Former Bay of Plenty councilor Ian Noble donates 103 hectares with hopes of future regional park

More than 100 hectares of unique farmland and native bush are being gifted to the Bay of Plenty in the hope it will become a regional park.

Former Bay of Plenty and Western Bay of Plenty regional councilor Ian Noble and his family have offered the 103 hectare site near Katikati to Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The property borders the Kaimai Ranges and offers panoramic views of Tauranga Harbour.

At a regional council meeting today, councilors decided to accept the gift, noting the Noble family’s wishes to ensure the land remains undeveloped, that its natural features are cared for and that the wider community can have access.

A Queen Elizabeth II National Trust open space covenant would be recorded on the property’s title to ensure its protection in perpetuity.

However, its future as a potential regional park was subject to the 2024-34 Long Term Plan deliberations that were already underway. The plan, which questions whether the region should establish other regional parks, is expected to be adopted by June 30.

The land is located at the end of Hot Springs Rd near Katikati and includes a section of Te Rereatukahia forest at the base of the Kaimai range.

The property is considered a unique and ecologically significant piece of land because it features mature and endangered native bush species and waterways flowing into Te Mania Creek.

Noble was a regional councilor for 24 years, a Western Bay councilor for three and provincial president of the Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers for five years.

Speaking from his home in Judea this week, the great-grandfather said he wanted to give away the land “so that the community at large can have the pleasure that I have had.”

“I think we’re lucky to be in this beautiful place,” he said.

Noble, who described himself as “old enough,” hoped people would go for walks and “enjoy the outdoors.”

Noble’s late wife Joyce passed away in November 2022. He paid tribute to her, saying the land donation would not have happened without her support and that he was incredibly proud of her.

Today was the Nobles’ wedding anniversary.

“It is a wish that I have, and Joyce, that the community has the opportunity to enjoy because I have seen Katikati go from dairy cows and new dry cattle farms to orchards and new houses,” he said.

Noble, who worked and ran his family farm on Kauri Point Rd when he left school, owned and operated several properties.

This included the land on Hot Springs Rd that was originally cleared by two brothers who leased it from the Government. The pastures were abandoned and overgrown when the brothers went to war and never returned. Noble again cleared the paddocks, but left the native bushes intact.

“It was hard work and an incredibly steep hill,” he said.

The land reaches 350 meters, more than the 232 m of Mauao.

In recent years the land has been used to graze cattle and parts have been loaned for community use such as horse riding, and the Western Bay of Plenty Bow Hunters Club and the Kaimai Pistol Club. It is expected that the two clubs will eventually have to relocate.

Noble, whose services to farming and the community were recognized with the Queen’s Service Medal in 2015, said he spent several years considering giving the land away for public access.

Noble said he had seen how popular Pāpāmoa Hills had become and noticed that his grandson and others regularly went to Mauao to exercise. He envisioned his land being used in a similar way for years to come.

There was also a 6-hectare portion of land that could be used as a community garden or educational facility, he said.

Noble has the full support of her family, including her children Jill, Pauline, Kathryn and Graeme.

Many photographs of the Noble Whanau adorn the walls of his living room, as does his Honorary Life Membership of the Rotary Club of Katikati.

“I’m lucky to have the opportunity to be where I am and have the family be where they are.”

Noble paid tribute to the council and the people who helped him achieve his goal and said without the support of others “you are bleating in the wind”.

Council President Doug Leeder told Bay of Plenty Times such gestures were a rarity, “and the fact that they want it for public use in perpetuity is incredible.”

“There are not enough words to express gratitude and appreciation for what the Nobles have done,” he said.

“This will be an advantage in future years when it is potentially developed as a regional park that people can access for recreational purposes.”

Speaking at the property earlier this week, the council’s acting coastal catchment team leader, Braden Rowson, said the land was unique and the gift was “incredibly generous”.

“Most of the land (lots) around Tauranga Harbor tended to be smaller due to the high intensity of the orchards and lifestyle blocks. The fact that he got 50 percent of the native forestry is huge. “It’s a pretty high biodiversity site,” Rowson said.

Rowson said despite logging years ago, there were still large, old trees, such as the puriri, which are believed to be hundreds of years old.

“It’s a huge gift, a huge victory for the community,” he said.

“Ian, under his leadership, has preserved this piece of forest, but there are many areas that are not so well (established), so we are very interested in expanding it.”

Rawson said the council hoped to expand the 50 hectares of native biodiversity to 70 hectares, while respecting Noble’s intentions to retain the land’s spectacular views and public recreational offerings.

“Those are Ian’s wishes: that it be preserved for public access. He already allows horse riding, he wants that to continue,” Rawson said.

If successful, the land would join the Bay of Plenty’s two other regional parks. Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park is 182 hectares with a summit of 224 m and opened in 2004. In Ohīwa, Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park opened in 2010.

Regional parks are considered to provide recreation opportunities for locals and visitors, help protect the natural environment, and protect cultural and archaeological features.

At a ceremony held before the council meeting in honor of the gift and the Noble family, Western Bay Mayor James Denyer said Noble’s gift was “magnificent and incredibly generous.” It was also an example of Noble’s continued community service, he said.

Denyer, who has known Noble for 14 years, described him as a mentor and colleague and it was a privilege to commemorate the day with him.

Western Bay council hoped to support efforts to make the area a “special place that everyone can enjoy”, Denyer said.

Noble’s daughter Jill and son Graeme said they were proud of their father and honored to be able, as a family, to gift the land to the wider community.

Jill Noble said she felt the land was “an incredible piece of property” and it was exciting to see it become part of the community.

When councilors voted to accept the property, Leeder thanked Noble and his family and said it was “a truly remarkable act.”

“Generosity and philanthropy of this magnitude are rare. “Ian’s unwavering commitment to environmental causes and community service has led him to this selfless decision.”

Leeder told Noble, who was seated flanked by his four children, that “what you have left will be a true legacy.”

As Noble and his family prepared to leave, they were greeted with a standing ovation from council members, staff and other attendees.

Noble responded by saying, “Thank you very much, bye for now.”

The regional council maintains regional parks and provides visitor parking, toilets, signage and storytelling, track development and maintenance, prescribed grazing, scheduled native revegetation and community events.

In 2022/23, almost 100,000 people visited Pāpāmoa Hills.