Ban pram remark causes stir

Omokoroa mothers Jan Haden (left) with son William, 2, and Maria van Veen with son Jacob, 18 months, say they are always courteous when pushing their prams along the Mount base track. Photo / Joel Ford

A high-profile Tauranga man has caused a stir after posting comments online saying pushchairs should be banned from the base of Mauao.

A post on the "You know your from the Mount when ..." (sic) Facebook page by Buddy Mikaere, well-known in Tauranga as a cultural advocate and environmentalist, said the walk was being ruined by "entitled mothers... forcing people off the track and expecting everyone else to make way for them and their equally entitled precious cargo".

The post went on to say bikes were banned on the track and push chairs should be as well.

There were more than 150 comments on the post, and while some took the comment as a joke, many were outraged.

Mr Mikaere said he did not actually think prams should be banned from the track and the post was an off-the-cuff, grumpy reaction to an encounter he had with a rude mother while walking.

"I was just going around the Mount when this rude miss comes around the corner with her push chair with a quite aggressive 'get out of my bloody way, I'm more important than you' manner. She could have just said 'please' and 'thank you'.

"Of course people should be allowed to take their prams around there. I'm just asking for a bit of consideration for everyone that uses it."

Awanui Black said he had experienced the same problems as Mr Mikaere.

"At the end of the day, what we're talking about is Mauao manners. For those wanting to use it, a few manners don't cost anything."

Mr Black said he did not have a problem with prams as long as the users were using them in a considerate way.

Tauranga City councillor Murray Guy also got in on the conversation. He said sharing facilities was going to become even more of an issue in the future as the area became more popular for recreational activities.

"As one submitter to council said recently, we should be encouraging the development of safeshare facilities. A lot of the feedback on Facebook has been just that. It's about all users respecting the fact it is a shared facility."

The Bay of Plenty Times visited Mauao yesterday and spoke to a number of people who used the track.

Nicola Gibson said all people, including those with prams, should be entitled to use the track.

"Some people are definitely less inclined to move over when you have a pram. There's plenty of room and it should be accessible for everyone."

Jan Haden said it was a lovely track that everyone should be able to enjoy, not just the runners in Lycra.

"I always stick to the left with my pram, there are unwritten rules about that."

Maria van Veen said the track should be open to all users and it was nice to be able to take her pram off the streets.

Murray Payton said he had not found prams a problem but thought the serious walkers and joggers could find it an issue as they would have to slow their pace.