It’s been a year filled with progress for the Mauao placemaking project.
As part of the works, and just in time for summer, a mix of new seating will be installed throughout walking tracks on Mauao in the coming weeks.
The existing backed seats will be replaced with new backed seats, mostly in the same location.
Ready to be installed, the new backed seats will start appearing on Mauao over the next few weeks.
Six of the long ‘Waka’ seats have been installed initially, with two at te tihi o Mauao (the summit of Mauao) and four along Te Ara Tutanga (base track).
Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao Chairman, Dean Flavell, says the addition of this seating will allow manuhiri (visitors) and locals to connect, or reconnect with the maunga.
"Mauao holds a rich and valuable history that is significant to Tauranga Moana and this project aims to share that history and help re-engage the community with the stories of the maunga", says Dean.
One of the new waka seats along Te Ara Tutanga, positioned to take in expansive views of the moana.
Tauranga City Council Manager: Spaces and Places, Sarah Pearce, says a number of people have contacted Council about the replacement of memorial seats on the maunga.
“We appreciate the community’s feedback and recognise that Mauao is a special place for many people,” she says.
“Where we’ve been able to identify the families who had seats installed in memory of their loved ones, we’re working with them directly to identify alternative memorial opportunities.”
Progress will be visible along Te Ara Tutanga (base track) before Christmas with the restoration of Waipatukakahu and Te Puna Waitapu (Waipareira Well).
Works will continue in the new year and throughout 2023 with, most notably, the completion of the cultural compass at te tihi o Mauao and the addition of cultural touch points across the maunga including stone carvings crafted by local carver, Takutaimoana Harawira.
One of the cultural touchpoints that will be placed on Mauao, allowing visitors and locals to physically connect with the maunga.
To read more about the project and to see what’s happened so far, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/mauao