Managing Cultural Heritage in "Natural" Protected Areas: Case studies of Rangitoto and Motutapu islands in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf

Abstract

Protected areas (lands reserved by Government and local bodies for the nation) are places often considered natural, or becoming natural through ecological restoration. Features of cultural heritage associated with these areas, such as buildings, structures or archaeological sites, may be neglected, under-acknowledged, or even removed in order to support or create an image of “naturalness”. This has resulted in tensions and conflicts between stakeholders and managers. This thesis investigates the issue by using two island case studies in New Zealand’s conservation estate: Rangitoto Island (a Scenic Reserve) and Motutapu Island (a Recreation Reserve undergoing ecological restoration) – both located in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. The research is based on a substantial review of New Zealand and international literature, documentary analysis, interviews with heritage managers and stakeholders, and participant observation. The aim is to ascertain the factors influencing these tensions and conflicts; how they have been resolved on the islands; and, ultimately, how cultural heritage and natural heritage conservation can co-exist in “natural” protected areas. It is shown that three primary factors have contributed to difficulties over the conservation of cultural heritage on Rangitoto and Motutapu: the way the nature/culture dualism is imbedded in Western thinking and heritage management structures, the strength of the nature conservation ethic in New Zealand (and Western society in general), and the conduciveness of islandness to natural heritage conservation. Even so, over the past 15 years there have been increasingly positive outcomes for cultural heritage on the islands, as postmodern cultural landscape approaches have been adopted. However, obstacles still remain, especially attitudes emanating from sectors of society at large and departments administering protected areas, which continue to regard cultural heritage as not worthy of conservation in protected areas. To overcome these obstacles and achieve a co-existence of natural and cultural heritage conservation, the thesis argues that protected areas should be conceptualised along the lines of indigenous and non-modern thinking, as places with a plurality of heritage values which all deserve protection. Cultural heritage in protected areas should – and can – be conserved while also conserving the natural heritage cherished in these areas.