Mokotahi hill
track upgrade

We are excited to advise upgrade work on the track on Mokotahi Hill in Mahia will begin in late September. The track will be widened and metalled from top to bottom, with steps added to make it more accessible and two seats on the first ridge.

The track will be closed for approximately six weeks while the work is carried out.

We have contracted Siteworx Civil to carry out the upgrade. Siteworx Civil has extensive experience in the civil engineering field, including their ongoing work on the walking tracks on Titirangi (Kaiti Hill) in Gisborne. Siteworx Civil will also notify nearby residents ahead of work commencing.

We have also been working closely with Heritage New Zealand to plan this upgrade.  The existing track cuts through areas of midden, with shells spilling onto the track.  The upgrade will see midden samples collected, dated and analysed to add to the story of this special hill.

There are also quite well-preserved pits on the first ridge which were most probably used for Kumara storage. Currently the track goes through these pits, so we will be realigning approximately 30 meters of track to avoid these features.

We are optimistic that the track will reopen for public use before Christmas, however please note that the start date and the length of work is weather dependent.

If you have any further questions about this project, please get in touch with the QEII regional representative for the Gisborne region, Malcolm Rutherford either by mobile on 022 310 6818 or by email at mrutherford@qeii,org.nz.