Tauranga City Council and the Mauao Trust have confirmed their joint commitment to restore public access to Mauao, following significant damage caused by recent severe weather and the Mauao Landslide.
Mauao remains closed while recovery work continues, with safety the overriding consideration. Reopening Mauao will be staged and evidence based, guided by specialist geotechnical advice and joint decision making through Ngā Poutiriāo ō Mauao, the partnership between Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council.
Matemoana McDonald, Chairwoman of the Mauao Trust, says the reopening needs a cautious and collective approach.
“Mauao is a taonga of immense spiritual, cultural and historical importance to Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui,” Matemoana says.
“Our responsibility is to uphold the mana of the maunga. We are pleased to be working alongside Tauranga City Council to ensure that any decisions around reopening are made carefully, respectfully, and with the long-term wellbeing of Mauao and the safety of the community at the forefront."
The recovery phase is focused on public safety, detailed risk assessment, repair planning, and long term resilience. At this stage, timeframes for reopening are not possible to confirm.
Decisions can only be made once remediation options are fully designed, risk to life thresholds are met, and there is confidence access can be safely managed across a range of weather conditions.
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says restoring access to Mauao remains a priority, but safety must come first.
“Mauao is a treasured taonga of our city, and we know how deeply people want to be back on the maunga,” Mahé says.
“However, the current conditions mean it is simply not safe. Any decisions about reopening must be grounded in evidence and made carefully, in partnership with the Mauao Trust. Public safety is non-negotiable.
”Work on safety, assessment and remedial options are now being undertaken. There are plans in place to remediate and clear some of the hazards, with contractors due to start physical remediation work in the coming weeks.”
“As we work towards reopening Mauao, I want to remind everyone that Mount Maunganui is still very much open for business. We encourage people to keep visiting, supporting our local community, and enjoying everything else the area has to offer.”
The maunga is currently a high hazard environment, with 42 identified landslides, including 12 classified as severe. Ongoing instability and the potential for further movement during heavy rainfall mean that access cannot yet be restored. Work is underway to plan the remediation of tracks and landslides as quickly as possible, without compromising safety.
While the Base Track is highly valued by the community, it is also the most complex area to remediate. It contains 29 landslides, extensive treefall and debris, and sections located within active run out zones. Reinstatement will require engineered, staged solutions and cannot be treated as a simple clean up. As a result, the Base Track cannot safely be reopened early in the recovery process. Summit access is expected to be easier to restore than the Base Track, but there is still no confirmed reopening date for any part of Mauao due to the continued uncertainty, including how to ensure the safe passage through current exclusion landslide runout zones.
Council acknowledges the significant pressure being felt by Mount Maunganui businesses, with many experiencing reduced trading levels.
“While we continue to work with those businesses, we understand that certainty and reopening Mauao is the best possible support we can provide them, as well as the wider community, so that is our priority,” says Mahé.
Mount Maunganui is a vital economic, social and cultural hub for Tauranga. Tauranga City Council and the Mauao Trust remain committed to working together, alongside the community, iwi and business owners, to support recovery and to restore safe access to Mauao when conditions allow.
For more information and answers to commonly asked questions, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/mauao-landslide