April 22, 2015
Cars banned from Maungawhau


The chair of the Tamaki Makaurau Maunga Authority says a ban on cars on the summit of Maungawhau will enhance visitor experience.
Paul Majurey says it was a unanimous decision by the authortity, which is made up of both mana whneua, council and community representatives.
The maunga is the most visited spot in Aotearoa with a million visitors a year.
The desire to bar traffic was signalled as far back as the 2007 management plan, and will affect the top 100 metres of the cone.
"There will be either gates or bollards or some measure like that to enable folk with limited mobility. Apart from that it will be a case of people being able to walk on the current road area with a lot more safely, for cyclists to be there as well, so it really will be a reflection of the reverence of that special part of Maungawhau," Mr Majurey says.
He says people's safety and enjoyment of the maunga has improved greatly since buses and heavy vehicles were banned from the summit by the local board in 2011.
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