We’ve worked with heritage, conservation and cultural experts, engineers and other specialists to help protect and preserve this special area for generations to come.
What we've completed
- Site hazard assessments, including a structural assessment, a geo-hazard assessment, a hazardous materials survey, an arboricultural safety assessment, and a ground contamination assessment.
- Archaeological assessments.
- A Heritage Values Assessment detailing the value of heritage and cultural features across the entire site.
- Seismic assessments of structures to guide future repairs and management.
- Review of a cultural safety audit provided by Taranaki Whānui.
- Removed dangerous trees, overhanging dead wood and large stacks of logs.
- 3D laser scanning of Fort Ballance to inform seismic assessments and create a record.
- Installed stiles to improve access over farm gates.
- Cleared overgrown vegetation around structures to enable further inspections and access for maintenance.
- Undertook access track and stormwater improvement works on Mag Rd.
- Built a retaining wall to manage slip risks on the Massey Track.
- Ongoing mowing and maintenance works.
- Removed hazards including asbestos.
Timeline of key milestones
- 2000: The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) determines that their landholding on Te Motu Kairangi is no longer required for defence purposes.
- 2008: Several assessments are undertaken between 2008 and 2011 as part of the process undertaken when Crown agencies are considering the disposal of land. These assessments aim to ensure that wider national interests including historic heritage are identified before the land is disposed of, and whether these interests should be protected.
- 2011: Cabinet agrees that Watts Peninsula should be protected, preserved and developed as a distinctive national destination. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage begins planning to create a reserve which will reflect the area’s historical and cultural significance to the Wellington region.
- 2014: A memorandum of understanding is signed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (representing Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika) and the mayor of Wellington. The memorandum sets out the relationship between the signatories, establishes the Watts Peninsula leadership and reference group, and sets out principles to guide the development of a vision for the future of the reserve.
2016: Cabinet agrees to transfer the land from NZDF to Toitū Te Whenua, and work begins on the process and resources required to declare Watts Peninsula a reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.
2017: Ministers receive recommendations on remaining work required to address hazards on the Watts Peninsula site and declare the area a reserve.
- 2019: Toitū Te Whenua receives funding for property management and to undertake hazard reduction work to make the area safe for public access.
- 2020: Site hazard assessments are undertaken which help prioritise the work required to enhance safety at the site and enable public access. Read these various assessments.
- An iwi-Crown working party is established comprising the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, Toitū Te Whenua, the Department of Conservation and Te Tari Whakatau The Office of Treaty Settlements and Takutai Moana, with the aims of working in partnership with iwi on the future of Watts Peninsula. Crown working group members commit to ensuring recognition of Māori interests in the land.
- 2021: Hazard reduction work continues, including significant procurement for site safety works and maintenance while the reserve is being developed. This includes procurement of a specialist arborist contractor to remove dangerous logs and clear dangerous trees.
- Led by Toitū Te Whenua, the Crown continues work with the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust on its aspirations for the site.
- 2022: A heritage values assessment is completed to ensure the cultural, archaeological, historical, architectural, technological, and aesthetic values of the site are adequately considered.
The heritage values assessment, coupled with a detailed seismic assessment also completed in 2022, provides recommendations for long-term management to maintain the heritage structures on the site.
- 2022-2025: All parties continue to work together toward future governance arrangements.
- 2025: Track upgrades and removal of asbestos is completed.