Our marine environments provide unique habitats for species and places for Aucklanders to enjoy.
Our native forest-covered ranges, the Waitākere and Hunua Ranges, are spectacular natural landscapes, habitats and hotspots of native biodiversity.
They are also the source of our drinking water.
Our 28 regional parks represent significant natural areas.
They offer:
- recreation opportunities
- biodiversity protection
- stunning scenery
- natural functions, such as land stability, carbon sequestration, water storage and filtration.
Taking care of our significant natural environments and cultural heritage protects biodiversity, landscapes and lifestyle activities. It also mitigates climate change.
Taking care of our sites of significance and cultural landscapes protects our unique identity and the rich histories and stories embedded in the land.
Sites and landscapes of cultural significance include:
- extensive archaeological landscapes of Āwhitu Peninsula
- the Tūpuna Maunga and other Auckland isthmus volcanic cones
- Ōtuataua stone fields
- Franklin volcanic fields.
Many of these environments are threatened by how they are currently treated and, unless we actively protect them, are likely to decline further as Auckland's population grows.
Unique cultural sites, landscapes and sites of significance to Māori must be protected from the pressures of growth as well as other emerging threats and risks.
The map below was originally published in June 2018.
