Authority considers return of cross for special events

The Maunga Authority says all the boxes were ticked before the Christian cross was removed from Mt Roskill.

Tapuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority chairman Paul Majurey says it was a unanimous decision to bring down the cross. He says authority officers had been on a ‘‘fact finding mission’’ to establish the history and directive that first saw the council-owned cross raised. It became clear the cross had been left up, unauthorised for four years.

The establishment of the super-city in 2011 meant the tradition of displaying and illuminating the cross for Easter and Christmas ‘‘was lost sight of’’. ‘‘By removing it after Easter this year we took it back to what was happening pre the merging of the legacy council.’’

He says it did stay up longer than anticipated, until June 9, while further conversations took place.

‘‘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.’’

He says the authority will receive applications for the structure to be put up for significant events in the future.

The Maunga Authority is made up of six Maori community representatives and six from Auckland Council, plus one non-voting Crown representative. Members include Ngarimu Blair (Ngati Whatua Ropu), Christine Fletcher (AlbertEden-Roskill ward councillor), Tipa Compain (Marutuahu Ropu) and Simon Randall ( Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board chairman).