After the kāpehu (cultural compass) on Mount Maunganui was vandalised last Friday, the Tauranga City Council will close the Mauao to start repairing the pounamu touchstone.
The tracks will officially be closed on December 17 from 8.30 am with workers expected to be done by the end of the day.
“Restoration work began on Friday afternoon with cleaning of the cultural compass and temporary repairs to the damage caused by the vandalism, including the attempt to dig around the outer ring of the kāpehu,” a Tauranga City Council spokesperson said.
“Tuesday’s repairs will involve smoothing and polishing the pounamu stone’s surface to restore it as closely as possible to its original condition.”
Originally only the area housing the kāpehu was closed since Friday.
It was unveiled in June 2022 to mark Matarikiby the Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao Trust in collaboration with Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust.
Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley called the vandalism the “usual gutless racism by illiterate and inarticulate reprobates”.
“It’s something we sadly come to expect.
“Those rocks are really sacred, and they think they can destroy it. It will never be destroyed.”
Mauao trustee Buddy Mikaere said he was sorry to learn of the vandalism.
“There’s little instances of vandalism all the time. People are defacing signs and stuff like that. Some people just need to get a grip on themselves,” he told LDR.
This isn’t the first time something on the maunga has been vandalised, with a sign being deface with stickers in May this year and te reo Māori place names on other signs were scratched out in August 2022
Last week in a statement, Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale was deeply disappointed that someone has vandalised the precious pounamu touchstone on Mauao.
“This is a despicable and disrespectful act which should not and will not be tolerated. This has been reported to the Police and we encourage anyone with information that might assist to come forward, so that those who have committed this wanton vandalism can be held accountable.”
A report has been filed to police, with them confirming to Te Ao Māori News they are continuing enquiries.
“Anyone with information is urged to get in touch through our 105 service, quoting reference number 241213/4295.”
