Iwi move to ban cars from Devonport's Takarunga/Mt Victoria upsets locals

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Many residents are not pleased with the proposed changes.

A move to ban cars from an Auckland volcanic cone with great cultural and spiritual significance for iwi, has angered many in the Devonport community who say there hasn't been enough consultation.

The Tūpuna Maunga Authority will return 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.

Walking up the mountain will be the only option for visitors to Devonport, as the Tūpuna Maunga Authority enforces a vehicle-free policy.

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.

* Concerns over hilltop folk club's future as iwi moves to ban cars from Auckland's volcanoes

* Community group and iwi negotiating rent on Devonport's Mt Victoria**

The previous sign that will no longer apply as of March 1, 2018.

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.

A Neighbourly poll found, from 102 votes, 81 people, or 79 per cent, did not support the ban.

The views over the city attract tourists to Devonport, locals say.

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.

A woman takes a photo of Rangitoto from the tihi.

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 ngā mana whenua o Tāmaki 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.'