Read some of our readers' views below:
Christine Smith: Walking up hills is good exercise but not all can do it. I go up Maungawhau and/or Maungakiekie at least once per week with my 100-year-old mother. I used to go up with my disabled daughter who was on oxygen. They loved the drive because they could see most of their beautiful city in one look. My mother could not transfer easily out of one vehicle into another for the lift to the top. My daughter certainly couldn't have. For people like them, could a special sticker be placed in their driver's car so they do have access? It would be unfair to take that delightful view away from them. I do wonder why this idea has emerged. If it is from local iwi, I respect that. If it is otherwise, then why? In all our trips, I have only seen delighted, well-behaved, wonder-struck tourists and locals, often elderly, often with small children who perhaps could not make the hike either. Many are time-poor and this is one way to gain a priceless quick overview of our beautiful city.
Sarah Joanna Champion: This [is] stupid. What is the reasoning???????? Is there going to be security men at the bottom stopping people breaking into cars?
D.W. Howarth: This appears to be yet another example of Auckland Council's overbearing attitude to its citizens & ratepayers. Were we polled for our views? No. Do they have a mandate for such a unilateral decision? No. Were we asked if a new body should be set up to "administer" the volcanic cones? No. Unelected lobbyists are surreptitiously gaining power in far too many aspects of Auckland's governance. This bylaw should be stopped in its tracks before too late. I support banning buses from all summits, as their size and weight damage the roads, lead to erosion, etc. But to ban all cars is a step too far. On many occasions, I have driven overseas visitors to summit of Mt Eden, One Tree Hill and Mt Wellington for them to admire the view. I wish to retain that right.
Matt Hancock: The proposed ban on vehicular access to the summit is fantastic news. No longer will we be choked by poorly maintained buses and vans as we walk and cycle up Mt Eden. The plans, however, must include paved access for pedestrians and cyclists, preferably on separate paths. If the existing road could be split in half to cater for both groups it would be perfect. I wonder if the bus companies concerns on tourist numbers include the fact that their trips will now take longer and their drivers may need to walk up the hills too!
Alan Fawkes: Absolutely absurd that volcanoes should be banned from driving up. Tourism is a great thing for Auckland. Great idea, walk up Mt Eden in pouring rain, which is 90 per cent of the time.
Peter Ockleford: This is not the Acropolis or Stonehenge, stopping vehicles is just a case of bureaucrats over managing things to justify themselves.
Simon Walker: I cannot believe what I have just read, I regularly take family and overseas visitors to the Mt Eden summit. It's the best place in Auckland for city photos. I will never go there again if road access is closed. I am not disabled but have a bad back, and walking up there would be impossible. Bloody hell, what's next?
Mel Stewart: This is nonsense. I'm furious!!!
Alastair Stone: Dear Lord, what next? Comparing a handful of stubby volcanic craters in Auckland with the historic beauty of the Acropolis and the mystery of Stonehenge, both man-made, is like comparing the Colosseum with Alexander Park Raceway. What nonsense.
Malcolm Dick: This is a very unfriendly move for tourism, and also locals. The "congestion" could also be termed "popularity". Why should the old and infirm have to go through more drama to visit places that have been open for more than a century? Remove all these restrictions and let's show everyone what a beautiful city Auckland is.
Miriam Baardman: I think it is a pity to limit access to these places, it has been part of the Auckland experience to visit places like this and One Tree Hill in particular. The views over Auckland are spectacular and it is a sorry day to see this go. The view from Mt Eden and One Tree Hill at Night are breath-taking. It is a sad day indeed that access must be limited. I don't agree with buses and heavy traffic being banned but can't they put some security up there? Aucklanders pay enough in rates to be able to afford this. What we should be doing is looking at the number of staff needed to run this Super City seems the management is incompetent.
Matthew Roscoe: There is simply no comparison at all between the Acropolis and Mt Eden. The former is a 2500 year old testament to a people who's culture created amazing works in philosophy, literature, theatre, engineering, architecture which formed the basis for western civilisation ever since. Mt Eden is a volcano with few archaeological relics to the pre-colonial inhabitants that indicate nothing similar. To suggest that there is a comparison is massively disrespectful to all New Zealanders of European ancestry. To make such a suggestion is either outstandingly ill-informed, or deliberately provocative. This would be laughable in itself, but the really appalling point is that people who spout such nonsense are in positions of sufficient authority that they can restrict the public's access to public land citing such claptrap as justification. That is absolutely unacceptable and needs be changed; either the decision or the deciders need to be replaced.
Birgith Botica: I recently suffered a broken leg, and now can't walk very well. I live on the slopes of mount Albert and have always loved going up there, now by taking my car up there. I will now not be able to access these beautiful cones anymore which makes me sad.
