Port Hills Fact Sheet
This resource looks at the environmental, development and planning issues surrounding the Port Hills - why they are highly valued by the people of Christchurch; what pressures are coming to bear on this environment; and how the use of the Hills is managed.
The Value of the Port Hills
an obvious feature forming a backdrop to the City, and are visible from well beyond the city. The majority of the Port Hills consists of a rocky open tussock landscape which has a high proportion of indigenous plant species and which provides an almost 'wilderness experience' in close proximity to the major urban area. The Port Hills are considered an outstanding natural feature and landscape of national importance, and within the area are a number of internationally significant geological features, including prominent rock outcrops and a number of volcanic dykes. The area is also important in terms of its scenic values for residents and visitors to Christchurch, with road access along the Summit Road, walkway networks and through the operation of Mt Cavendish gondola.
Generally the qualities and attributes of the Port Hills that make them special to us can be classified into six broad areas:
1. Environmental
- Geological formations. Examples of these include Castle Rock and the Multiple Dykes.
- Tussock grasslands. These cover large areas facing the city. They tend to be denser at higher altitudes and south facing slopes.
- Forest cover. Native forest on the Port Hills varies from small remnant patches of ancient podocarp forest with large totara, matai and kahikatea to large areas of regenerating second growth forest. Most of the native forest is located between Rapaki Bay and Gebbies Pass on both sides of the Hills.
- Native Birds. Many of the native birds visiting City gardens in the winter come from the Port Hills forest areas.
- Invertebrates. A large range of native insects still occupy the Port Hills forest areas.
- Lizards. There are at least three species of native lizards, including the attractive jewelled gecko on the Port Hills.
2. Landscape
The landscape qualities of the Port Hills provide a distinctive backdrop to the City, harbour and low plains. The main features of this landscape are:
- The rolling tussock grasslands, largely unobstructed and uninterrupted by structures, which form a unique backdrop to Christchurch.
- The steep slopes, bluffs and rock cliffs of the Harbour Basin with a patchwork of agricultural and natural bush elements.
- The rolling pastoral hill slopes and regenerating bush areas of the southwestern Port Hills from Hoon Hay valley to Gebbies Pass.
- The Port Hills skyline with rolling slopes punctuated by volcanic tors and high bouldery peaks.
3. History
The Port Hills have a rich and varied Maori and European history. The 'recent' biological history stretches back to the last ice age approximately 14000 years ago.
4. Scientific and Educational
The Port Hills have important scientific value especially in the area of ecological research. The Hills are one of the most intensively studied areas in the world in terms of volcanism. Structures such as Castle Rock and the Multiple Dykes are world-class examples of their feature type.
5. Tourism
The Port Hills are an important ingredient in the tourist experience of Christchurch, and thus have 'economic value' to the City. Taking visitors for a trip along the Summit Road is standard practice for many residents. The closeness of such a landscape to a major urban area is unique.
6. Recreation
The Hills offer a wide range of recreational opportunities close to the City including walking, tramping, running, mountain biking, paraponting and rock climbing.
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Sugarloaf Peak from Mt Vernon Park |
Planning issues in the use of the Port Hills
There are a number of issues surrounding the use of the Port Hills as follows:
Urban encroachment
Many people value the Port Hills for their open rugged beauty. Obviously the building of houses changes this, and in some people's minds adversely as the 'natural' feel is lost and replaced with a human dominated landscape.
Many people however wish to live on the Hills for the views and to be above the smog layer.
Changes in farming practices
As the economic fortunes of sheep and cattle farming have declined, so to has the viability of pastoral farming on the Port Hills. For some farmers it is simply uneconomic and they have sought ways to get a better income from their land.
One of these is the introduction of exotic forest. Trees grow reasonably well on the hills, especially the upper slopes and western parts where the rainfall is higher. But again the trees have the potential to change the existing character of the Hills, from one of an open tussocky landscape to that cloaked in dark green forest.
Biological
As discussed above, the Port Hills have undergone some rapid and marked changes over the last 1000 years, from being covered primarily in native forest and shrubland to that which is there today.
All this change has meant much stress for the remnants of the indigenous plant and animal life. Present threats include possums, goats, rabbits, stoats, and weeds such as the South African boneseed bush.
Erosion
Parts of the Port Hills are susceptible to erosion, which endangers lives, reduces pasture areas, causes unsightly scars and contributes to problems with stormwater drainage and siltation of waterways.
Recreation
As the Port Hills are so close to a major urban area, a large percentage of people wish to use them. Conflicts in use can arise for example between mountain bikers and walkers and trampers.
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Mt Vernon Park |
Case Study
Urbanisation
Urban encroachment onto the Port Hills has been a very topical issue lately, Montgomery Spur being a good example.
Pastoral farming is becoming economically marginal on the Hills, leading landowners to seek other ways to realise income from their land. One of these ways is to subdivide for housing. The increases in value can be enormous, from $5000 a hectare at rural rates to $100,000 a section (600m2). On the other hand, many people value the Hills for their unaltered natural state, and are very much opposed to further development. This then is the dilemma for the Council. Often it has tried to find the middle ground through compromise and trade offs, which means some development may be permissible, provided the Council, i.e. the people of Christchurch, are compensated in some way for loss of natural values. This could mean that Council approves development of some land in exchange for high value private land becoming available for public use. This is one example of how the resource is managed, which leads us to the next section, Management of the Port Hills.
Management of the Port Hills
Management of the use of the Port Hills is primarily through the Resource Management Act 1991. The RMAct charges District/City Councils with managing the use, development and protection of land; this management is essentially carried out through The City Plan.
The Plan states the way in which land can be managed. Management of the use of the Hills can be carried out in a number of ways, including purchasing of land for reserves, provision of works and services and provision of information.
But the main way management is undertaken is through the RMAct and rules in the plan.
These rules seek to allow people to use the Hills for whatever purpose, while ensuring that the potential of the resource is sustained for future generations, the life supporting capacity of water, soil and ecosystems is safeguarded, and any adverse effects are avoided or mitigated. (s. 5 RMAct) It's all about balance. This is the challenge set down by the RMAct, to 'sustainably manage' our natural and physical resources.
Various other organisations have some kind of interest in the Port Hills including the Department of Conservation, Ngai Tahu, the Summit Road Protection Society, the Canterbury Regional Council, Banks Peninsula and Selwyn District Councils.
The Summit Road Protection Authority administers the Summit Road Protection Act, which specifically controls land use on the upper slopes to ensure unobstructed views from the Summit Road are maintained.
This legislation is unique among legislation in NZ and shows the high regard parliament holds for the skyline of the Port Hills.
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Gibraltar Rock |
Other Sources of Information
Relevant information such as committee reports and newspaper articles can be sourced from the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre at the Central City Library (add), Gloucester Street – 941 7923 and the Christchurch Environment Centre, 64 Kilmore Street – 379 2257. Librarians at the Central City Library are available to assist with research projects, as are staff at the Christchurch Environment Centre.
Photography: Kevin McMillian
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