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A new reserve to be created in Manukau City will preserve some of New Zealand's last remaining examples of gardening techniques used by pre-European Maori.
The Matukuturua Stonefields and the remains of the volcanic cone Matukutureia, or McLaughlin's Mount, will be included in a reserve to be established beside the Puhinui Reserve.
Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said protecting the stonefields and volcanic cone for future generations was very important for New Zealanders.
"Sites like Matukuturua play a vital part in developing our understanding of the way early Maori used the land and help explain the first centuries of Auckland's settlement.
"The maunga [mount] Matukutureia - being the birthplace of Ngati te Ata's founding ancestor - has special significance."
The stonefields show boundary walls, garden mounds and cooking areas from the 19th century, which are now internationally recognised.
Ms Chadwick said being able to safeguard such taonga was part of an aim to protect places which represent important aspects of the country's history and character.
"The Matukuturua site is especially important as it represents a large proportion of the 200ha of stonefields that remain from the 8000ha that once existed in the Auckland region."
