Slabs - a bridge too far

This pair of concrete slabs bridging a gap in a Kerikeri River crossing - seen here after they were shifted in a flood - are to be removed as soon as the Far North District Council can organise a suitable contractor. Photo / Peter de Graaf

A pair of concrete slabs providing pedestrian access across the Kerikeri River near the Stone Store are to be removed.

Far North District councillors accepted a recommendation last week from the council's Infrastructure Committee to remove the slabs.

]The recommendation was also supported by the Department of Conservation and the Kororipo-Kerikeri Basin Management Group, which looks after the area around the Stone Store and Kemp House.

The slabs were placed across a gap in 2008 to provide a crossing point between the Stone Store and the car park on the north side of the river, after the old road bridge was removed and before the current footbridge was built.

In September 2015, the management group - which has members from the Department of Conservation, Destination Northland, Heritage New Zealand, Far North District Council, Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board and Ngati Rehia - wrote to the council seeking the removal of the slabs.

Councillors have now agreed that this should be done.

Mayor John Carter said the slabs were a temporary solution to a short-term problem. However, they remained in place after the footbridge was opened. While their fate has been a matter of ongoing discussion between agencies involved, there had not been a consensus until now.

"The Stone Store and Kemp House are among the oldest settler buildings in New Zealand and are jewels in the Far North's crown," he said.

"The management group believes the slabs are an incompatible man-made disturbance to an area of outstanding historic heritage. I'm glad councillors have accepted this view."

Mr Carter said the slabs would be removed as soon as a contractor could be found to do the work.

The slabs provide a popular crossing point for children but some Kerikeri residents, including local identity Charlie Smellie, have campaigned vigorously for their removal, saying they pose a health and safety risk.