Kaikōura up with pyramids
Plans are afoot for the Kaikōura landscape to gain the same international status as cultural wonders like the Acropolis, The Great Wall and the pyramids of Giza.
But it could all depend on the election. Kaikōura marine guardian group Te Korowai o Te Tai Marokura has written to the four largest political parties asking them to support the area gaining Unesco world heritage status.
Only Labour and National responded, with Labour firmly in favour and National firmly against the proposal, Te Korowai chairman Larnce Wichman said.
‘‘The area meets more criteria than other world heritage sites around the globe. It would give us a really important status and let the world know the value that Kaikōura has,’’ he said.
‘‘We believe Kaikōura, even though there’s been some recovery since the earthquake, needs something to really invigorate the whole area again.
‘‘There’s a lot of information out there saying Kaikōura is doomed, so this would give the whole community a big lift to know it’s being included and being considered.’’
World heritage sites, which can be either natural or cultural, are recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
For a site to be included on the heritage list, countries have to create a tentative list of sites that are then put into a nomination file for Unesco’s world heritage committee to consider.
Wichman said recognition of Kaikōura Canyon and mountains through the organisation’s world heritage list would help the town recover from the earthquake and boost tourism.
Labour conservation spokeswoman Nanaia Mahuta said the party was committed to working alongside communities to ensure the recognition of biological diversity and cultural heritage.
‘‘Labour in government will progress the consideration of Kaikōura to receive world heritage status to protect the unique coastal and marine environ-
"The area meets more criteria than other world heritage sites around the globe." Te Korowai o Te Tai Marokura chairman Larnce Wichman
ment,’’ she said.
Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said recovery from the Kaikōura earthquake was a priority for the Government.
‘‘But right now the priority for the area is to ensure the wellbeing and livelihood of the people of Kaikōura.’’
Barry said the Government was not considering a revision of its current tentative list, which contained eight sites including the Auckland Volcanic Fields, and the Napier Art Deco and Waitangi Treaty Grounds historic precincts.
The development of the list started in 2004, and involved creating two advisory boards to assess the best of 304 proposed sites against world heritage criteria.
‘‘A more detailed case for all of the identified sites is yet to proceed to the world heritage committee,’’ Barry said.
‘‘Nobody knows if the area would meet the current criteria for inclusion – to find that out we would have to go through a process similar to that started in 2004 and that would take significant time and money.’’