The new Māori authority that looks after Auckland's volcanic cones is working with church leaders and a local board after a cross that once stood at the summit of Puketāpapa-Mount Roskill was removed.
Cross on Puketāpapa-Mount Roskill Photo: librarylatitude.blogspot.com
Puketāpapa-Mount Roskill was one of the 14 ancestral mountains returned to Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau following legislation passed in 2014.
The chair of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, Paul Majurey, said discussions between Auckland Council officers, working on behalf of the authority, church leaders and the Puketāpapa Local Board have been amicable.
"Staff met with the forum of church ministers and the local board to help facilitate local discussions, update them on the changes in ownership and discuss the future process for the cross. Those discussions culminated in the removal of the cross on Tuesday," Mr Majurey said.
"The Maunga Authority has agreed to receive an application to erect the cross for future events and consider this next month."
The cross on Puketāpapa-Mt Roskill is usually put up during Christmas and Easter, but due to an oversight, it remained in place without authorisation.
It is now being stored safely.
The Tūpuna Maunga are administered by the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, comprised of an equal number of representatives from Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland Council, together with one non-voting Crown representative.
