Te Mata Park receives blessing

The Te Mata Park Trust has a further $1.1m in funds to raise for the visitor centre. Photo/Paul Taylor

A hikoi and blessing was held on Te Mata Peak at the weekend where those gathered in the early morning heard stories of the history of the site which is earmarked for the Te Mata Park Visitor and Education Centre.

The Saturday morning gathering began at 6.30am with a hikoi to the peak, before a karakia took place, which Te Mata Park Trust chairman Bruno Chambers described as a "very moving occasion".

"It was great," he said.

"It was a very positive atmosphere.

"The karakia at the top - we're very grateful Maori and Te Taiwhenua have co-ordinated the day for us and I think everybody felt very positive about it."

The event was born from a suggestion made in the early stages of the centre proposal.

"Initially we had the taiwhenua do the cultural impact report and at that time it was pointed out it would be good to have a hikoi and blessing at the site a little bit further down the track.

"A little bit over a year later we approached the taiwhenua and asked if they would put [one] together," Mr Chambers said.

"There are various different Maori histories, they all vary a little but we were hearing the different variances of Maori legend."

The event culminated with tea, coffee and sandwiches at The Peak Restaurant about 9.30am.

The visitor centre has been touted as a project which will ensure the value of Te Mata Peak is maintained and protected.

The peak hosts about 200,000 visitors every year, including tourist buses.

With a budget of $4.3 million, it is a major project for the trust and about $3 million in funding has already been secured.

To be located at the main gates to the park, the centre will be a facility focusing on the park and its unique attributes, with information on its geology, ecology, history and cultural significance, as well as providing practical amenities.

Mr Chambers said there was still a final hurdle to be crossed.

"We're still definitely at the final stage and got a bit of a hurdle to get over yet. But the final $1.1 million is in sight.

"We're making various corporate approaches to individuals and we're hopeful that we will have the money and start in approximately a year, or a year-and-a-half's, time."