The protection and enhancement of the natural and cultural environment is a cornerstone of sustainable development. The environmental resources within the sub-region are finite and must be managed in a sustainable manner for future generations.
An emphasis has been placed on protection of significant natural and physical resources in the formulation of plans under the Resource Management Act 1991. This provides a solid foundation for the SmartGrowth strategy.
Natural resources are the basis of hapu communities. Mana derived from customary practices such as manaaki are dependent on healthy ecology and resource management. Hapu continue to rely on the natural resources of the sub-region and have done so for more than 1000 years.
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Areas of particular importance emerging from SmartGrowth are:
- The priority for protecting highly-versatile land.
- The scarcity of indigenous ecosystems particularly in the coastal plain and harbour edge and the importance of protecting remnants and restoring degraded areas.
- The importance of preserving the natural character of the Tauranga Harbour.
- The particular importance of protecting cultural heritage sites, areas, values, relationships and resources of significance to Tangata Whenua.
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