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Tamahunga Trail opens

  • 05 Sep 2008

 

At 320 metres altitude, and amidst swirling cloud, Sir Edmund Hillary rode the steep stretches to a new trail opening at the top of Pakiri Hill in a farm trailer yesterday. The New Zealand legend gave a mock royal wave as an applauding gallery of 120 people cheered his arrival in what one called "the Edmobile", towed by local farmer Roger Wallis.

Sir Edmund rides to the top of the hill
Bob Harvey (Mayor of Waitakere City) and Te Araroa supporters push the Edmobile. Sir Edmund Hillary rides, while Roger Wallis (Pakiri farmer) drives the bike

Crowd gathers at opening
Sir Edmund opens the trail
Sir Edmund opens the Tamahunga Trail


Geoff Chapple (left) and Bob Harvey (right) speak to the crowd
All photos by Amos Chapple

"I've heard people say that New Zealanders are slightly crazy but seeing how many of you have turned out in this weather, I'm happy to say that they may be completely crazy," Sir Edmund told the crowd. The eight km Tamahunga Trail over the 430 metre summit is the latestlink in the proposed continuous hiking trail, Te Araroa - The Long Path. Sir Edmund said he had long been an advocate of New Zealanders being able to walk their country.

Tamahanga Trail sign

He unveiled a macrocarpa slab, carved by Neil Devantier, naming Tamahunga mountain as a pa site and foot trail used by Ngati Wai chief Te Kiri, famous for "liberating" Maori war prisoners from nedarby Kawau Island in the 1860s. Ngati Wai spokesman Laly Haddon,told the gathering the trail links traditional Ngati Wai territories in the north with Ngati Whatua tribal lands in the south.

The trail has entrance/exit points at Bathgate Road, Pakiri, at the end of Rodney Road, above Leigh, and at Omaha Valley Road, Matakana.

Photo by Amos Chapple
Page last updated: Jul 28, 2020, 5:08 PM