Regaining Lost Land

About one third of the Town Belt’s original 625 hectares has been lost. (See map)

  • Between 1840 and 1873, 190 hectares were taken for hospitals, schools, public works and compensation to Maori for cultivation areas taken by European settlers. Parts later became residential.
  • After 1873, 45 more hectares were taken even though an Act of Parliament was required for each appropriation.
  • In 1994, a detailed survey revealed that neighbouring property owners had encroached on another 5.75 hectares of Town Belt with extended gardens, structures and access ways.

On numerous occasions, the community has protested noisily against alienations. Had it not been for citizens protecting ‘their’ Town Belt, still more land would probably have been lost.

The Friends strongly believe that Town Belt land should be regarded as sacrosanct − for public use only.

Encroachments of private use:

We urge the Council to:

  • continue its programme of resolving existing private use encroachments on Town Belt land; and
  • be vigilant in preventing any further encroachments.

Alienations:

The Friends endorse the Council’s efforts, under its Reinstatement Policy (pdf), to negotiate the return of former Town Belt land when it is no longer needed for the purposes it was taken for.

We strongly oppose the sale of any such land. The Friends are helping in the preparation of legislation to return land to Wellington Town Belt.

Approximately 52 hectares have been regained by the Wellington City Council but legislation is needed to reinstate it to Town Belt status. Examples include:

  • The Telecom land is located at the south end of Tinakori HillMt Victoria former signal station
  • Part of Vice Regal land behind Government House
  • Part of Telecom land on Tinakori Hill
  • Part of Wellington Hospital land – formerly the Chest Hospital.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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