Mangapurua Valley

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 404, 21 July 1992, Page 4

Mangapurua Valley

• One thing is certain about the history of the Mangapurua Valley Bridge to Nowhere area and that is the woolly woofter bureaucrats are still making silly decisions for the so-called good of the public, as they were when the area was first opened up. They alone have driven more people from the area than anything else. These days these bearded little woollies probably think the decision to build the bridge was based on tourism forecasts in the 1990's. There will of course be others in their ranks who feel this big concrete structure is totally out of place in the bush and should be removed. Either way the area should be set aside as a monument to bureaucracy. There just isn't a better example anywhere. The banning of bikes and four-wheelers is the latest example of chasing people away. Reason given is the damage they do. I've walked this valley on many occasions and I have found that it is these people on bikes and four-wheelers who are putting a lot of work into keeping the road open and making it easier for trampers. If it wasn't for them the road would be a total mess by now. If DoC had any sense at all it would spend some time and get a few of the many culverts open and try and work in with the bike users. Finally, since the early 1980's when people were still grazing stock in the area there has been a gradual deterioration everywhere. Long grass, rampant g arden variety, is taking over. Where once you could walk among the old home sites its now just a jungle. In those days you could walk that valley and feel as if you were among those pioneers of many years ago. You feel like saying to them, that the fight with bureaucrats is still not over yet.

G

Taylor