Maunga fee could fund restoring Maungawhau

Commercial operators may soon have to pay to take people up Auckland’s maunga could soon face a fee.

The new post-settlement body overseeing the volcanic cones, Tupuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority, is starting to make decisions about their future management.

Cars will be banned from the summit of Maungawhau-Mt Eden from next April.

Member Ngarimu Blair from Ngati Whatua o Orakei says the authority also needs to consider where the funds will come from to restore and maintain the maunga.

" Maungawhau / Mt Eden is the most visited site in New Zealand. It has more visitors than any other attraction across the country. So it is obvious that there is a potential for revenue. Currently there is unrestrained commercial access. There are vans that go up there, buses that go half way and they also get a free shuttle ride to the top. Clearly that has got to change " he says.

Ngarimu Blair says the authority is also considering whether to reintroduce some form of grazing as a way to control vegetation on the various maunga.

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH NGARIMU BLAIR CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjQ2OTQ=

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