Mauao tracks closed as heavy-lift chopper called in

A heavy-lift helicopter helps hoist supplies to contractors working at the top of Mauao to resurface tracks to the summit. Photo/George Novak

Two tracks leading to the summit of Mauao at Mount Maunganui have been closed as work begins on the damaged trails.

A heavy-lift helicopter has been used to help hoist supplies for the surfacing work, which is expected to continue for a week.

Warren Aitken, Tauranga City Council manager of parks and recreation, said work was on-track and he expected to be finished on Friday if the weather played ball.

"We opted to use a heavy-lift helicopter during this week's Mauao resurfacing - we resurface the tracks regularly for visitor safety,'' Mr Aitken said.

''This is the best way of getting the work done quickly and safely, and the most cost-effective solution. The helicopter has to make approximately 170 trips, and there's about a three-minute turn around between loads.

"We fly gravel to the track, then shape it and compact it. We are also widening some sets of steps to allow better two-way access on the busy track.''

The closure is from the stone steps at the Mount Maunganui Beach entrance up to the summit.

The work began on Monday. The Oruahine track is expected to be open from tomorrow. Mauao's base track and 4WD track up to the summit remains open and unaffected.