Three scenic tracks in Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa - Auckland's Waitakere Ranges will re-open today after being closed for four years to protect precious kauri trees from disease.
DOC accused of being too timid over kauri dieback Photo: RNZ / YouTube
After an upgrade costing two million dollars, the Gibbons, Muir and Pararaha Valley tracks have opened for public, ahead of the long weekend.
Auckland Council's Environmental and Services Manager, Rachel Kelleher said to Morning Report the tracks provide an over-night or long walk tramping opportunity that has been missing since 2018.
"The reopening of these tracks will create an opportunity where people can walk from Huia at the southern end of the Waitakere Ranges right around the Headlands through to Anawhata."
She said: "What's particularly significant about this is that it's going to be connecting with other tracks that we opened last year."
The next stage of the track reopeninging program will be the Anawhata to Te Henga section which will open later in the year, Kelleher said.
Kelleher said the impact of the closure will be monitored overtime.
The upgrade was undertaken by the council in consultation with local iwi Te Kawerau a Maki.