The Rotorua Tarawera Trail

On 14 September I attended a meeting (the last of three) called to discuss a proposed Rotorua Lakes Trail Network, and especially the Lake Tarawera Trail. The presentation was made by DoC staff supported by the Rotomahana Parekarangi 602B Trust. (The involvement of the Trust, who seem to me to own only a narrow strip of land south of the Highlands block was not explained.) The accompanying documentation was prepared by Tourism Resource Consultants, a large and well-resourced firm based in Wellington, and operating throughout the Pacific and Asia. I suspect that funding for this "Pre-feasibility Assessment" has come from Te Puni Kokiri, an organization provided for maori-identified business development.

The meeting was addressed to "the business community" and was attended by about twenty people, including Graham Jenner and myself. The proposal was one to develop a track network around Lake Tarawera, incorporating the existing Walkways and extending them, plus tourism opportunities such as commercial guides and lodges.

Some points that I noted on the night (remember, this meeting was directed to commercial interests):

DoC are keen on developing a local "recreation opportunities spectrum"…..

It seems that there is a DoC policy to actively get visitors onto conservation land- (perhaps the local lack of these opportunities, often commented on by our walkers, is becoming an embarrassment)

A survey showed that there is no multi-day walk available locally (what about the Whirinaki?)

The occupiers of the area previous to the 1886 eruption are keen on re-establishing their pre-eruption profits from guiding and so on (the "we are the experts- do it really well- we want to return to our land" motif was apparent)

A link to the Eastern Okataina Walkway from the end of Spenser Road was suggested at each meeting- it seemed to surprise the Trail proponents

No mention was made of costs- despite the ‘commercial’ flavour of the night but it seems DoC will pay for construction of the track (that is, largely from taxpayer funding, although the consultants play this down)

Mountain bikers are apparently OK now by DoC- (their attitude to MTB resembles a wind vane to me) but the local  Maoris elders are apparently not keen on MTB, an attitude expressed at a previous meeting, but not on my night

"Governance" was still to be determined- it was identified by the consultants as an important step. (I think that this is a really important item).

There was no mention of "Walkways" or the NZ Walkways Act- surely designed for just this kind of purpose

There was no mention of the current public funding of a "Great Walk" in the Whirinaki, although the consultants mention the necessity of diverting potential visitors from the South Is. Great Walks and Waikaremoana

There was no mention of the Crater Farm development being promoted by the Ngati Whakaue and others

The cost and difficulties of constructing the proposed track to at least NZ Standard Back Country Comfort Seekers prescription were, in my opinion, played down. The topography is difficult. As far back as 1979, during the heyday of walkways, the Lands and Survey reported the difficulties in establishing them due to the shortage of staff with a good eye for the land and alignment of tracks. I doubt that local DoC or the Maoris interests have these skills

There are problems with other Maori tribal interests.

Now, I can report what I believe I heard, or didn’t hear, but here is my interpretation of what is happening:

A concept exists to transfer the Queen Charlotte Sound Walkway to Rotorua

This would be a Good Thing for Rotorua and its tourism industry

Descendants of the aboriginal occupiers of the Tarawera/Rotomahana area wish to re-establish their presence on what they regard as their land

Those dispossessed of their occupancy of the area by the eruption of the volcano envy those now profiting by their ownership of it

There may be some Treaty trade-offs involved with regard to Crown lands

I feel that the Trail concept (which was initiated long ago, with the construction of the existing OkatainaWalkways) is a good one, and one that would benefit the district if completed with recreation as a primary aim. I do have serious doubts about its implementation though. Public money and private vested interests are an uneasy combination. And, I am reminded of the Tasman Accord Track, which was inaugurated with much the same ideals, but which now exists only in memory.

Peter

16 September 06