The Department of Conservation is proposing the removal of two walking tracks near Coromandel’s iconic Mautohe Cathedral Cove, saying repeated storm damage and ongoing geological instability have made continued repairs unsustainable.
DOC announced today it intends to prioritise investment in the main Mautohe Cathedral Cove track while considering the removal of the Waimata-Gemstone Bay Track and the Hahei Beach Short Walk.
The move follows years of severe weather damage across the coastal reserve between Hahei and Whitianga, including destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 and Cyclone Vaianu earlier this year.
Recent repair work on the Waimata-Gemstone Bay Track and Hahei Beach Short Walk was undone by a major January 2026 storm, despite contractors successfully reopening the main Cathedral Cove route after clearing significant slip debris.
DOC Principal Advisor for Strategic Projects Tania Short said the department had reached a point where continued investment in the two side tracks was no longer practical.
“When we committed to rebuilding these tracks, we cautioned it came with the risk of further storm and landslide damage – unfortunately, that’s exactly what has happened,” she said.
“The geological instability means we will continue to deal with storm damage at this site.”
Short acknowledged some in the community would be disappointed by the proposal but said DOC had limited funding and needed to focus resources where they would have the greatest impact.
“Over the last few years, the local community has made it clear Mautohe Cathedral Cove is the priority,” she said.
The announcement follows concerns raised earlier this year by tourism operators and local organisations after DOC signalled it may not be able to maintain all tracks around Cathedral Cove long-term.
In March, DOC Director of Heritage and Visitor Kat Wilson told RNZ there would come a point where the department could no longer justify continually repairing storm-damaged infrastructure.
Destination Hauraki Coromandel General Manager Kylie Hawker-Green previously told HC Post the organisation was concerned about the possibility of reduced access around Cathedral Cove, describing the area as a major drawcard for both domestic and international visitors.
DOC says public consultation is now open, with option papers outlining the proposal and associated challenges available online.
Feedback can be submitted to cathedralcove@doc.govt.nz until June 19.
