savethepoint.org.nz

Who are Save The Point?

The group is comprised of a range of people from throughout Wellington who are opposed to any development on Te Raekaihau Point. We include planners, scientists, fishermen, lawyers, botanists, local business people, artists, teachers, landscape professionals, parents and children. Many of us have children who have learnt about the importance of the marine environment by actively exploring the sea, the shore and the rock pools.

Why do we oppose development on Te Raekaihau Point?

Te Raekaihau Point is part of the outstanding natural beauty of Wellington's South Coast. To erect a multi-storey building here would ruin this natural heritage feature that present and future generations are entitled to enjoy.

Te Raekaihau Point has significant geological, ecological, scenic and landscape values. It is also an important recreation area for local people and visitors to the city. Because of these values it should be protected from development and managed as a scenic reserve which everybody has access to.

What will the Aquarium of New Zealand look like?

It will be a 3-storey building, topped by an additional 2-storey tower plus 2 wind turbines, A huge car park will extend a considerable distance on either side of the building. There will also be a 20 metres deep carparking area between the existing road and the new building at the current road level. There will be display areas under the carpark which is retained by concrete walls that project right on to the storm beach. The construction planned under the car park (which is at road level) has been erroneously referred to as being 'underground'. We have confirmation from the architects that this is indeed the case.

The complex will include marine display areas, aquarium, and artificial rock pools. The final details of the actual displays, education facilities, shop, cafes and staffing have not been finalised according to the latest business plans

Who visits the point now?

Te Raekaihau Point is used by a wide range of people who come from all over Wellington to enjoy a mixture of outdoor recreational activities including walking, swimming, diving, bbq-ing, exploring, sunbathing, picnicking, reading and much more in this wild and natural landscape.

Isn't this just a local fuss - what has it to do with the rest of the city?

Te Raekaihau Point is only 10 minutes from the city. It is accessible by bus, cars, bike or by foot from neighbouring suburbs. This proximity of unspoiled scenic beauty to the capital city is a treasure to cherish. It is also what visitors and locals want and enjoy.

Why is it an important landscape?

Te Raekaihau Point is a place of outstanding natural beauty. It is spectacular in wild, stormy weather when wind, rain and waves rage against it and throw spume and spray to the sky. Equally stunning are the sunsets and magnificent views of the South Island on calm, clear evenings. Between these extremes are infinite variations.

What is the ecological significance of this site?

The Point is the seaward extension of the main headland of Te Raekaihau Reserve directly behind it. Both areas contain small areas of native plants classified as Conservation Site 2F. Both areas need to be protected together as part of a single integrated environment which represents a changing continuum of landscape from a ridge top to the foreshore.

Protection and rehabilitation of both areas under the Scenic Reserve B classification will, over time, allow this varied landscape to regain its botanical potential and integrity. It will also enable continued free public access to the whole of the point, the foreshore and the marine environment while protecting and restoring existing patterns of native flora and fauna..

Te Raekaihau Point is a stop-over site on the migration path for hundreds of Arctic terns every May. The return of the terns to Wellington is significant and should be actively encouraged. A development on this point could terminate this natural phenomenon. Other wildlife includes little blue penguins and occasional seals. Dolphins are often seen offshore.

What is the geological significance of the point?

"Te Raekaihau Point is a rock platform that was lifted from the sea during Great Wairarapa Fault earthquake of 1855. It is thus remarkable for its dramatic and recent origin, and for providing such a clear expression of earthquake-related coastal uplift during a very large earthquake."

"I consider the point to be an important landform on the South Wellington Coast, and to be of considerable historic and scientific interest to New Zealand."

Professor Tim Little, School of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, 9 February 2004

Wouldn't an Aquarium and marine education centre be a good for the city?

We are not against a marine education centre in Wellington that promotes knowledge about, and encourages conservation of Wellington's important marine environment. In principle marine education is a great idea. The fact is that Wellington can have a marine education centre, while leaving Te Raekaihau Point in its unspoiled state. There is no need to create artificial rock pools or surge channels in an environment where these already exist in their natural state.

