The rāhui placed over Main Beach (Hīnekite) and the Mauao end of Pilot Bay (Waikorire Beach) has been lifted. Photo / Tauranga City Council
The rāhui placed over Main Beach (Hīnekite) and the Mauao end of Pilot Bay (Waikorire Beach) has been lifted. Photo / Tauranga City Council
The rāhui placed over Mount Maunganui Main Beach (Hinekite) and the Mauao end of Waikorire Beach has been lifted today after the deadly landslide on January 22.
Following discussions between hapū leaders, the Mauao Trust, and Tauranga Moana iwi, Ngāi Tukairangi hapū agreed the rāhui could be lifted.
Thedecision was confirmed in a statement to the Bay of Plenty Times.
The rāhui was put in place to acknowledge the tragedy at Mauao, to restrict access for safety, to respect those who lost their lives, and ensure the wellbeing and safety of the community.
The decision coincided with the opening up of areas in Mount Maunganui on Waitangi Day.
Kaumātua Anthony Fisher of Ngāi Tukairangi said in a statement the rāhui was an important tikanga to acknowledge what had occurred and to ensure safety.
“We thank the community for their understanding and respect of the rāhui during that time.”
Fisher said now that the rāhui had been lifted, those areas would be open again to the public, “though Mauao will continue to be restricted until further notice”.
Turi Ngatai, of Ngai Tukairangi, said people must “be mindful” of people in the community who were still coming to terms with the devastation at Mauao.
“There will be people finding ways to respect not only the lives lost, but the very profound loss they are feeling not being able to spend time with Mauao.”
The rāhui area placed around Mauao has been lifted, but an exclusion zone applies to all vessels and people 30 metres from the base/shore of Mauao. Image / Tauranga City Council
Ngatai said in the statement that understanding the grief “takes time”.
Tauranga City Council further confirmed the rāhui being lifted in a post to social media.
“The rāhui placed by tangata whenua over parts of Waikorire (Pilot Bay) and Hīnekite (Mount Main Beach) following last month’s severe weather event had been lifted,” the post read.
The post said the Pilot Bay boat ramp remained closed.
“Due to the risk of landslip and the associated maritime safety risks around Mauao/Mount Maunganui, a 30m exclusion zone put in place by the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster remains.”
The exclusion zone applies to all vessels and people and extends 30m from the base/shore of Mauao.
