Cape Reinga to get tourism makeover

Agreement has been reached on the location and concept for a proposed $11 million visitors centre at Cape Reinga.

The Department of Conservation, local iwi Ngati Kuri and Northland's tourism development group plan a redevelopment of the area which avoids disturbing the site's sacred spiritual pathway from which Maori believe their spirits depart after death.

Part of the plan to upgrade and modernise the tourist destination includes a visitors centre with a focus on interpreting the meaning of the site and educating visitors about its wairua (spirituality).

Although detailed design and engineering work has yet to start, the centre will also accommodate a cafe, retail outlet, viewing platforms and toilets.

It could be operational by 2008, with a sealed car and coach park constructed, together with an overload car park later.

"It'll turn a two-minute stop into a two to four-hour experience," says Enterprise Northland chairman Mike Simm, who also chairs the agency's tourism development group.

"There'll be more than just going to the end of [the cape] road and coming back again."

Cape Reinga attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year, travelling by bus or independently to see the spot where the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet below the cape lighthouse. It's also an important weather monitoring site.

Mr Simm says the area has its own attractions but with the visitors centre there would be more opportunity for Maori to explain the site's significance, while DoC will be able to describe the cape area's unique plants and vegetation.

The centre plan is part of a tourism strategy aimed at developing the three tourist icons in the north, east and west of the region - Cape Reinga, the Bay of Islands and the Waipoua (kauri) Forest.

Vonnie Petera, secretary of Ngati Kuri's taumata kaumatua committee, says several visitors centre designs are being considered.

Department of Conservation Northland conservator Chris Jenkins believes it's time now to commission civil engineering design work for the centre. He hopes construction can start late next year for completion by 2008, when the cape road will be fully sealed.