Disability advocates aiming for the top

Chris Draffin is campaigning to get disabled access up Mauao a few times a year. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN

Bid to enable vehicle trips to Mauao summit

A group of disability advocates are on a mission to allow everyone the chance to see the view of their home from the top of Mauao.

Chris Draffin is confined to a wheelchair and says seeing the view from the top of Mount Maunganui was a daily reality for some people, but for those with disabilities it was out of reach.

His dream was to organise a trip, a few times a year, where four-wheel-drives and quad bikes could take a group of people to the summit.

Before a car accident that left him a paraplegic, Mr Draffin enjoyed climbing Mauao every few weeks and said it was "just part of being home".

Many people with disabilities had never had the chance to see the view from the top of the Mount, despite living in Tauranga most or all of their lives, he said.

"Once you're in a chair you start to appreciate things that you used to be able to do ... This is something a lot of people never thought would be possible."

Former Tauranga City Councillor and inspirational speaker Tony Christiansen, who lost his legs in a childhood accident, has got on board the campaign and said the idea had a lot of merit.

He recalled pulling himself up Mauao as a fit teenager on his arms and backside, which would take him about three hours and was not very practical.

It was not for another 30 years that he had another chance to take in the view, when a ranger took him up in a four-wheel-drive.

"There's a lot of people less fortunate who haven't, or may never get to go to the top and see the beautiful place we live in," he said.

"If it could be opened up for one day to allow groups to go up it would be an amazing opportunity."

Zane Jensen, of Parafed Bay of Plenty, spends his days making sport and recreation a reality for people with disabilities.

He met with Mr Draffin on Thursday and said he looked forward to working with the group to make their wish a reality.

Physical achievements helped people mentally and emotionally and built hope and purpose into their lives, he said.

Taking in the view from the top of Mauao would be popular.

"Like any local would tell you it enhances your life. You never see a grumpy person at the top."

Mr Draffin would approach the Tauranga City Council, which manages the Mauao tracks, to discuss possible ideas for trips and work out how it could be done.

Until then, the idea was proving popular with the public, with 633 page likes on the Facebook page, Operation Disabled Mount Maunganui Ascent, in just over a week.