Whakatāne District Council's Projects and Services Committee has agreed to invite community proposals to repair and re-establish the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway between West End, Ōhope and Ōtarawairere.
At its meeting this morning (19 February), the Committee agreed to enable community groups to submit proposals either to restore the existing track or to develop alternative routes.
Staff were also directed to investigate whether funds allocated to the track repair from the the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment can be used to support a community-led project.
This decision follows extensive geotechnical investigations into the popular coastal track, which has been closed since landslides in 2022 and 2023.
The West End section of the track closed in October 2022 following a major slip. In December 2022, the Council approved $200,000 for track reinstatement as part of a district-wide storm damage repairs programme. Additional funding of $451,000 was secured from Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund through the in August 2023.
However, a second major slip in September 2023 further delayed reinstatement work and required additional investigation.
Five separate geotechnical reports, peer-reviewed by independent consultants, found the escarpment has experienced at least 49 landslides over 70 years and faces very high ongoing landslide risk, particularly as a changing climate increases the frequency of intense rainfall events.
Mayor Nándor Tánczos acknowledged there are real challenges with the track.
“In some places what used to be walkway is now sheer cliff face where the entire track has disappeared. It’s not just about reinstating the track and keeping it safe but ongoing maintenance on a slip-prone slope.”
However, the Mayor said the Committee wants to give the community a chance.
“We absolutely want to give the community a chance to have a go at it and see if it can be solved. I'm very confident they are able to come up with some really good solutions.”
The Mayor said while there are financial benefits to ratepayers, the value goes beyond that.
“It is also about the sense of ownership that comes from people being part of something positive for our community and for future generations. This is an opportunity for us as a Council to find new ways of working with our community, and I'm very optimistic about what could come from that.”
General Manager Community Experience Alexandra Pickles said the decision balanced community aspirations with the Council’s safety obligations.
"We've heard the community's passion for this track loud and clear," Ms Pickles said.
"The Committee's decision creates space for community-led solutions while ensuring we continue to meet our safety responsibilities. Our focus now is on establishing a clear proposal process and exploring funding support."
The 17.4km Ngā Tapuwae o Toi loop traverses the domain of Toi, an important early ancestor of Ngāti Awa, whose stronghold Kapu-te-Rangi Pā is one of the oldest known pā sites in Aotearoa.
For local iwi and hapū, these are ngā tapuwae - the footprints - of those who walked here long before there were formal tracks.
The Council will continue to work with Ngāti Awa and the Department of Conservation on opportunities to develop Ngā Tapuwae o Toi into an official Short Walks and Day Hikes track, which would significantly raise its profile and support tourism in the district.
Staff will now establish a proposal process. Further details, including timeframes will be released in due course.
