For the iwi of Tauranga Moana, the recent landslides on Mauao are more than a geological event. They are a message. The mountain, they say, is telling us he is not ready to welcome people back. As six new slips scar his slopes, a deeper conversation is unfolding about patience, healing, and what it means to listen to the land.
What the Landslides Mean for the Community
Since the weekend, six slips have been recorded near the area where record rainfall and severe storms in January sent a deadly load of mud and debris into a campsite below. The tracks are being repaired, but opinions are sharply divided on when the public should be allowed back. For some, the mountain is a lifeline. For others, he is a living ancestor who needs time to recover.
Mauao trustee Jack Thatcher is clear about the stakes. He tells a story of the mountain's origin: Mauao was once a small, nameless hill who fell in love with Pūwhenua, a beautiful hill. When his love was unrequited, he called on the fairy people to help him drown in the ocean. But by sunrise, he was stranded at the entrance of Tauranga Moana. They named him Mauao, meaning 'caught by the morning sun,' and his mana grew as guardian of the harbour.
'When he's in need, which he is now, it's our job to reciprocate that love and devotion back to him, and I suppose helping him to come back to full health, and we can't rush that,' Thatcher said.
He asks for patience, but an opening date is not around the corner. 'We would love for that to be the summer coming, but we're going to sit back. We're going to listen to the experts, the geotech people who tell us just how stable the mountain is. We're going to listen to our hearts, which will tell us when the time will be right.'
Why the Iwi Is Taking a Slow Approach
Tauranga City Council recovery manager Charlie Rahiri says the council needs to reassess its plans after the weekend slips, but the goal remains reopening public access. 'That is still the ultimate aim, and I don't think anyone is saying otherwise at the moment. But it sort of talks to our approach to taking a slow, cautious, safe remediation of the maunga.'
He notes that repair works had been progressing well, but the new slips show how unstable the mountain is. 'Nature will decide at the end of the day. We can put all the best laid plans in place, but we are at the behest of nature, of Mother Nature.'
Local Frustrations: A Mountain for Mental Health
But not everyone is content to wait. Dave Shaw, who has lived at the mount his whole life, says locals are frustrated. 'I was born here in 1960 and I'll tell you what, there's been slips forever, it's not a new thing. But they get fixed quickly. This is slow and they can say, oh, it's about letting it heal and everything. Fine. But it's not going to heal. It's going to keep collapsing if they don't tidy it up.'
Shaw used to trek up the mountain eight times a week. 'The mountain is mental health for not just me, everyone. You know, people that are not feeling good, they'll go around the mountain...and now they're blocked out.'
Michael O'Neill, president of the Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents and Retailers Association, echoes the sentiment. 'They've come up with a plan of what they intend to do, but no timelines around it, and that's the frustration. We're not moving forward very quickly.' He says a timeline would be good for both residents and businesses.
Can We Learn to Listen to the Land?
This tension between urgency and reverence is not new in Aotearoa. But it raises a question that goes beyond one mountain: in a world of climate instability, how do we balance human need with ecological and cultural respect? The iwi's approach is not just about safety. It is about reciprocity. It is about recognising that the land is not a resource to be exploited, but a relative to be cared for.
As Thatcher puts it, 'We're going to listen to our hearts, which will tell us when the time will be right.' For now, Mauao remains closed. And perhaps that is exactly what he needs.
FAQ: Mauao Landslides and Access
Why is Mauao closed to the public?
Mauao is closed due to multiple landslides that have made the tracks unsafe. The iwi and council are taking a cautious approach to ensure the mountain is stable before reopening.
When will Mauao reopen?
There is no set date. The iwi hopes for a summer reopening, but they are waiting for geotechnical experts to assess the mountain's stability and for the mountain itself to 'tell' them the time is right.
What is the cultural significance of Mauao?
Mauao is a sacred ancestor for the iwi of Tauranga Moana. According to tradition, he was once a small hill who fell in love and was stranded at sunrise, becoming the guardian of the harbour. His mana is deeply respected.