Peace in our time | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Custodians of North Shore's stunning Fort Takapuna Reserve have walked a fine line to appease peace advocates and those wanting to honour the area's military links, reports Sophie Bond.

Carolina Guerra and her son Benjamin Drew stroll through the wind-buffeted reserve  across the street from their home. "We come here for walks, picnics in summer, to play with the children," says Ms Guerra. "It would be nice to see more people enjoying it, but any development should be low key."

Submissions closed last month on the North Shore City Council's reserve management plan for Fort Takapuna/O Peretu and Narrow Neck Beach Reserves.

A pair of plovers dive-bomb afternoon dog-walkers on Fort Takapuna Reserve and, beyond, Rangitoto Island spreads her skirts over the choppy harbour. Gazing out across this perfect setting, Ms Guerra talks about how she became involved.

After reading the draft plan, and chatting with neighbours, Ms Guerra and her husband made a submission. "Overall, the plan is really good. One of the big things for us was the suggestion of using land for spill-over parking. We just think it's a beautiful piece of land and should be left for recreational use instead."

Following the submissions' hearing, held during a meeting of Devonport Community Board on August 3, she feels confident future development of the reserve will respect both the heritage and the neighbours.

The plan included a suggestion from Devonport Peace Group to formally recognise the reserve as a peace park and to plant a sapling from Hiroshima - an idea which may be considered in the future.

Devonport Community Board chair Mike Cohen says the suggestion of a peace park led to some debate, but the key submitters had their views heard and a compromise was reached. "The important thing was finding symbols of remembrance and reflection that all groups could agree on."

Tamaki Reserve Protection Trust chair Michael Pritchard suggested a sculpture similar to those in last year's Passchendaele exhibition inside Fort Takapuna. "Instead of having a peace park, the compromise is a small area of the park put aside for reflection."

Mr Pritchard says a positive outcome of the submissions process was an agreement between the various owners (see below) to hold quarterly meetings.

Devonport Peace Group representative Ruth Coombes says the sculpture is a wonderful idea but the group hopes the sapling can also be included in future plans.

"Labelling the reserve a peace park would provide the North Shore with a place of remembrance."

Devonport RSA trust board member Chris Mullane says it's important the reserve is available to as many sections of the community as possible while honouring the past. "We're pleased there has been acknowledgement of the historic implications."

The RSA looks forward to discussion about practical possibilities for a place of remembrance and reflection in the reserve.

Council parks policy and planning advisor Richard Hughes has been overseeing the plan. "It is complex in terms of the ownership but, for all intents and purposes, the public will see it as one area." He says the reserve management plan provides certainty for the area and provides the future council with a reference document regarding its use.

He is now working with members of the community board to finalise the wording. The plan will go to the community services and parks committee on September 9.

Ownership

Though not visibly marked out, the headland comprises both the council-administered recreation reserves and the Department of Conservation-owned historic reserve. DoC's strip of coastal land includes the old army mess hall. The council's 8ha reserve includes two barracks and the gatehouse. NZ Defence Force land borders the reserves to the south and includes a sports field which is available for public use.