At last, the Department of Conservation has responded to our petition.

The good news is that the department is willing to consider the possibility of vehicle access to Taronui and it’s willing to work with the Far North District Council.

The bad news is that DOC’s Northland director Sue Reed Thomas makes it clear the department’s responsibilities mean it is going to be a long process.

This is exactly why the Taronui campaign failed in 2006, after five years of research and talk.

At the time DOC, Far North District Council and Ngāti Rēhia supported vehicle access to the top of the hill above the lagoon.

Money was allocated for the road upgrade and and a memorandum of understanding between DOC and the Far North District Council was being drawn up.

Management issues were identified, all of them soluble.

It was bureaucratic delays duck shoving that shafted the project then.

The same thing could happen again.

For DOC to give approval, it requires consultation with private property owners, local iwi and other stakeholders and an in-depth analysis of potential adverse effects.

There are more than 5,800 people who have signed this petition, among them lawyers, planners, marine scientists, builders, politicians, engineers, environmental experts and surveyors.

Determined people-power is needed to encourage DOC and FNDC to make this happen, and soon.

Why do we see a need for hurry?

Well, we would love improved access to Taronui by summer 2019/20 but there is another reason for urgency that is not acknowledged by DOC.

The existing pubic access is still via a walking track that doubles as a road to four private properties.

DOC says work on a bridge on the public track is critical and they will be pushing ahead in a shared cost deal with the landowners.

These four landowners should not be paying for work on a public road.

DOC’s Sue Reed Thomas notes in her letter that Northlanders are fortunate to have many beautiful beaches in our region. What she doesn’t acknowledge is that Kerikeri has lost a long list of beautiful sand and surf beaches over the years to high-end developments. Now surfers drive 40 minutes to Taupo Bay or more than an hour to Ahipara to get a surf.

This is our last chance to access a surf beach close to Kerikeri, via public land.

Please send your email address to kerimolloy2@gmail.com if you would like more information, or if you would like to give input.