An Auckland iwi is horrified that council contractors have carved into several volcanic cones, damaging archeological sites that date back 400 years.
Ngati Whatua O Orakei says Auckland City Council did not consult any iwi before carrying out fencing work on Mt Wellington, Mr Hobson, Mr Albert, Mt Roskill and Mt Taylor.
The iwi's spokesperson, Ngarimu Blair, says the council contractor has destroyed an area where some of his ancestors are buried and where store-houses and old battle trenchs stood hundreds of years ago.
Auckland City Council takes says it takes responsibility for what has happened, and is working with Ngati Whatua and the Historic Places Trust to try to fix the damage.
