As with iwi having mana whenua over Te Mata Peak, the views the Society represents surely have a place in the debate. They must surely also count to the local body politicians considering this issue, as much as the iwi voice.
Let's be clear; the Society is "unashamedly" in support of retaining the Track.
However, one of our founding guiding principles is to acknowledge that iwi have a particular interest in Te Mata Peak, and were not properly consulted about the Track.
More than anything else, the purpose of the Society is to "reclaim democracy" around this issue. Our motivating concern is to ensure that the debate is not driven by the likes of the Environmental Defence Society, based in Auckland.
We accept and agree that iwi with mana whenua over Te Mata Peak as an outstanding landscape have a legitimate say in its future.
Our members and supporters do as well. But we cannot and will not be dictated to by a lobby group from outside the region.
As well as being a superb recreational facility, I would say one major benefit of the Track, is that everyone in Hawke's Bay has come to learn a lot more about the significance of Te Mata Peak, both the east and west side, to Maori within Hawke's Bay.
After finishing an ascent of the Track on Saturday morning I "crossed the road" to talk to the protesters about their concerns.
I read with interest their accounts of the significance of Te Mata Peak to Waimarama mana whenua, in yesterday's Hawke's Bay Today.
Ngahiwi Tomoana has himself shared insights into the broader cultural significance of Te Mata Peak to Maori in various media comments over recent months.
Te Mata Peak is also hugely significant to non-Maori within Hawke's Bay, and I dare to suggest the recognition of Te Mata Peak as an outstanding landscape in the Hastings District Plan is a reflection of values that cannot be split down a racial divide.
As I see it, Craggy Range is in a very difficult position. It has in good faith established a track in reliance on the necessary resource consent from the Council. It has pledged to restore the Track.
It has now learned that to do so would leave Te Mata Peak in a worse state. This makes me think that if the Track is to remain, which the Peoples Track Society thinks it must, how can we move forward on this issue?
Is the issue actually the Track or a deeper concern held by Maori as to how landscapes of significance to them are protected, and decisions regarding their use are made? What is the place of private landowner rights in all of this?
These are the real issues as I see it. I would like to pick up on Michael Bates' Talking Point on March 21. Let's get to the bottom of these issues by talking "kanohi ki te kanohi" but with all stakeholders involved, not just those with the loudest voice.
We cannot ignore the views of the 19,000 people who support the Track in this process either. I would like to issue a wero or challenge. To Ngahiwi, and Sandra, to Rex and Mike Wilding as well as Mike Devonshire. Let's get an independent facilitator, even one with cultural expertise.
Let's get around the table in a rational and sensible manner to resolve this, without outside interference, so the Hawke's Bay community as a whole can move forward. If we don't, I fear the scars Ngahiwi Tomoana refers to will become bigger than anything Craggy Range has foisted upon the landscape of Te Mata Peak.
George Williams is chairperson of the Te Mata Peak Peoples' Track Society Havelock North
