The area formerly known as Egmont National Park is now known as Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki. (Shown in green in image below) This reflects the cultural, historical, and legal changes established through the settlement arrangements recognising the relationship of iwi with Taranaki Maunga.

Under the settlement legislation, Taranaki Maunga has been recognised as a legal person. This legal personhood extends beyond the boundaries of Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki and encompasses the wider ancestral landscape known as Te Kāhui Tupua. Te Kāhui Tupua includes Taranaki Maunga and its surrounding peaks, lands, and interconnected natural and cultural features as defined in the settlement legislation.

As a legal person, Te Kāhui Tupua has its own rights, interests, values, and wellbeing that must be recognised and provided for. Decisions relating to Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki should therefore be considered within the broader context of Te Kāhui Tupua and its long-term health and wellbeing.

Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi is the governance entity established to act as the face and voice of Te Kāhui Tupua. It is responsible for representing and advocating for the interests of Te Kāhui Tupua and ensuring that its values, purpose, and wellbeing are upheld.

He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki is being developed within this unique context, recognising both the statutory management requirements for Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki and the wider aspirations for the wellbeing of Te Kāhui Tupua.

He Kawa Ora mō Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki is being developed in accordance with Schedule 3 of Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua 2025 / Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act 2025.

This request for written comments is in accordance with Clause 3(3)(b) of Schedule 3 of Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua 2025 / Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act 2025.

Ngā Pou Whakatupua are the foundational values and principles of Te Kāhui Tupua. They express the intrinsic values, tikanga, and enduring relationships that connect Taranaki Maunga, the surrounding environment, and the people who hold relationships with it. Ngā Pou Whakatupua provide guidance for decision-making and help ensure that actions affecting Te Kāhui Tupua are undertaken in a manner that upholds its mana, mauri, and wellbeing.

Ko Te Kāhui Tupua, he rārangi maunga here ā-nuku, here ā-rangi: Te Kāhui Tupua, the mountain range binding heaven and earth
Te Kāhui Tupua is a living and indivisible whole incorporating all of its physical and metaphysical elements.

Ko Te Kāhui Tupua, koia ko ō mātou nei okiokinga, ko mātou nei tō rātou okiokitanga: Te Kāhui Tupua, our embodiment in life and death
Te Kāhui Tupua represents and upholds the ancestral, historical, cultural, and spiritual relationship between Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and their tūpuna maunga.

Ko Te Kāhui Tupua, ko te puna i heke mai ai te tangata: Te Kāhui Tupua, from which we descend and take our identity
Te Kāhui Tupua and its health and wellbeing are fundamental to the identity, tikanga, reo, and health and wellbeing of Ngā Iwi o Taranaki.

Ko Tupua Kawa, ko Tawhito Kawa, he kawa ora: The ancestral knowledge, the ancient law, the law of existence
Te Kāhui Tupua is a source of spiritual, cultural, and physical wellbeing of:

(i) the lands, waters, flora, fauna, and other natural resources of Taranaki; and
(ii) the people of Taranaki.

Ko Te Kāhui Tupua, he puna koropupū, he manawa whenua, hei mou ake nei i te tini mokopuna: Te Kāhui Tupua, a spring, a source of enduring naturally filtered water and life, protected for future generations
Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, the Crown, and all of the communities of Taranaki have an intergenerational responsibility actively to protect the health and wellbeing of Te Kāhui Tupua.

Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi invites iwi, hapū, whānau, stakeholders, partners, landowners, users and the wider community to share early comments to help shape He Kawa Ora, the national park management plan for Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki.

He Kawa Ora will guide how Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki is protected, restored, accessed, used, cared for and experienced over time.

This comment period is a formal step in creating He Kawa Ora. It is a chance to identify important places, values, risks, opportunities, issues and hopes before a draft plan is written. It is not a consultation on a draft.

People can comment on anything related to Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki — the whole area or a specific place, track, road end, waterway, hut, facility, ecological area, cultural site, activity, issue or future idea.

Before beginning the survey, we encourage you to read all the tabs on this page, which provide useful information on Te Kāhui Tupua, Te Tōpuni Kōkōrangi and Ngā Pou Whakatupua (Maunga Values).