Two tracks in the Waitākere Ranges in West Auckland are reopening today after being closed to protect the region's kauri forests.
The view from Ōmanawanui Track in the Waitākere Ranges. Photo: Auckland Council
The Ōmanawanui Track and the Puriri Ridge Track have also been upgraded with thousands of steps and hundreds of metres of boardwalk being installed.
A Māori name is also being introduced to the Hillary Trail.
Auckland Council said the 6km upgrade is a significant milestone in the reopening of the trail which will also be known as Te Ara Tūhura.
It reconnects a multi-day trail from the Karamatura Valley through to Anawhata.
The council closed many tracks in 2018, following a rāhui placed by iwi over the ngahere (forest) of the Waitākere Ranges.
Te Kawerau Iwi Holdings director Edward Ashby said today's re-opening is part of a broader effort to open up the ranges.
He said that the Hillary family has made important contributions to the trail and the gifting of the te reo name Te Ara Tūhura is a cooperative effort in branding.
"What we were wanting to do was not take away from that but to also elevate or bring kura mahi, the Māori element, to the Waitākere Ranges."
The view from a new boardwalk on the Ōmanawanui Track. Photo: Auckland Council
Both the council and the iwi are urging people to look after the forest.
"It has always been about protecting and healing the forest both for its own sake, and so future generations can come here and enjoy this taonga in years to come," Ashby said.
The upgrades include the installation of:
- 2.5km of box steps - 2420 individual steps on Ōmanawanui Track and another 700 on Puriri Ridge
- 700m of boardwalk
- 1070 tonnes of gravel material has been airlifted into the area
- 237 lifts of timber and materials
- new lookout on the highest point giving 360-degree views
- innovative no-dig track and floating boardwalks around pā
A new boardwalk on Ōmanawanui Track in the Waitākere Ranges. Photo: Auckland Council
"It's been a challenging piece of work," senior ranger Stu Leighton said.
"The narrow ridges of these tracks and the steep terrain have made construction work tricky. Engineering the path around the historical pā site on the Omanawanui Track was a particular highlight."
Mayor Phil Goff said it's fantastic to see the tracks open again for Aucklanders to enjoy.
"Aucklanders and visitors love the Waitākere Ranges and west Auckland walking tracks and I'm really pleased to be able to open another two today," he said.
The tracks are due to open at midday.