Locked - Pending Permission: Edgecumbe

[vinodrinker]

I think a $3 permit is quite ok (can pay over phone) and obviously posters here have had little issue with access

I vote reinstate

[GuanoGerbil]

Compared to the total fleecing going on at Tarawera, this token amount seems fine. There is no profiteering going on here! The same could be said for Makorako (the $30 permit - valid for a year - simply helps with the owners costs in maintaining the tracks for people like us).
Edgecumbe is such a prominent peak visible from such a huge area of the north island with such outstanding views that this really needs to be included.

[Jon (aka site admin)]

Unfortunately, the problem with this one is that although public access to available, the owners of the mountain asked that it not be listed on the website until I had met with the trustees personally, at which point they would make their decision.  And the only times I've been in region since have been in the holidays, when they haven't been available to meet. 

I am guessing that although they don't mind small amounts of people going there, they might not want it advertised widely and attracting lots of people.

But I will see what I can do in the New Year - and try to arrange a time to meet with them.  However, even then, I won't be doing a hard sell on them - it's their choice at the end of day, but here's hoping!

[Jon (aka site admin)]

Incidentally, how would we decide at which point a fee becomes too expensive?  5, 10, 20, 50 ??

 (that's a rhetorical question by the way, just playing devils advocate) 

[GuanoGerbil]

Fair enough - well done Jon!

I guess my way of thinking is that DOC maintain most tracks, which we pay for through our taxes. Anything that is not maintained by them must still be done by somebody -it's only fair that some small charge be made to cover the owners costs in those situations. I don't mind paying a token amount to help with this and to keep the tracks and access open to everyone. What I do object to is when people are profiting from doing this - especially when they're blatently fleecing us to climb a peak such as Tarawera. By supporting this sort of endeavour, we are encouraging them to continue this practice.

The $3 for Edgecumbe is negligible. I think the $30 for Makorako is fair considering this covers you for a whole year. A bit steep maybe if you only want to go once, but hey, their heart's in the right place which is what counts for me. I think it's a matter of a case by case basis really in deciding if a fee is justifiable or not.

[Jon (aka site admin)]

I'll lock this topic and mark it as Pending.... i.e. pending my trip to meet the trustees!