The Point is a natural classroom that many Wellingtonians already enjoy without any extra cost to ratepayers. A marine education centre could be located in other, more suitable places that will not involve destruction of the natural coastal environment.

What is the legal status of the land?

The point is owned in fee simple by the Council. It is zoned Open Space B in the District Plan. It is part of the Tapu Te Ranga - Haewai Precinct which is listed in the Wellington City District Plan as a site of cultural significance. The precinct includes the three headlands which are significant to the Tangata Whenua and Tapu Te Ranga Island. The first headland is between Owhiro Bay and Island Bay and includes the escarpments of that area. The precinct extends into the ocean to include Tapu Te Ranga, the reefs extending to Te Rae Kaihau on the eastern side of Houghton Bay Haewai. Unlike adjacent land it does not have any reserve status under the Reserves Act 1977. The policies in the South Coast Management Plan support the location of the Aquarium of New Zealand on the point. As the land has no reserve status under the Reserves Act the policies have no legal status under that Act.

How can we protect this site from development?

The only way to permanently protect this site is to classify it as Scenic Reserve B under the Reserves Act.

Can the centre be built on the point?

The proposed Aquarium of New Zealand will require resource consent under the Resource Management Act 1991. Under Part II of the Resource Management Act 1991 the Council is required to take into account as a matter of national importance:

1. The preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment (including the coastal marine area), wetlands, and lakes and rivers and their margins, and the protection of them from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development;
2. The protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development;
3. The protection of areas of significant indigenous vegetation and significant habitats of indigenous fauna;
4. The maintenance and enhancement of public access to and along the coastal marine area.

The Council is also required to take into account the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.

What about the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement 1994?

Chapter 1 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement sets out the national priorities for the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment including protection from inappropriate subdivision, use and development. In particular under Policy 1.1.1: It is a national priority to preserve the natural character of the coastal environment by:

1. encouraging appropriate subdivision, use or development in areas where the natural character has already been compromised and avoiding sprawling or sporadic subdivision, use or development in the coastal environment;
2. taking into account the potential effects of subdivision, use, or development on the values relating to the natural character of the coastal environment, both within and outside the immediate location; and
3. avoiding cumulative adverse effects of subdivision, use and development in the coastal environment.

And
Policy 1.1.3

It is a national priority to protect the following features, which in themselves or in combination, are essential or important elements of the natural character of the coastal environment:

1. landscapes, seascapes and landforms, including:
   (i) significant representative examples of each landform which provide the variety in each region;
   (ii) visually or scientifically significant geological features; and
   (iii) the collective characteristics which give the coastal environment its natural character including wild and scenic areas;
2. characteristics of special spiritual, historical or cultural significance to Maori identified in accordance with tikanga Maori; and
3. significant places or areas of historic or cultural significance.

Policy 1.1.5

It is a national priority to restore and rehabilitate the natural character of the coastal environment where appropriate.

What does the Wellington City Council think about the proposal?

In the 2004/05 Annual Plan, Council approved a $4 million interest free loan and $120,000 towards the cost of the resource consent - the funds to be uplifted when the developers showed that they had all the funds in hand to complete the project. A year later the developers have uplifted the $120,000 without having raised all the necessary funding, and are now seeking an additional $3 million plus $350,000 for the resource consent and other related activities because of the escalating costs for the project.

This means a $7million interest-free loan for the structure AND $470,000 for resource consent and promotion. No real figures have yet been provided for the cost of the project. The latest estimate of $20 million plus does not include all the costs of fit-out of the Aquarium as none of these have yet been designed.

Are there any other concerns about the proposal?

What was a small scale, low-key marine education centre, has now become a quasi-commercial tourist- oriented, hi-tech Aquarium complex on the seaward side of the road. The scale of the project is not consistent with what was approved in the Annual Plan funding and is a concern to Wellingtonians.

What are the sources of the information published on this website?

All information made public by us regarding the Aquarium of New Zealand has been obtained from the following sources: Wellington City Council's official reports or minutes; material written by the Aquarium of New Zealand Trust or its directors; reprinted articles/letters from newspapers; and reports of meetings attended by our group members.