Concerns are mounting in the Coromandel tourism sector as the Department of Conservation considers closing some walking tracks around Cathedral Cove due to ongoing storm damage and limited funding.
DOC’s Director of Heritage and Visitor, Kat Wilson, signalled the move this week, saying the agency may not be able to continue repairing all damaged tracks.
“There has to come a point where we say, ‘Look, we can’t keep spending money to open things up,’” she told Corin Dann on RNZ’s Morning Report.
“Cathedral Cove is one of those places where the main track will stay open, that’s fine, but there are some side tracks which we’ll have to really consider whether it’s right to go back or not, ” Wilson said.
Wilson said discussions with the community would take place in the coming months before any final decisions are made.
The comments come as Cathedral Cove continues to recover from severe weather, including damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, which forced the closure of the main walking track for an extended period.
Speaking with the HC Post, Destination Hauraki Coromandel General Manager Kylie Hawker-Green said the organisation was “concerned to learn that DOC may not fully maintain the multiple trails at Cathedral Cove in the future.”
“We understand that these tracks are challenging to maintain, especially with repeated weather events.”
“However, Cathedral Cove is an iconic visitor destination, not just for kiwis but also it’s a huge drawcard for international visitors.
“We are obviously keen to ensure that DOC maintains the tracks, keeping our visitors safe and access open as much as possible moving forward.”
“International visitors already pay a hefty sum through the International Visitor Levy to come to New Zealand, and that funding is supposed to be used for conservation and tourism areas and infrastructure.”
“If Cathedral Cove doesn’t fit that mandate, I’m not sure what would!”, Hawker-Green said.
She added that while the sector would prefer not to introduce additional charges, a user-pays model for international visitors could be considered if it ensured tracks remained open.
“If user pays for international visitors is a way to guarantee that the track is maintained to the level it needs to be and that the tracks stay open, then that’s something that we think we should explore, ” she told RNZ.
Maintaining the tracks presents ongoing challenges due to the area’s terrain. The walking route descends steeply to the cove and is prone to slips, particularly after heavy rain, due to porous soil conditions.
Hawker-Green said there is also a balance to strike between safety and preserving the natural character of the track.
“You don’t want it to be just like a concrete pedestrian track. You do want it to be a bushwalk.”
The future of the side tracks is expected to be decided following consultation, but the debate highlights the growing pressure on conservation funding in high-profile tourist destinations.
