Cathedral Cove Track Is Again Open

Before assisting in cutting the ribbon to signal the reopening of the Cathedral Cove walking track, Conservation Minister, the Honourable Tama Potaka, summed up why all the fuss over the past 22 months.

The Ministers used words such as magical and iconic in describing Coromandel Peninsula’s leading tourism destination and one of the country’s highlights for international visitors.

Assisted by local Coromandel Member of Parliament, Scott Simpson, a couple of local children and the Department of Conservations, Tinaka Mearns, Minister Potaka may have felt the huge sigh of relief as the scissors went through the ribbon.

Watching on were several dignitaries but it was the local businesspeople who saw the gesture as the opportunity for life to return to normal.

These were the people who early in 2023 went on to the front foot to find ways of getting the track open after it was smashed by Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.

They enlisted support from across their community – representatives of the Mercury Bay Business Association, the Hahei Residents and Ratepayers and their local businesses.

It was not until the change of Government that Scott Simpson was able to have influence and the reopening gained momentum. The necessary funding was found, and the Minister Potaka announced a target opening of early December 2024.

Minister Potaka thanked the local community for its patience, he acknowledged the work done in advocating to get the track once again open.

He mentioned volatile conversations to achieve the dream and achieving the target opening date.

New steps and boardwalks have been installed at the lower end of the track along with a new toilet block two-thirds of the way into the 3.8-kilometre walk.

Within 60 minutes of the official activities, hundreds of people were again walking the track.