on the selection panel, Ngati Tuwharetoa
paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu. As a man from volcano country
himself, he will appreciate the treasure that is Auckland's rich,
volcano-based past.
To Auckland's first visitors, both Maori and Pakeha, the volcanoes
were a thing of wonder. In 1858, Austrian geologist and explorer
Ferdinand von Hochstetter noted that "the isthmus of Auckland is one
of the most remarkable volcanic districts of the Earth".
He could have been penning the application to Unesco. "The remarkable
extinct volcanoes are unique in their kind, both with respect to
their number and the peculiar shape of their cones and craters and
streams of lava. In a circumference of only 10 miles [29km] from
Auckland, I had to note down no less than 53 extinct points of
eruption."
As to cultural import, he observed the extensive Maori terracing and
recorded that they once played "the part of mountain forts like the
castles of the Middle Ages ... As in Europe the ruins upon rock and
mountain heights are the gloomy mementoes of club-law, where might
alone made right ... "
World heritage listing will provide better protection next time
someone tries to drive a road or railway through one of the cones.
It will also be a great tourist draw. You can see the punters
browsing the internet. City of Sails, ho-hum. World Heritage City of
Volcanoes - "Wow. Let's don the hard-hats and go."
First, though, Auckland has to get on DoC's priority list. Details
for submissions at the Department of Conservation website (see link
below). We have until March 31.