Auckland's Maunga Authority says iwi are making progress in protecting their taonga - the city's tihi (summit) - after receiving a large funding boost.
Maungawhau-Mount Eden Photo: CC Foolash
The authority was established eight months ago, and its kaupapa is to protect the 14 Tūpuna Maunga affiliated with the 13 iwi in the rohe.
Auckland Council has allocated nearly $80 million to the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority for the next 10 years.
The authority's chair Paul Majurey said its first project was to ban vehicles at Maungawhau-Mount Eden's summit, other than those used by the disabled. It hopes to have the ban in place by the end of the year.
Mr Majurey said the Maunga Authority was on the right track after receiving the funding boost and it was an encouraging development for iwi.
"The authority is aware there are contests over priorities for Auckland in terms of that next 10-year period, and so therefore the support for the co-governance arrangements between mana whenua, the Auckland Council, and the work of the Maunga Authority for these iconic places is very reassuring."
He said the authority planned to approach communities and iwi to establish what was needed to protect each Tūpuna Maunga.