STILL CLOSED: People are ignoring the signs that Craggy Range has put out, continuing to traverse the Te Mata Peak track. PHOTO/Paul Taylor
Preparations to hold a meeting between concerned parties of the partially completed walking track on the eastern slopes of Te Mata Peak is underway to discuss the next step, with Hastings District Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst noting it will take place within a week.
This has come after signs, fences and cones failed to deter visitors and locals alike from traversing the track, with a group even spotted squeezing their dog through the now locked gate.
Ms Hazlehurst said for her it was about what the community wants and council is arranging to meet with iwi, hapu and Craggy Range as soon as possible.
"I think first of all we need to sit down and listen to everybody's concerns now we've had a lot of community interest from both sides. We just need to put everything on the table and for us to listen to all parties and find a way forward."
Her priority over the coming weeks would be to listen to the community and consult with the stakeholders.
"This is a complex issue that has attracted a range of views across the community," she said.
"The track is currently closed which allows us time over the holiday break to carefully consider the issues and work toward a solution acceptable to all parties.
"In the future council will consider a review of the District Plan relating to matters of this nature but in the meantime we must ensure we take a patient and balanced approach as we find a way forward."
Ms Hazlehurst believed there had been up to "three dozen" cars parked on the side of the road on Thursday and had been working with council to ensure they have a safe and secure road and people are safe.
Hastings District councillor Henare O'Keefe was supportive of the idea, noting that his "mantra has always been don't forget the cup of tea".
"There's always room for dialogue and I think in every facet of life we have to take the time to understand both points of view and sit down with an empathetic, sympathetic, patient and tolerant manner and listen in order to understand."
He commended Craggy Range on making a decision, because it would not have been made lightly and people should respect it.
Mr O'Keefe said although "mankind have been trespassing since the beginning of time", after all it is private property.
He hoped that "this empathetic, sympathetic countenance will prevail between all people whatever the outcome and I just hope that we can be more tolerant and patient of one another".
Mr O'Keefe has sat down with Craggy Range Winery chief executive Michael Wilding talking about "relationships, rather than the Peak", noting that they plan to focus on "moving into the future regardless of what politics that prevail, the relationship is absolutely paramount and we should nurture that and work on that. It's all about the relationship that's the real currency here".
Steady flows of up to 20 cars at a time were seen parked on the side of Waimarama Rd yesterday morning, with one walker even trying to squeeze their dog through the now locked gate.
Mr Wilding said he hoped "people will respect our request because we don't want anyone putting their safety at risk".
"Outside of the public's safety, all of our team's energy is entirely focused on delivering our guests and friends with an amazing Craggy Range experience over what is our busiest two weeks of the year at our Giants site."
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said he was also working on setting up a meeting and urged people to stop walking on the track.
"The owners have deliberately put those fences up to stop people walking on it and it is a health and safety issue so we support that."
Anyone who walks on the track does it at their own risk, he said.
"I am disappointed that people are still doing it but that is up to them. We have no jurisdiction on what people can and can't do, all we are saying is for people to be careful."
Hawke's Bay regional councillor Tom Belford said there have been significant flaws from the beginning.
"It goes back to the very beginning of this process. The Hastings District councillors seem to be a bunch of potted plants when it comes to understanding this issue or being aware of it when they should have been."
He believed it was unfortunate that people were choosing to put themselves at risk.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Rex Graham said it is private land and people should respect the fact that Craggy range has closed it because there are health and safety issues.
"It probably would have been sensible to have a discussion with the community before they did anything but now they need to decide what they do - it is their decision how they proceed from here."
A Napier resident, who did not wish to be named, climbed the track for the first time with his family yesterday morning and said it was "spectacular".
"Anybody that is against the track needs to walk it first and then form an opinion."
Similarly, French tourist Nicolas Brudon was oblivious to the controversy surrounding the track but said they had been put on to it by the local i-Site.
Havelock North resident Anna Archibald, who created a petition with more than 4000 signatures calling for the removal of the track, said "it was a seriously flawed Hastings DC process that allowed this track to be built on Te Mata Peak".
"It's great that Craggy Range have accepted that there were shortcomings in the process and that they agreed to close and remediate the track. I applaud them for taking this position, and I believe they will stand firm on their word.
"To do otherwise will invite a drawn out and expensive legal challenge that will cost ratepayers and Craggy Range. A legal challenge will involve further adverse publicity for Craggy Range and is likely to find that the track was illegally consented and therefore must be removed."