Russell Protection Society

Update 26-11-2008

The application has been withdrawn.

The March 5th edition of the Northern News contained a public notice that signalled a resource consent application by the Waitangi National Trust for the development of a huge complex at the Waitangi Treaty grounds. Then the NZ Herald (20 March) and Fairfax New Zealand ran articles about the Historic Places Trust fears that the proposed visitor centre plan would "be intrusive and dominant at precious site". What is going on?

The Waitangi National Trust has proposed the building of a visitor centre, auditorium, theatre, retail space, cafe, restaurant, porte cochere, raised walkway, road access and carparking covering some 5000 square metres (yes, 5000!) and requiring 8000 cubic metres of earthworks and removal of 1500 square metres of indigenous vegetation. It would be located in close proximity to the iconic Treaty House and Whare Runanga, on a grassy slope to the North and adjacent to the golf course that is highly visible from Russell and Tapeka Point.

Director General of Conservation (Doc) - Submission to the Northland Regional Council to support granting consent to undertake activities associated with the eradication of rodents by means of aerial and land based discharge of baits to the coastal marine area and land on various islands in the Eastern Bay of Islands.