Mauao steps’ safety questioned

A Tauranga man concerned with the safety of elderly residents utilising the historic stone steps on Mauao is calling on Tauranga City Council to improve them.

Tauranga man Ron Chamberlain, on top of the historic stone steps on Mauao. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Ron Chamberlain climbs the iconic mountain twice-weekly and believes the steps leading up the Main Beach side of the mountain are an accident waiting to happen, especially for older people walking down them.

'Tauranga City Council has a wonderful facility with the Mount and they keep it in wonderful condi­tion, but the historic steps at the bottom are a disaster waiting to happen when one is going down them, worse in wet and damp conditions,” says the 66-year-old.

He hasn't had any serious trips, but does admit to a few 'near misses”. 'It's wonder­ful to see the number of senior people using the track keeping fit. However, with the passing of time balance can be a real prob­lem for some – over time more seniors will be using the track and safety is paramount.”

Ron last week contacted Mauao park rangers with his concerns.

Mauao park ranger Mark Ray admits the steps are steep, but he doesn't believe they're unsafe.

'You do have to take caution going down them, but people are going on to Mauao for the wilderness experience as well.”

He says as they're historic steps and rang­ers are limited as to what they can do.

'There's also alternative routes to be able to get to the spot where Ron is concerned about.” Mark hasn't received any other complaints about safety of the steps but says he will erect a sign at the top of the stairs cautioning walkers to take the flatter, four-wheel-drive track, in the next few weeks.

Ron says while a sign is good for now, something more significant should be done.

A series of specialist tests evaluating the condition of the mountain as part of the Mauao Reserve Management Plan is expected to be put to Tauranga City Coun­cil for consideration in August.

TCC communications advisor Marcel Currin says safety concerns over the steps will be included in discussions only if the issue is raised by the community during the review process.

You may also like....

19 comments

good idea

Posted on 04-08-2014 07:14 | By Froggy

Wasn't Mauao handed back to Iwi as caregivers or custodians? Let them repair it. Could be a good way to keep rates down for next year. I can see council using it as a great excuse to put up rates.


PC Gone Mad

Posted on 04-08-2014 07:51 | By msimp

next we will need handrails. I have walked the mount hundreds of times and never seen a fall on those steps. Give the elderly some credit for having common sense and either taking a bit of extra care or using the alternative "easy" route. Yet another example of people trying to fix a problen that does not exist.


Surely..

Posted on 04-08-2014 08:46 | By Turk4

You MUST be joking!!?? This world is going PC MAD. Well Done for not bowing to pressure, ripping the steps up and putting an escalator in there....


NO WAY

Posted on 04-08-2014 09:21 | By RML

No way . They must stay. I walk the Mount track up to the top all the time. If you actually look in the Photo above ,you can see an elderly man walking around the OTHER track option.


They're steps for goodness sake

Posted on 04-08-2014 10:10 | By Annalist

It's not a shopping mall, it's a green space. People need to take care, you can slip anywhere including the grass beside the steps. Do people not use their own care and commonsense anymore?


go down the road.

Posted on 04-08-2014 11:22 | By thegoodlife

that is all.


PC Gone Mad is Right

Posted on 04-08-2014 12:29 | By The Sage

Better still, put in a gondola to the top of the Mount and then no-one would have to do any walking at all.


Handed back

Posted on 04-08-2014 13:14 | By Pom

Exactly - i agree Mauao was handed back to the iwi !! let them fix it , i already pay enough Rates to this Council


God give us strenght!

Posted on 04-08-2014 14:14 | By s83cruiser

Mr. Chamberlain should just go about his business and stop trying to Nanny the entire population of the world. This country is full of bleeding heart do gooders that are wrapped up in looking out for other people. People need to look after themselves and they don't need the council or Mr. Chamberlain doing it for them. People, and more so OLDER people didn't get to be OLDER people by not looking after themselves so butt out Mr. Chamberlain and look after yourself and leave others to do the same.


Better idea

Posted on 04-08-2014 14:26 | By Kiri Upoko

Yes Iwi could pay for it by charging a fee to all who use it.


@Kiri Upoko

Posted on 04-08-2014 15:37 | By Sambo Returns

and apply the same principle to the Astrolabe Reef.


Mr. Chamberlain

Posted on 04-08-2014 16:37 | By YOGI BEAR

I suggest you use one of the other means to go up the Mount, Could I suggest the one on the Harbour entrance side, that is "steep" and would then put everything back into perspective. The alternate, start a petition for Council to round up IWI to build that Gondola, then no worries at all right.


Iwi to Pay

Posted on 05-08-2014 09:41 | By Tumeke Tauranga

There are a lot of comments suggesting that iwi pay for this. Mauao is a toanga / treasure for all of us to use and enjoy. If iwi were to pay for all things on Mauao then to recover costs it would need to be earning an income rather than free for everyone to use.In private hands I am sure they would charge fees or put an amazing restaurant, gondola and commercial facilities there with breathtaking views. This could be quite a money-spinner. However, I sure wouldnt want to see Mauao commercialised - would other readers?


What's next

Posted on 06-08-2014 07:36 | By Mike Lehan

When we finish wrapping everyone in cotton wool why not put handrails around the mount walk, hang on, let's cordon off the beach as well because that's dangerous. Let's see, why don't we all stay in doors, isn't that the safest place. Ron, my advice to you, watch your step, that may help.....


Tumeke

Posted on 06-08-2014 08:46 | By YOGI BEAR

The Mount is not public property it is now privately owned all be it as a tax free charitable trust, paying no tax on anything. IWI want to own these things and with that comes responsibility and costs regardless of free access.


Yogi

Posted on 07-08-2014 11:48 | By Tumeke Tauranga

Fair enough Yogi - if the shoe were on the other foot and you had title to Mauao and costs to cover such as these what would you do?


Tumeke Tauranga

Posted on 11-08-2014 17:15 | By YOGI BEAR

I understand, you don't want to pay, however it has been agreed that there would always be free access for the public, regardless IWI still wanted ownership, so within thise boundaries IWI's options are somewhat limited to recover the cost of maintenance, I would suggest that the activities on Mount Maunganui maybe need to intensify to provide some cash income to fund these things, perhaps instead you could look at the IWI package settlement from all taxpayers of New Zealand and use a little of it to maintain that which you wanted to have and now have, would hate to see it end up looking like the Raglan Golf Course, heaven forbid.


Yogi

Posted on 13-08-2014 14:52 | By Tumeke Tauranga

Good to see your constructive comments Yogi. It comes down to two choices - make Mauao pay for itself with some type of income generating activities to offset the costs, or the status quo which is to have this publically accessible treasure paid for by the public which in my opinion is the best solution as I would hate to see any development on Mauao.


Great Scot

Posted on 21-08-2014 23:05 | By Scrotney

I recently noted that Council workers have refurbished the lower steps on the eastern side of Mauao. Well done TCC. I'm not convinced hand rails or rubberised edges on natural rock steps will help the aged, infirm or serial complainers. I suggest Mr Chamberlain and the infirm should use the 4 wheel drive track or stick to the base walking path.


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.