“There’s been a lot of cuppas over the past year as details of the draft Makorori Master Plan were worked out between Gisborne District Council, residents, user groups and mana whenua,” said council liveable spaces planning team leader Tyler Kirk.
Now it’s time for the community to read it.
“We want to know if we have got this document right for a special beach in our region.”
The plan’s core purpose is to preserve the beach’s ecosystems and experience in response to ever growing visitor numbers and associated impacts.
The plan sets out seven key moves, and associated actions within:
■ Rationalise access to the dunes and beach.
■ Share Makorori’s history and cultural heritage.
■ Restore the dune system.
■ Create an inviting, safe, enjoyable place to visit, live and play.
■ Improve and establish dedicated car parking areas.
■ Improve safe access.
■ Engage the community.
But Mr Tyler told council’s operations committee that the plan “boiled down” to two main functions:
■ Designating carparks and reducing vehicle access through the wider dune system to allow the dunes to revegetate.
■ To share the cultural heritage of the beach in a way that reflects the aspirations of hapū, fostering place-based learning.
Mr Kirk says this includes the formal naming of visitor destinations after tīpuna and pā, with guidance from hapū, and signage to acknowledge some of these sites.
The report before the operations committee says such a move was part of a previous commitment made to the Searancke/Ferris whānau
A key outcome of the plan is to allow the beach to be developed and managed in a way that empowers te ao Māori.
Historical names will be returned to the beach and signs will be erected around historic pā sites.
“In a management sense, this is captured by the ongoing commitment to supporting mana whenua to self-determine and practise tīkanga.”
Mr Tyler said the vision for the draft plan was “for a thriving environment and people in the shelter of Te Toka-Ahuru/Ariel Reef — referencing its historical significance — to guide its management today”.
“It’s been in the planning for a long time.
“We’ve looked at it again with a recovery and post-cyclone lens to ensure it is still fit for purpose.”
Mr Kirk wanted to give special acknowledgement to the input of Makorori hapū, and Nikki Searancke in particular, as well as former councillor Pat Seymour, a huge champion for Makorori Beach, and the wider Makorori community for their support for the plan.
“We couldn’t have written this plan without the generous input of them all,” he said.”
The draft has been approved for public consultation by the operations committee.
At that committee meeting, Councillor Tony Robinson said the draft plan was a marvellous example of what could be achieved by working with mana whenua.
It was a template for what could be achieved.
Cr Larry Foster said Makorori was a special part of the district and could become the country’s first surfing reserve.
He wondered if the plan could promote speeding restrictions on the beach.
Speeding was a major concern for beach users and residents, he said.
Cr Rawinia Parata said she liked that the “stunning” plan looked at the culture, stories and history of the area.
However, she was concerned that council would not be able to match the public’s expectation.
Mr Tyler said it would be important to present the plan as a generational, 30-year vision, and not a plan for immediate implementation.
Questioned by Cr Robinson, he said it was proposed to move the freedom camping site at the southern end of the beach to a more central location.
Cr Nick Tupara said he supported the report before councillors.
But because of the way council conducted itself and created expectations in the community, he was concerned whether the “robust cultural context” of the report “would be lived up to”.
“We’ve opened the door particularly to Ngāti One One to come through and involve themselves significantly in the drafting of the report.”
That seemed fine.
“But council is entering a world where some of the culture and history is contestable,” Cr Tupara said.
Council was opening itself to be part of that contest.
Was Council robust enough to hold the report up during that contest?
Ngāti One One expected council to do so.
Cr Tupara said he was extremely cautious about the situation.
A beautiful picture had been painted, but when “it starts to collapse, we just leave it for our community to fight over”.
Council had to be bold and not back-pedal when things got rough.
“We are entering into kōrero which was part of a Māori Land Court debate when the land was lost.”
The land was purchased back and there was a dispute in the Waitangi Tribunal among hapū and iwi over who held mana whenua.
Council was now “part of that contest” and needed to be brave and bold.
“A cultural cyclone is likely to come,” said Cr Tupara
The draft master plan contains a set of projects which would require additional council and external resources to deliver.
Some are achievable within current renewal budgets, but the majority will require further consideration and prioritisation through council long-term planning processes.
There are no immediate financial implications to the operation committee’s decision to approve public notification on the draft plan.
Public Consultation
The draft plan is available to read on the Gisborne District Council website until June 30, with a short survey to get feedback from the community.
Printed copies and surveys will be available at council’s Gisborne and Te Puia Springs offices, the HB Williams Memorial Library, and Wainui Beach School reception.
The results of this survey, along with a refined plan, will be presented back to councillors in August.
