Ngāti Hei has lifted its rāhui at Cathedral Cove but has re-emphasised its support for DOC’s closure of tracks in the interests of visitor safety.

Ngāti Hei leaders have also highlighted the need for the whenua to heal from what they have expressed as abuse of a culturally significant site.

The iwi placed a rāhui over Cathedral Cove in February, after Cyclone Gabrielle damaged tracks to the cove and washed away built structures at the bottom of the track which gives access to the cove.

Ngāti Hei Kaumatua Joe Davis publicly voiced his concern manuhiri - visitors - would be putting themselves at risk by using tracks which DOC had closed to manage risk to visitors created by rockfall and landslides.

The tīkanga to lift the rāhui was completed last week.

“Ngāti Hei still believes the whenua needs a rest,” says Joe. “We still care about the well-being of people engaging with this important cultural site – and we urge people to respect DOC’s restrictions on access.”

Joe says Ngāti Hei, like DOC staff, are aware people continue to disregard well-publicised track closure advice and find ways of accessing the beach from the land, including creating their own paths through the bush.

“We’re concerned people are putting themselves in harm’s way by ignoring the warnings. We do not want anyone getting hurt at Cathedral Cove, and we cannot manage visitors’ health and safety if they choose not to pay attention to the warnings. 

“We want to add our voice to DOC’s risk advocacy for Cathedral Cove and encourage people to stay off the tracks and the reserve land immediately surrounding the beach.”

DOC has closed the track to manage risk to visitors created by rockfall and landslides. Photo: Christel Yardley/Stuff.

Nick Kelly, DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager, says DOC appreciates people still want to see Cathedral Cove and urged them “see it from the sea”.

“As we’ve repeatedly stated, there is a very real risk of potentially harmful rockfall and erosion at this beach. DOC has a responsibility to manage and publicise that risk, which is what we’ve been doing.

“A particular concern for us is the type of visitors who traditionally go to Cathedral Cove – they’re day-trippers looking for a safe and easy walk to a beach. With damaged tracks and the risk of landslides and rockfall, it’s not suitable for this type of visitors who’ve traditionally gone there.”

Work to decommission the toilets on the beach has also begun this week.

As recently as September, rocks the size of chilly bins fell from the cove’s famous arch. DOC staff have finalised the installation of signage which warns of the risk identified in an independent report provided to DOC by Tonkin + Taylor, which is published on the DOC website.

Visitors planning to access Cathedral Cove from the sea are advised to inform themselves of the risk on the beach, and to take into account weather, sea and tide conditions before attempting to land.

DOC is working on options to reimagine the Cathedral Cove/Hahei conservation experience, factoring in the impacts of climate change and the need to make sensible investments in long-term resilient solutions.