Site of Mount Maunganui cultural centre challenged

The proposal to build a cultural centre at the foot of Mauao has been challenged by former Tauranga city councillor Bob Tulloch.

Mr Tullock said if the story needed to be told, why not reach the biggest audience and incorporate the cultural centre into the council's planned visitor information centre in Salisbury Ave.

"From a commercial point of view, the more visitors the better."

He was speaking at yesterday's hearing of submissions on the Mauao Historic Reserve's draft management plan.

Ideas highlighted in the plan included establishing a marae atea (ceremonial space) on the summit, a waka launching site, signage showcasing areas of cultural significance and a visitor or cultural centre at the base of Mauao.

Mr Tullock said what Maori did with their Treaty settlement money was none of his business.

"But if a story needs to be told, why not reach the biggest audience."

He said it seemed logical to hold hands with iwi and tell the story at the visitor information centre, rather than the foot of Mauao.

A member of the panel which heard the submissions, Jack Thatcher, said he saw great benefits from the centre being at the base of Mauao, with up to 1.3 million people expected to use Mauao this year.

Mr Tulloch said it was hard to imagine how a structure at the base of Mauao would not impact on space for campers. He asked what location was being considered for the cultural centre.

Mr Thatcher said this was a discussion yet to be had.

A controversial aspect of the management plan, the proposal to ban rock climbing on the northeastern face of Mauao, was resisted by Dennis de Monchy of Federated Mountain Clubs.

Mr de Monchy said it was one of the best climbing crags in the area and could not be replicated indoors.

"We try to reduce our impact as much as we can."

Mr Thatcher said it seemed that anyone could climb, and the issue came down to public safety. Where climbers were above the track, all sorts of things could happen.

"We have to make sure that everyone on the maunga is safe."

Mr de Monchy said that when they set up the climbing route, all loose rocks were removed and the crag was probably safer because it had been climbed for so many years. He had never heard of anyone being hurt below the climbers.

Mr Thatcher said the climbers had to come up with a good plan of how it would all work because he could not see how they could safeguard everyone on the track below.

What others said about Mauao's management plan
Max Lewis: "More professional control of predators and a goal of eradication as far as you can."
Steve Russell (Coastguard): "Reinstate the marine VHF radio repeater on the summit of Mauao. The summit is regarded as the prime radio site for maritime service in the area."
Richard Prince: "Who will pay. Is it tangata whenua who have title to Mauao or will it be charged back to ratepayers."
Mike Gardner: "It is a piece of volcanic rock caught by the dawn and it has captured our hearts ever since."
Michael Gunson (Surfbreak Protection Society): "Mauao would be an ideal location to place a georectified camera that can observe changing surfing wave quality and correlating that with port dredging operations."