Keep your vehicle on the road at Titirangi

Some joy-riders are lucky to be uninjured following a close call on Titirangi (Kaiti Hill) that left their ute teetering on the edge of a steep bank.

The occupants of the vehicle had driven well off the road into a forestry skid site used during harvest in 2015. The unmarked track was quite boggy after recent significant rainfall, creating perfect conditions for stranding two wheeled drive vehicles.

The vehicle made it 30 meters into the track before becoming stuck with little more than a young tree stump keeping it from a steep drop down the southern face of Titirangi towards Kaiti Beach Road.

Council’s Planning and Development Group Manager, Nedine Thatcher-Swann says “The occupants have obviously made some attempts to free the vehicle, but the conditions were never on their side”

“We’ve had to organise a digger to pull the vehicle out, which is pretty embarrassing for them”

While no one was hurt from the incident, vehicle near misses are increasing in frequency on Titirangi with reports of motorbikes being used on fitness and walking tracks causing concern.

“A staff member was nearly hit by a motorbike rider on the fitness track, and only a bit of luck prevented them from being seriously hurt”

The use of bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited from being used anywhere but the road on Titirangi, unless by authorised council contractors.

“People driving off-road are not only endangering themselves and others, they are also causing damage to significant heritage sites.” Says Ms Thatcher Swann

According to Archaeologist Lynda Walter and Ngati Oneone historian Nick Tupara, the skid site that the ute stranded itself on was once a pa site which is thought to have been the largest in the area.

“This place was a prominent vantage point for the people here hundreds of years ago. You can could see anyone coming into the bay by sea, and you could also see the other peaks which housed other tribes” Says Mr Tupara

The area where the vehicle was stranded has been registered as a heritage reserve by Heritage NZ which regards the area as historically significant enough to protect.

While talking about preventative measures for this behaviour, Nedine Thatcher-Swann said, “We want to preserve Titirangi without locking everything up behind fences, people should just respect these places in their natural form.”

“We don’t want any activity, especially vehicles that will cause further damage to these sites, as a rule, keep your vehicles on the road, and stay on the walkway tracks if you’re on foot.” Says Ms Thatcher Swann.

If you see anybody driving off the road on Titirangi please contact Council on 0800 653 800, or contact the police.

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