Takarunga - Mt Vic - car ban criticised

A move to ban cars from an Auckland maunga, with great cultural and spiritual significance for iwi, has angered many in the Devonport community.

The Tu¯ puna Maunga Authority began work this week on returning the summit of Takarunga (Mt Victoria) to a vehicle-free space from March 1.

Authority chairman Paul Majurey said the maunga would continue to be a public place for people to enjoy. People who were physically unable to walk to tihi, or summit, could contact Auckland Council on the day of their visit to obtain an access code for a barrier arm at the summit entrance.

There has been a plethora of comments on social media from unhappy locals, mainly citing a lack of engagement, parking issues and threat to businesses. According to a neighbourly poll, from 102 votes, 79 per cent said: No, they did not support the ban.

Organisations based on Takarunga were: the Devonport Folk Club, The Michael King Writers’ Centre, Kerr Street Artspace, Devonport Primary School, and Takarunga Devonport Playcentre.

The Devonport Folk Club, which had been running atop Mt Victoria for 46 years, said the decision to restrict cars would put them out of business. Chairman Roger Giles said he hoped to come to an agreement with the authority, allowing car access on nights the club operated.

Regardless, Giles said he was still not supportive of the car-free move, because of the number of people who would still be driving up the mountain.

‘‘Watercare go up there twice a day, Ports of Auckland service the signals stations and [there are] rubbish collectors,’’ he said.

Depot Artspace’s Lynn Lawton, who ran a career guidance programme out of Kerr St Artspace, said he respected and had no issue with the vehicle access restrictions to the maunga on the basis of their cultural values and principles. However, there was a valid problem with the practical issues of the parking demands.

Majurey said Auckland maunga were occupied by nga¯ mana whenua o Ta¯maki Makaurau for a millennium, and the tihi held great spiritual and cultural significance.

‘‘Honouring these values alongside creating an enhanced experience for pedestrians is at the heart of the authority’s decision.’’

LAINE MOGER Walking up the mountain will be the only option for visitors to Devonport, as the Tu¯ puna Maunga Authority enforces a vehicle-free policy.