Vehicle ban on Mt Eden about to take effect

Friday, 15 January 2016

The ban on cars driving up Mt Eden starts from next Wednesday.

Vehicles will be banned from the top of Auckland's iconic Mt Eden from January 20.

The ban from the tihi, or summit, applies to all motor vehicles, including motorbikes and scooters.

Heavy vehicles including buses were banned from the summit of Maungawhau/Mt Eden in 2011 over concerns they were damaing the cone's archaeological heritage.

**READ MORE[

](http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/75654759/Disabled-and-elderly-to-get-access-codes-to-drive-up-Mt-Eden-summit)[* Cars to be banned from Mt Eden

](http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/63738621/cars-to-be-banned-from-aucklands-mt-eden)* Mt Eden gates could cost $100k**

Paul Majurey, chair of the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority which looks after Auckland's volcanic cones, said the ban respected the spiritual and cultural significance of the summit to Mana Whenua, as well as the community's aspirations.

'For mana whenua (local people), the tihi of Maungawhau has always been a place to be treated with respect and reverence. The taonga is loved by all visitors as a place for quiet reflection and connection,' Majurey said.

'Motor vehicle restriction on the tihi of Maungawhau was signalled many years ago as a key measure to protect this taonga, and to reflect the Mana Whenua and community aspirations of their living connections with this taonga. It is very pleasing to have reached this point.'

Pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the summit road, with a speed limit of 20kms.

Those with limited mobility can request a keypad access code to new security gates being installed at the entrance of the summit road and drive to the top in their own vehicle.

Auckland Council says the Mt Eden summit is being converted to a space free of cars to honour the values of local iwi, who regained ownership of the volcano in a 2014 treaty settlement.

The Maunga Authority says it is not considering extending the ban to Auckland's other volcanoes - such as Maungakiekie-One Tree Hill, Mt Roskill and Mt Wellington.