Mount Maunganui landslide recovery: Tauranga City Council faces community criticism

The community of Mount Maunganui is expressing significant frustration with the Tauranga City Council's handling of the Mauao landslide recovery. The iconic Mount, a beloved natural landmark, remains closed to the public following the January slip, and residents feel increasingly sidelined in the decision-making process regarding its repair and reopening.

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The area remains closed to the public, with shipping containers placed in case of further slips.

Michael O’Neill, president of the Mount Maunganui Ratepayers, Residents and Retailers Association, has voiced a sentiment shared by many: that the council has effectively "shut the doors to us as locals." This perceived exclusion is particularly galling given the deep connection the community has to Mauao. Residents are not just passive observers; they are stakeholders who possess invaluable local knowledge and a vested interest in the swift and appropriate restoration of the mountain.

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Mount Maunganui leader has accused the city council of excluding residents from plans to fix and reopen Mauao.

The council's approach, which appears to prioritize its own planning over genuine community consultation, risks alienating the very people who live, work, and recreate in the area. The threat of protest indicates a serious breakdown in trust. For the Bay of Plenty Times and its readers, it is crucial that the Tauranga City Council engages transparently and collaboratively with residents. Reopening Mauao is not just an engineering challenge; it is a community issue that requires a unified approach, respecting the voices and concerns of Mount Maunganui's residents.

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Tauranga City Council has “shut the doors to us as locals”.