A landscape study that was done to feed in to the Napier District Plan has won a national award for its consultation with Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui ā Orotū, the Iwi authority for Napier.

The collaboration resulted in a recommendation for Otātara Pa to be listed as an outstanding natural feature in the district plan, despite the fact that it is an unusual choice for the designation. The designation will give it special status under the district plan, because of its prominence and important history for Ahuriri hapū. 

“If you didn’t have that component of mana whenua [input] Otātara would probably not have been given that classification – if you compare it to places like Queensland or Tarawera Lakes. The significance of the area to Māori is what pushed it up and there was a lot of discussion about that,” NCC manager of city development Paulina Wilhelm said.

Napier City Council won the resource management and strategic planning category of the Resene New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture Awards for the landscape assessment, which was done to recognise and protect all of the city’s important landscapes, significant natural areas, outstanding natural features and sites of significance to Māori, a legal requirement of councils.

Wilhelm said the council engaged landscape expert Gavin Lister from design firm Isthmus to undertake the landscape review. Lister was born and grew up in Hawke’s Bay, so was very familiar with the Napier area. 

“At the time we were also identifying significant sites to Māori and so we got the Taiwhenua and Tania Eden to give him all the background information so that he considered that component in his assessment. That was really the point of difference for that report.”

The study went beyond what was usually required for a district plan review, she said.

“We wanted to show what makes Napier special from both te ao Māori and te ao Pākeha perspectives. We’re delighted our efforts have been recognised at a national level,” she said.

The report also identified other key landscapes for inclusion, namely Pukekura (Sugar Loaf) and Heipipi Hills as special character features; Te Whanganui ā Orotū as a special character landscape, which encompasses the former lagoon seabed, nine individual special character features and the immediate surrounding hills of Poraiti; and the Taradale Hills, as a special amenity landscape.

“The award is further proof that working in partnership on documents such as this is well worth it,” said Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise. 

“Napier’s history still has a part to play in Napier’s future. The Napier District Plan is important for the future direction of our city, and protection of what is important to our whole community.” 

Gavin Lister, Principal of Isthmus, and Sophie Fisher, Isthmus Senior Landscape Architect, who worked on the study, describe it as one of those special projects that come along once in a while. 

“We regard the award as an endorsement of the approach taken by Napier City Council and Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui ā Orotu. We are particularly appreciative of the assistance from Tania Eden.” 

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.