No more love for mountain
After nine years the annual Love Your Mountain Day has been called off.
The Friends of Maungawhau committee has decided not to hold the event on Mt Eden because it has grown too large for volunteers to run.
Committee member Ian Fish says the event, which attracts hundreds of people, can’t survive with limited volunteers.
‘‘We can’t afford to put all that time and effort into it,’’ he says.
The day was run to show the importance of protecting and preserving the mountain and also to let the public walk up the 196m volcano cone vehicle-free.
But the recent council decision to block cars from driving up the summit means the event isn’t relevant anymore, Fish says.
The Maunga Authority voted in December last year to ban cars from driving up the mountain. Buses were banned from driving to the top in 2011.
For past events, the Government House grounds and Eden Garden have been opened to the public for free on the day.
‘‘I don’t know what they are going to do but I hope they will open the grounds sometime during the year again,’’ Fish says.
The event has been largely funded by private donations and Albert-Eden Local Board contributions.
Fish says while he feels relieved it’s finished, he will still miss how the event brought the community together.
‘‘It’s been a big part of my life for the last nine or so years,’’ he says.
‘‘You have some of the same people turn up year after year and sometimes that is the only time we see them.
‘‘It will be sad to see it go.’’