Walking access to the popular Mautohe Cathedral Cove is back after being closed to the public due to damage to tracks caused by extreme weather events nearly two years ago.
Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka spoke from Mautohe Cathedral Cove, where he officially opened the track today.
“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,” said Potaka.
“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 around $12 million into the region annually, said Potaka.
The damage caused during the summer of 2022-2023, including by Cyclone Gabrielle, caused significant slips that left the tracks “so severely damaged that people can’t practically walk down that way”, Department of Conservation Hauraki-Waikato-Taranaki regional director Tinaka Mearns said in August last year.
While all walkways have been closed, the beach has been only accessible by water.
Ray Van Beynen from the Mercury Bay Business Association spoke to RNZ last November and said that visitors from overseas were phoning to see whether the track was closed and deciding to bypass Hahei when they heard it was.
“You know, from an economic and social perspective, the peninsula can’t handle that tremendous loss of revenue,” said Van Beynen.
The work has been funded through $1.4 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy.
“To support the community and get the track open for this summer, we have delivered an initial solution for walkers,” Potaka said.
“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.”
