Rock climbers, drones may be banned on Mauao

The council wants submissions on a draft plan for managing Mauao. File photo

Drones and rock climbing would be banned on Mauao under new management plan for the iconic Bay spot.

Tauranga City Council has called for submissions on its draft Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan.

The plan has been drafted by a joint administration board Nga Poutiriao o Mauao comprising representatives of the reserve's owners, the Mauao Trust and the council after consultation with locals.

The plan includes a new rule requiring people wanting to fly drones or unmanned aircraft over Mauao to get permission from Nga Poutiriao o Mauao first - except flights arranged by the council.

It also says that rock climbing will be banned on Mauao unless a suitable new site can be found.

The council said the current site had safety risks, was close to a tapu site and had a rare native fern, psilotum nudum, in the area that could be damaged.

Dean Flavell, chair of Nga Poutiriao o Mauao, said the plan was designed to "ensure we preserve and celebrate the natural, historic, cultural, and spiritual significance our maunga Mauao".

"We know Tauranga residents and visitors love Mauao - that's why we had nearly one million people walk up or around it in 2016," he said.

The draft plan is available www.tauranga.govt.nz/mauaormp as well as at libraries around the city and Tauranga City Council's customer service centre at 91 Willow Street.

Submission forms will also be available at these locations, and the submission period will close on September 27.

Actions included in the plan

• Specific projects that enable and celebrate the cultural and historical significance of Mauao
• Protection of wahi tapu sites and sites of historic significance
• No burials or scattering of ashes will be permitted on Mauao, and no new memorials be placed on the maunga
•Rock climbers will not be permitted to use Mauao for climbing, unless suitable climbing sites can be found. The current location has safety risks, is close to a tapu site and has a rare native fern, psilotum nudum, in the area that could be damaged
•Drones will not be permitted on Mauao without permission.