To petition signatories

Two long years have passed since this petition was launched.
The mountain looms higher and, sadly, in spite of all your support, we are no closer gaining improved access to our beautiful coastline at Taronui Recreation Reserve.

The electronic gate, erected by private property owners on public land, is still in place and there are still no clear answers as to its status.
This means that people wishing to visit the coastal reserve still face a hilly two hour long return trek.

Background: The Department of Conservation manages the reserve and the access, on behalf of the public.
As mana whenua and kaitiaki for the site, Ngāti Rēhia is the prime stakeholder.
As Crown owned land, Taronui Recreation Reserve may be part of the Waitangi settlement process and any agreement will have to recognise this.
Also relevant is The Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011.

Initially we asked DOC to grant permission for vehicle access to the top of the hill above the beach.
Last year we changed that first request, to mitigate concerns raised by Ngāti Rēhia and a handful of private property owners, who use the existing road to reach their properties.
The new option reduces the current walking distance from about 4km to a much easier 1.4km, while also providing a buffer to protect the environment. A section of the existing road formation will need to be realigned into the legal access

Several attempts, this year, to arrange a formal meeting with the hapu, to discuss the revised plan, have come to nothing. But an informal conversation is encouraging.
We note that Ngāti Rēhia has publicly supported other projects that are making our coastline more accessible to the community.
For example, a new access road and boat trailer parking at Rangitoto/Windsor Landing on the south side of the Kerikeri Inlet has been blessed by Ngāti Rēhia.

And DOC has changed its stance from a definite no in November 2019 to a written encouragement to continue talking.
DOC’s Northland operations director Sue Reed-Thomas says in a letter dated 4 May 2021: “I acknowledge the previous correspondence and meetings you have had over many years with the department. I understand that there has recently been a meeting hosted by Mayor John Carter to progress your longstanding objective to enable vehicle access to Taronui Beach. I am also advised that you are seeking to engage with Ngāti Rēhia and other stakeholders to explore the options for improving access to Taronui Beach. I encourage you to continue dialogue with Bronwyn Bauer-Hunt, Pou Matarautaki/Operations Manager, Bay of Islands.”

So we have a continuing saga of ‘more hui and less dooey’.

To remind you all: our aim is to work together with Ngāti Rēhia to make Taronui a place of wonder that generates respect, a well of both natural and cultural history that our tamariki can dip into to learn and appreciate.
We are excited about the idea of some kind of marine reserve to protect the marine environment and rebuild stocks.
We are excited by storytelling.
We are excited about an envisioned walk from Matauri Bay to Elliot’s beach, adjacent to Taronui.

Management issues to consider:·
• Protection of kaimoana from increased public access (There is legislation in place whereby tangata kaitiaki/tiaki authorise and manage customary activities, enabling customary fishing and management traditions to continue in the rohe moana.)
• Protection of tapu areas
• Maintenance of the road reserve
• Provision of toilets
• Signage
• Hours of use
• Prohibition of dogs and overnight camping
• Encouragement of a ‘pack it in, pack it out’ mentality for rubbish

To conclude, the private gate remains locked but hopefully not closed forever.