A new track up iconic Mokotahi Hill was opened today in a celebration hosted by QEII National Trust.

“This has been a highly anticipated project and we are excited to see the upgraded track and share this moment with covenantors and Mahia locals alike” says QEII Chair James Guild.

“QEII National Trust set out to improve the access to Mokotahi Hill so that more people could enjoy this iconic kiwi site and what it has to offer”

The hill is a landmark headland with scenic, archaeological and historical values and was gifted to QEII by the Ormond family to ensure its long-term protection.

This was a special event for us to join with Mahia locals to celebrate the new track. We were also lucky to hear from archaeologist Kevin Jones about the unique middens and terrace on the hill.

QEII regional representative for the Gisborne area, Malcolm Rutherford says “Mokotahi Hill is a significant site to Ngāti Rongomawahine and Ngāti Kahungungu with a long and interesting history of occupation of the site. Various pits and terraces can be seen on the hill that show this. This event has been a great opportunity to share some of the historical and archaeological values of this site that we’ve discovered in the process of putting the track in. It’s also been a great day for us all to enjoy the new track and basking in the panoramic views of the coastline and Mahia Beach”

“Upgrading the Mokotahi Hill track is an investment to ensure that this iconic New Zealand landscape can be enjoyed by generations to come” says James Guild “the upgrade was a collaborative effort between QEII National Trust, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Hawkes Bay Regional Council and the Wairoa District Council and maintenance will continue to be a collaborative effort between us and the two councils to ensure that it continues to thrive”

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