Board claims to seek Mangapurua Rd compromise

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 439, 9 June 1992, Page 3

Board claims to seek Mangapurua Rd compromise

A compromise should be sought over the Mangapurua Road closure, Whanganui Conservation Board members told local pig hunters last week. Last Thursday the Waimarino Community Board played host to a lively discussion between local pig hunters, land owners and ex-landowners from the Mangapurua area, Department of Conservation staff and Whanganui Conservation Board members. The board members told those present they were there to hear concerns and views regarding the use of the road, though they also passed on some of their views regarding the status of the road. Board member Darrell Grace said they had to find a compromise over access for hunters "because you are going to use (horses and bikes) anyway aren't you?" The Department of Conservation closed the road to vehicles and horses recently, upsetting pig hunters who use the road for access by horse or all terrain vehicle into the valley for hunting trips. Conservator John Lythgoe told the meeting this was because of the damage done. The track was being used more and more by trampers, many from the cities or overseas, and they demanded a higher standard of maintenance, he said. The department' could not afford to maintain the track to a standard where it could withstand the wear of horses and atv's.

Illegal Road closure The pig hunters expressed annoyance with the way DoC had closed the road. They had expected the closure to be advertised in the usual way, but because DoC received no objections to its planned closure publicized in its Whanganui National Park management plan, they put the matter straight in the hands of the Department of Survey and Land Information whp went ahead with the closure. There were some at the meeting who felt this method of closure was illegal, though it was explained that it was quite legal, though DoC staff later admitted it was probably not the best way to do it. "The closure is still illegal," shouted Mangapurua land owner Tom Mowatt. "You have to admit to the fact that you botched up the legal closure of the road and let the public know that the legal road is not closed." Mr Mowatt directed his anger at the conservation board members, not at the Department of Conservation staff. "There's no need to shout," said Mr Grace. "I've been shouting for 30 years over this," said Mr Mowatt. Mr Grace said there was no intention to do anything underhand through the road closure process used.

Access for atv's and horses was needed for hunters to avoid a 17km walk to the hunting areas, the pig hunters told the board. Hunting was a source of food for many unemployed people as well as being an important recreation activity. A compromise suggested was for the track to be opened to vehicles to Ward's flat where a holding paddock could be formed. Forming a second track for the hunters or the trampers was not possible for financial reasons, Mr Lythgoe said. Hunters said they should be allowed access because they were carrying out conservation work, such as pig, possum and goat control, which DoC was not doing. The community board was asked if the Ruapehu District Council would be prepared to pay to keep the track to trampers' standards. Many tourists who use the road would like to be able to ride horses on it, said one hunter. "The users of the road have paid for the upkeep of it since the 1940s. They've done the work, cut the scrub back," said community board member Winston Oliver. Later, the community board said they would wait to see what recommendations the conservation board made on the issue, but that they would 'keep the pot boiling'.