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Mātai Moana Reserve

A proposed shared future for a sacred landscape.

Drone view of Mātai Moana Reserve.
Aerial view of Mātai Moana site. The area behind and beyond the Massey Memorial (which is on the tip), is proposed to become a recreational reserve.

About this project

Mātai Moana is a 74-hectare area of culturally, historically and ecologically significant whenua at the northern end of Te Motu Kairangi (Miramar Peninsula). It includes pā sites, wāhi tapu (sacred places), regenerating native bush, and military landmarks such as Fort Ballance.

To Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika (mana whenua of the Wellington area) Mātai Moana is a tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountains).

The land is currently administered by the Crown through Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).

Mātai Moana is proposed to be ‘vested’ as a recreational reserve under the Reserves Act 1977. The Department of Conservation (DOC) would own the land and the reserve would be jointly managed by Taranaki Whānui and the Council.

In the context of the Reserves Act, 'vesting' refers to the legal process by which land is transferred to the management of another entity, such as a local authority or a trustee.

The proposal will ensure the land is protected as a reserve and cared for in a way that balances public use, cultural heritage, and ecological restoration. It reflects a lasting commitment to the sustainability of the proposed reserve for future generations.

This joint management proposal is subject to councillor and ministerial decisions.

Map of the proposed Mātai Moana Reserve.
Map of the indicative boundary of the proposed Mātai Moana Reserve (sourced from the LINZ Data Service and licensed for reuse under the CC BY 4.0 licence).

The Mātai Moana site is at the northern end of Te Motu Kairangi. It does not include the Massey Memorial, Mt Crawford Prison, or the Miramar Prison Gardens.

What’s being proposed

Taranaki Whānui has worked with the Crown to develop a joint management model for Mātai Moana that reflects the aspirations of mana whenua, the Wellington community and friends of the whenua (land).

Main points of the proposal are:

  • The land will be formally protected under the Reserves Act 1977.
  • The land will be vested in the Department of Conservation (ownership will remain with the Crown).
  • A new entity will be established to manage decisions, operations and planning.
  • The community will help shape the long-term vision for the proposed reserve through public consultation.
  • The initial focus will be on public access, ecological restoration, and cultural/heritage protection.

Taranaki Whānui share their vision for Mātai Moana

Hear Taranaki Whānui share their aspirations for establishing Mātai Moana as a reserve, the significance of the whenua, and their 100-year vision, aimed at preserving this legacy for future generations.

This video shares the kaupapa from iwi’s perspective and encourages everyone in Te Whanganui-a-Tara to be part of this journey.

View the Taranaki Whānui proposal for Mātai Moana (2.11MB PDF)

Have your say

Through the 2025/26 Annual Plan, we're consulting on whether Wellington City Council should take on a joint management role for the Mātai Moana reserve. This includes retaining operational funding of $750,000 per year as Wellington City Council’s contribution towards managing the reserve.

This would support:

  • protecting wāhi tapu (sacred places), pā sites, and heritage areas
  • ecological restoration and native planting
  • public access improvements (tracks, signage, amenities)
  • statutory management planning under the Reserves Act.

An additional $2.5 million from the Plimmer Bequest Fund has been allocated to support future public-facing upgrades, such as walkways and educational facilities.

Annual Plan consultation document (see pages 37-38) (8.29MB PDF)

To have your say on this joint management proposal, go to our Let's Talk website.

What happens next

Councillors will consider community feedback from the Annual Plan consultation (April–May 2025).

If the proposed joint management approach is agreed, there will be more opportunities for public involvement, including:

  • community consultation to guide the development of the 100-year vision and shape the values, uses and long-term direction of the whenua (land)
  • collaboration with community groups and local stakeholders on future master planning
  • input into the Reserve Management Plan, which is statutorily required within 5 years of vesting.

If the reserve proceeds, public access will be managed carefully; areas will be opened once they are made safe and equipped for visitors, including managing ecological restoration and heritage protection.

If the Council does not proceed with joint management, the land is unlikely to be vested as a reserve. In that case, the Crown and Taranaki Whānui would determine the land’s future use and public access could be limited.

Background

In 2018, the Council agreed in principle to help manage Mātai Moana as a reserve in partnership with mana whenua. This aligns with the Tākai Here Agreement, which supports shared decision-making with iwi.

Because Mātai Moana would have recreational reserve status, the Crown agreed that the site should be managed locally rather than by the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The land is currently owned by the Crown and managed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). If the proposal proceeds, the land would be transferred to the Department of Conservation (DOC), formally vested as a reserve, and jointly co-managed by Wellington City Council and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, alongside input from the Department of Conservation.

Contact us

If you have any questions, email: mataimoana@wcc.govt.nz.

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