Partial re-opening of Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park following weather related damage

Bay of Plenty Regional Council is re-opening parts of Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park Good Friday 3 April.

The park has been closed since 22 January, when heavy rainfall triggered more than a dozen significant landslides across the site, damaging walking tracks and park infrastructure.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Councillor and Te Uepu Co-Chair Kat Macmillan says staff and contractors have worked hard to restore public access where it is safe to do so.

“Our priority has been making sure the park is safe for the community. Since January, Regional Council staff, members of Te Uepu, specialist contractors and geotechnical engineers have been working together to assess the damage and carry out essential repair works."

Te Uepu Co-Chair Spencer Webster echoed this sentiment. 

“Te Rae o Pāpāmoa is a place of immense cultural and historical significance. The protection of its pā and the cultural heritage remains central to our role as kaitiaki.

"Our cautious agreement to this first stage of re-opening reflects the assurances we have received regarding public safety and the safeguarding of these important heritage sites.

"As we move through the staged re-opening, iwi will continue to work closely with the Regional Council to ensure that every step taken upholds the safety of the community and the integrity of this treasured taonga.”

Tracks re-opening from Friday 3 April:

• Pūraho Track (to/from far Poplar Lane carpark to the trig/summit)
• Karangaumu Track via alternative track (to/from main Poplar Lane carpark)
• Summerhills Track (to/from Summerhill Recreation Farm carpark on Reid Road to trig/summit).

Tracks remaining closed due to ongoing damage and instability:

• Pāpāmoa Track
• Te Ihu o Ruarangi Track
• Te Hōuāwe Track
• Te Kaingapākura Track.

Signs have been installed throughout the park to clearly mark which areas remain closed. Visitors are asked to keep to the open tracks and stay off closed trails due to the continued landslide risk.

There are two carparks available at Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park, both providing access to open trails and a route to the summit. Motorists are reminded not to park along Poplar Lane roadside.

Ms Macmillan says the community’s co-operation during this time has been invaluable.

“We want to thank the community for their support and patience while we worked to ensure the park was safe to re-open. Your understanding has made a real difference.”

For more information about Pāpāmoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park, visit www.boprc.govt.nz/papamoa-hills

For further media information, please contact media@boprc.govt.nz 

This map indicates which parts of the park remain closed, due to landslide risk, and which parts are now open. Please keep to the open tracks and avoid all closed areas.