Ever-shrinking Domain needs boundary riders

In more recent times the Parnell activists have turned their attention to the worst case of all, the incredibly shrinking Auckland Domain. By their estimation the city's oldest park has, in the past 145 years, shed at least 4.3ha.

Some land, to be sure, seems to have gone legitimately: a corner, for example, handed over early on for hospital use, followed by the seizure of land in the 1870s for the new railway. Later, slices became the homes of rugby league and tennis. But just how much is missing and in what circumstances is unclear.

Yesterday, after much foot-dragging, the Auckland City Council decided to spend about $10,000 researching the 150 years of alienation.

A plan is to be prepared showing the boundaries of the Auckland Domain as defined in the Auckland Domain Vesting Act 1893, superimposed over the present domain "so Auckland City is in a better position to make any claims or statements in respect of former domain land should it require to do so".

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