KEY POINTS:
Can't say I've had to buy a gate recently, but the $30,000 Auckland City Council plans to shell out to block the One Tree Hill summit road to nocturnal hoons, seems a tad excessive in these economically troubled times.
What's wrong with a Taranaki gate and a decent padlock? Not only would it do the job, it would also add a touch of Kiwiana to match the strolling livestock.
Apparently part of the reason for the large cost, is that a power supply and electronic opening system is felt necessary to cater for two neighbouring residents who use the road.
A better use of public funds would be to give them a key to the padlock.
Jesting aside, it is a shame that with One Tree Hill about to be closed, none of Auckland's major cones will now be open at night so anyone can to drive up and view the city lights.
Not that I'm rushing to show my age and put the blame on today's youth. However much we might want to fulminate about the irresponsibility and unruliness of this generation's teens, this day has been a longer time a-coming.
Ages ago, while researching a story on Mt Eden, I came across a yellowing Herald clipping which, apart from the date and mountain, matches the city's latest press release, almost word for word.
October 8, 2008: "The summit of One Tree Hill will be closed between 11pm and 7am to stop the increasing level of antisocial behaviour taking place there at night. Two gates will be installed ... to stop cars going up to the summit ... 'The summit is not a safe place at night and the cost of cleaning up after teenagers and other groups that have gathered there in vehicles is high,' says councillor Greg Moyle. 'Hopefully the installation of gates will be a long-term solution to curb the drinking, vandalism and crime currently taking place."'
November 11, 1931: "A prohibition of vehicular traffic on Mt Eden from 10pm until sunrise is to be enforced ... The Mt Eden Borough Council decided on the ban because of accidents which have occurred in the early hours of the morning and reports of irresponsible driving."
Mayor T. McNab complained that "drinking has been going on" and councillor D.H. Connelly wanted it closed because "of the conduct of irresponsible people".
The mayor noted a car had recently wiped out a 5m section of a rock wall near Clive Rd, and he hoped the perpetrators would be made to pay the $40 repair costs, that's if they could be traced.
Perhaps the only difference is that the 1930s youth were more inventive in their hooning than the kids of today. Back in 1931, they were indulging in a craze called "shooting the moon". The mayor said it was "a habit followed by couples who attended dance halls in the city". He said "it consists of seeing who can go from the city by motor-car round the top of the mountain and back between dances".
Councillor R.J. Mills said he understood the practice involved "hiding an article and then undertaking a chase and a search by means of motor-cars".
It was all too much for the good councillors who decided that "it was evident that no legitimate sightseer would pay a visit after 10pm" and voted for barriers.
The mayor also worried about "automobile firms" taking prospective buyers for trial runs up the mountain and a report was ordered.
Obviously shooting the moon eventually fell out of favour, for the gates later disappeared,
The destruction by vandals in 1988 of the Royal Doulton porcelain direction table at the summit, donated in 1928 by philanthropist Sir Ernest Davis, didn't bring them back, but pressure from local park enthusiasts a couple of years back finally did. Sadly, the vandals continue to arrive, on foot.
This suggests that blocking the road halfway up One Tree Hill, as is proposed, is unlikely to deter the hoons either. Perhaps a ranger system is the answer, but that would cost a lot more than an electrified gate.
The alternative is to walk.
I wish you good luck.
