A temporary exclusion zone has been established around Mauao / Mount Maunganui as authorities work to ensure public safety and protect the sacred maunga, following reports of considerable damage and dangerous conditions on and around the mountain.
Tauranga City Council and the Mauao Trust have confirmed that all tracks, access points and surrounding areas of Mauao are closed to the public while the extent of the damage is being fully assessed. Fencing, barriers and clear signage have been put in place at each entry point as part of the exclusion zone, and security personnel are monitoring the site to ensure people respect the closures.
The exclusion measures are designed to protect the safety of locals and visitors, as well as to safeguard culturally significant areas and the natural environment of the mountain – which holds deep spiritual and ancestral importance to the three iwi of Tauranga Moana: Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui, and affiliated Te Arawa iwi. Mauao, meaning caught by the dawn, is a taonga whenua that attracts around one million visitors every year.
Council spokespeople have urged the public not to enter the exclusion zone or attempt to bypass barriers, noting that these restrictions are not arbitrary but are in place to keep people safe while remediation work and detailed assessments continue.
This closure comes amid ongoing efforts to care for Mauao, which has faced other pressures in recent years – including vandalism of cultural installations such as the pounamu touchstone on its summit and previous temporary track closures for maintenance and safety works.
As this story develops, Radio Waatea will continue to bring updates on when public access may safely resume and what the community needs to know to protect both people and the maunga.
