The Government has delivered on its promise to restore public walking access to the popular Mautohe Cathedral Cove in time for Summer 2024-2025.
The walking track to the famous Coromandel beach – renowned for its natural rock arch feature and idyllic waters – was severely damaged by extreme weather events including Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in Summer 2022-2023.
Speaking from Mautohe Cathedral Cove, where he officially reopened the track today, Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka thanked staff from the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai, tangata whenua Ngāti Hei, the local community and civic leaders, contractors and all others who worked to get the track open for public enjoyment.
“This hike offers spectacular coastal views and is truly one of the most stunning beaches the world has to offer. The area has previously drawn an estimated 250,000 walkers annually.
“Mautohe Cathedral Cove plays an important role in supporting the local economy and this reopening is an exciting step in the region’s tourism recovery following storms and COVID-19. Visitors to the area are predicted to bring an estimated $12 million into the region annually.
“The work has been enabled through $1.4 million funding from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. By targeting investment into a high-value conservation area like this, we are supporting regional tourism, economic growth, and delivering better public services.
“To support the community and get the track open for this summer, we have delivered an initial solution for walkers. The second stage of development is intended to provide more resilient access to better withstand ongoing challenges from strong weather and land movement over the long-term.
“With high numbers anticipated here this summer, I remind people to visit responsibly – keep an eye out for the place, themselves and each other – slip, slop, slap and wrap.”
Ka tuwhera anō a Mautohe ki ngā tāngata hīkoi
Kua tutuki i te Kāwanatanga tāna kī taurangi mō te whakatika i te urunga hīkoi tūmatanui ki te wāhi rongonui o Mautohe i mua i te Raumati o 2024 ki te 2025.
I kino rawa te whakakinotanga o te ara hīkoi ki te tuaone rongonui o Waiaua – e mōhio whānuitia ana mō tōna tāwhana toka māori me ōna wai kānapanapa – e te huarere taikaha, arā ko ngā haumātakataka tērā o Hale me Gabrielle i te Raumati o 2022 ki te 2023.
I a ia e kōrero atu ana i Mautohe i tēnei rā, i te wāhi i whakatuwhera ōkawa ai ia i te ara, i mihi atu a Tama Potaka, te Minita Whāomoomo, ki ngā kaimahi o Te Papa Atawhai, ki ngā tāngata whenua o Ngāti Hei, ki te hapori me ngā rangatira raraupori, ngā kaikirimana me ētahi atu i āwhina ki te whakatuwhera anō i te ara hīkoi hei whakangahau mā te marea.
“Ki runga i tēnei ara hīkoi kite atu ai te tangata i ētahi tirohanga whakamīharo ki te moana, ā, ka kitea hoki e te tangata koinei tētahi o ngā tuaone ātanga rawa atu i te ao. I mua rā, i te takiwā o te 250,000 ngā tāngata hīkoi ka tae mai ki tēnei wāhi i te ia tau.
“He tūranga whakahirahira tō Mautohe i tāna tautoko i te ōhanga ā-rohe, ā, ko tēnei whakatuwhera he hīkoitanga whakahihiko i te whakahaumanutanga o te tāpoitanga ā-rohe whai muri iho i ngā āwhā me te KOWHEORI-19. E matapaetia ana ka 12 miriona te nui o te pūtea ka kawea mai rā e ngā manuhiri ki tēnei rohe i te ia tau.
“I tutuki pai tēnei mahi nā te 1.4 miriona tāra i ahu mai rā i te International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. Mā te tuku i te pūtea ki tētahi wāhi whāomoomo e nui ana te wāriu, pēnei i tēnei wāhi, e tautoko ana mātou i te tāpoitanga ā-rohe, te whakatupu ōhanga, me te whakapai ake i ngā ratonga tūmatanui.
“Mā te tautoko i te hapori me te whakatuwhera anō i te ara hīkoi mō tēnei raumati, kua tutuki i a mātou tētahi whakataunga tuatahi mō ngā tāngata hīkoi. Ko te hiahia mō te wāhanga tuarua o tēnei whanaketanga ko te whakamārohirohi i te ara kia tū pakari ai te ara nei ahakoa ngā pēhitanga o te huarere taikaha me te nekehanga o te whenua i roto i ngā tau e tū mai nei.
“Nā te mea e whakaarotia ana ka tokomaha ngā tāngata ka tae mai ki konei hei te raumati, tēnei au e whakamaumahara ana ki te marea kia haumaru, kia tika rā hoki tā koutou taenga mai – tiakina mai tēnei wāhi, tiakina hoki ko koe anō me ō hoa – ka mutu, whakamahia te pani ārai hihirā.”