Russell Protection Society

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.

The Treaty grounds currently contain a beautiful visitor centre designed by the famous Maori architect, John Scott, and an equally attractive cafe and landscaped grounds designed by our own Harry Turbott. These are all linked by a historic walkway that guides visitors to the renoun waka and Treaty House. Nowhere in its application does the Waitangi Trust justify a need for it's proposed massive building programme. Perhaps people can be excused for imagining that this must simply be an ego and revenue generating exercise gone mad.

The Historic Places Trust is concerned that a structure of that size is being considered in the most significantly historic place in the country. They claim that it will dominate Waitangi's rich heritage landscape as well as views of Waitangi from Russell, Paihia and many other parts of the Bay of Islands. The location of this proposed massive structure on one of the most obtrusive sites in the Treaty grounds is questioned. Ironically, the Treaty grounds has recently been considered for nomination as a World Heritage Site. They point out that this is not just a Northland issue and did encouraged everyone to have their say.

We did submit to this application. (click here)