Winston Aldworth: Parks, not carparks

We should ban all vehicles from the summits of Auckland's volcanoes.

The Super City council last week announced plans to get cars and buses off the tops of our maunga. Some traffic-loving Aucklanders were outraged. Personally, I'm all for it.

If not being able to drive to the top of One Tree Hill seems odd to you, then consider for a moment that right now, there is no footpath to the top of the hill. If you're heading to the top of Auckland's most distinctive peak on foot, you're expected to walk on the road to get there. Even in a community as car-crazy as ours, that is stark-raving bonkers.

I've seen mini traffic jams on One Tree Hill, complete with horns tooting in frustration.

The glut of tourist buses on the peaks of our volcanoes diminishes the exact view that the passengers on those buses are travelling to see. Park the bus. Take a stroll. Your lungs will thank you for it.

Would a lack of access be unfair to the elderly and disabled? Yes. So let's make sure that we have fantastic tracks that maximise accessibility.

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful city and it's the outdoor spaces that are the most beautiful of all. So let's encourage visitors - and locals - to experience the outdoors of Auckland.