The document that will formally steer the way for any future development of Mauao has been signed at a special ceremony to mark the beginning of Matariki celebrations.

The Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan was signed by the Mauao Trust, Tauranga City Council, and Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao and was marked with the planting of a puriri tree on the slopes of the maunga near Te Puna Waitapu.

The plan has been 10 years in the making since the Mauao Reserve Vesting Act 2008 vested the Mauao Historic Reserve in the trustees of the Mauao Trust.

The trust and council agreed to a joint management arrangement which was formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013 and resulted in the creation of Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao, a joint management board which works will all those with a stake in the reserve, including the residents and ratepayers of Tauranga, conservation organisations and recreational users.

Public consultation on the draft management plan attracted more than 100 submissions which were heard in December last year. Thirty-seven submissions were concerned about a proposed ban on rock climbing, however this option was retained for specific sport climbing routes approved by Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao.

Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, who spoke on behalf of council at the signing yesterday, says the signing of the plan is significant and ensures access to the maunga for people to enjoy in a large variety of ways.

'It also recognises the historical, cultural and spiritual significance to tangata whenua. I think it strikes a really good balance between the needs of the community.”

Kelvin says the signing of the plan opens up the way for the implementation of various projects to enhance the maunga over the next few years.

'Having some specific projects enables other people who want to support what's going on there to get in behind. For example, we've got some keen interest from local corporates who want to help and be involved in enhancing Mauao, which is very encouraging as well.”

One of the first projects to get under way, says Kelvin, will be improved signage providing more information about the history of the maunga.

Chair of Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao, Dean Flavell, says it was fantastic to sign the plan first thing in the morning as part of Matariki ki Mauao.

'It was really appropriate to be able to sign off a new plan at the start of a new year under the auspices of the iwi under Matariki.”

Dean says the action points in the plan will now be prioritised to look at how they can be rolled out over the next 10 years.

'One of the fantastic things is that for the first time Mauao has a 10-year plan. One of the key objectives is cloaking Mauao in terms of planting, and then looking at how we accommodate the one million people who use the maunga per annum.

'To me the key is always getting our local communities on board with it. Mauao means so much to all of us and we all need to take care of it."

The final Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan allows for running, walking, bird watching, disability assist dogs on harness, and the use of drones by approved operators only.

Activities not permitted are fires, smoking, fireworks, dog walking, scattering of ashes, camping, bikes and climbing (except for permission given for sport climbing routes as above).

Approval must be sought from Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao for community and sporting events, weddings, commercial activities, filming and photography, and memorial tree planting.

The plan agrees to protect the historical values and cultural needs of the tangata whenua, including investigating opportunities for a visitor/cultural centre and a waka launching site at the base of Mauao, and the establishment of an ātea (ceremonial space) on the summit.

It also agrees to protect and enhance the natural landscape character and ecological values of the reserve, including developing new areas of indigenous vegetation to improve the water quality of the puna (springs) and restoration of the historical grove of karaka.

And finally, it also agrees to meet the appropriate recreational and amenity needs of residents and visitors to the city.