Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
As Tauranga heads toward mid‑week, the region’s most iconic landmark remains off‑limits — and according to the iwi of Tauranga Moana, that’s exactly how Mauao wants it. After six new slips over the weekend, trustees say the maunga is signalling clearly that he is not ready to welcome visitors back.
The slips occurred near the same area hammered by January’s record rainfall, when a deadly torrent of mud and debris tore down the mountain and into the campsite below. Repair crews have been working steadily to restore access, but the latest movement has forced a rethink — and a reminder that Mauao’s stability is still fragile.
Mauao trustee Jack Thatcher said while some locals want the tracks reopened as soon as possible, the iwi’s responsibility is to listen to the mountain, not rush him. “When he’s in need, which he is now, it’s our job to reciprocate that love and devotion back to him,” he said. “Helping him return to full health — we can’t rush that.”
Thatcher pointed back to Mauao’s origin story: a small mountain who, heartbroken and seeking the ocean, was carried toward the shore by magical beings of the night. When dawn broke, they fled, leaving him stranded at the entrance of Tauranga Moana — Mauao, “caught by the morning sun.” As guardian of the harbour, his mana grew. Today, Thatcher says, that story still guides how the iwi respond when the maunga is hurting.
An opening date, he warned, is not around the corner. “We would love for that to be the summer coming, but we’re going to sit back. We’re going to listen to the experts… and we’re going to listen to our hearts.”
Tauranga City Council recovery manager Charlie Rahiri said the weekend slips mean plans must be reassessed, though the goal remains to reopen public access. “No one is saying otherwise. But this reinforces our slow, cautious, safe remediation approach.”
Repair work had been progressing well, but the new slips highlight how unstable the mountain remains. “Nature will decide at the end of the day,” Rahiri said. “We can put all the best laid plans in place, but we are at the behest of Mother Nature.”
Not everyone is convinced patience is the answer. Long‑time local Dave Shaw, who once trekked Mauao eight times a week, said the delays are frustrating. “There’s been slips forever — it’s not new. They used to get fixed quickly. This is slow.”
He said the closure has cut off a vital wellbeing outlet. “The mountain is mental health for everyone… and now they’re blocked out.”
Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents and Retailers Association president Michael O’Neill said people simply want a return to normality — access to the maunga and the hot pools. “They’ve come up with a plan, but no timelines. That’s the frustration.”
For now, Mauao remains closed, the community waits, and the message from iwi is unchanged: the maunga will tell them when he’s ready.
