Date:  24 July 2026

Globally renowned for naturing and its picturesque rock arch, Coromandel’s Mautohe Cathedral Cove is the main attraction for many visitors heading to the DOC-managed recreation reserve between Whitianga and Hahei.

The Hahei Short Walk is one of several access points to the Cathedral Cove Walk and has been closed since 2023 due to damage sustained in Cyclone Gabrielle. Storm damage in January 2026 resulted in multiple landslides across the reserve, disrupting track repair efforts at Waimata Gemstone Bay and on the Hahei Short Walk track.

Following the re-opening of the main track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove, DOC staff worked with iwi and the community to develop an adaptation plan to inform future management options. The plan considered elements like climate change, particularly extreme rain events and cyclones which contribute to geological instability and ongoing risk to visitor infrastructure. Financial and resource costs to rebuild were also considered.

Based on the guidance offered by the adaptation plan, and in response to the most recent damage, DOC proposed removing the tracks and sought public submissions on the proposal. Alongside the 33 submissions received, 1,311 people signed a “Don’t Close Our Cathedral Cove Tracks” petition before consultation closed in June. The petition remains active.

DOC’s Hauraki Waikato Taranaki Regional Director Tinaka Mearns says the Hahei Residents and Ratepayers Association (HRRA) requested further discussions on the future of the Hahei Short Walk, which DOC will pursue.

“We’re enthused to hear there is desire to look after a track residents care about,” says Tinaka. “We’re looking to try something new for this site. There’s a strong sense of ownership within the local community, and we’re responding.”

This approach ensures DOC’s effort will remain focused on maintaining walking access via the main track to Mautohe Cathedral Cove.

The next step will be confirming a date for talks with the HRRA. Members of the Harsant family, which has a connection to the land, are expected to be involved.

“We expect the discussion with the HRRA to be thorough and transparent, and it may take the parties time to come to a workable arrangement.”

DOC has determined repairing and reopening the Hahei Short Walk is not feasible for the department due known geological instability, increasing frequency of severe storms, and infrastructure vulnerability to landslides.

DOC staff say there is a strong prospect of repeated storm damage to the Hahei Short Walk and its infrastructure. They will be working with the HRRA to explore the Hahei reroute option previously outlined in reports.

“We’ll be sharing this information with the HRRA, so the group is aware of the challenges and risks we’ve been managing.

“Beyond what we committed to the paused repair project, DOC has not allocated further funding to work on the Hahei Short Walk or the Waimata Gemstone Bay Track.”

Tinaka says submitters also sought the repair and reopening of the Waimata Gemstone Bay Track but, as the site’s infrastructure is vulnerable to repeated ocean storm surge and landslide damage, it will not be repaired a third time.

She urged the community to support DOC and discourage people from using the Hahei Short Walk until any future repair has been completed.

“People have still been using these two tracks, and we are concerned about this,” Tinaka says. “These tracks are temporarily unavailable due to visitor safety concerns, existing landslides, damaged bridge footings, and landslide vulnerability.

“We don’t want anybody to get hurt, so we encourage potential visitors to try another track instead.”

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