History, views - and a dump

WASTED: Tony Makiha standing on the road that the district council doesn't want but won't let go.

Tony Makiha and his family would love to do something with the old Hokianga County road on Waima Hill. It gave way to SH12 long ago, but still offers some glorious views of the river far below, and still features the dugouts that were occupied by Maori opponents of the 19th century dog tax, who watched but did not attack the soldiers dispatched to enforce it.

These days, however, it is mostly used, by some locals, as a rubbish dump.

Mr Makiha and other members of his family have spent considerable time and effort cleaning up after others, removing all sorts of household rubbish including large items such as wheelchairs and washing machines, but he's keen to see the land developed as a place people could use as a lookout over the valley below, and accord recognition for its role in the local stand against the dog tax.

The problem is that the Far North District Council still owns the road, which it inherited from the Hokianga County Council in 1989, and apparently has no intention of letting it go.

Mr Makiha noted that despite its legal status, the council made no effort to control or clean up the rubbish dumped there.

"We now have SH12 running up the Waima Hill, and this old county road will probably never be used again," he said.

"It is our history, and everyone needs to know about what happened here. It's our family history too."

Council willing, he would like to erect a carved archway leading down to the spot where Te Mahurehure and his warriors watched the soldiers marching past.

******

A Far North District Council spokesman said the road had not been closed and disposed of because the council understood it was still needed to give access to at least one property. That, however, would not prevent the Makiha family or the wider community from tidying up the area or making a formal proposal to the council to promote its historic significance.