Access
Bay of Plenty
Mangorewa Gorge

Mangorewa Gorge is open while we work towards an enduring agreement

The community is working on building a relationship with DOC and Tapuika iwi to better understand their views and concerns and talk about the future of climbing at this site. ACAT and the Rotorua Climbing Club are supporting this process by facilitating dialogue and providing expertise.

Please adhere to our crag behaviour guide when visiting the crag, and do not install any new fixed hardware.

Hiker with pack approaches a cliff reflected in Mangorewa river

Approaching River Wall at Mangorewa Gorge. Photo: Cameron Fraser.

ACAT and the Rotorua Climbing Club have been actively engaging with relevant parties regarding the future of Mangorewa Gorge crag for two years now. The Mangorewa River in the vicinity of the crag is known as Paraiti awa to Tapuika iwi, which has mana whenua in the area. It is an important awa with significant tribal history, and in 2023 a spokesperson for Tapuika requested an interim closure of climbing in the area, to facilitate a respectful kōrero.  

Over the past year, we have been making progress towards a formal Community Agreement with Tapuika and DOC, including plans for a hīkoi to the crag with iwi members, DOC officers and climbers. This has now been delayed due to some staff turnover, but we remain committed to the process of building relationships and listening to the views of all parties.

If a formal Community Agreement can be created for the Mangorewa Gorge, our hope is that it will: 

  1. Recognise the sensitive nature of the site and importance to tangata whenua and iwi.
  2. Enable climbers to contribute to caring for the crag environment while recognising and respecting the cultural history of the area. 
  3. Provide for route development and maintenance within appropriate parameters. 

In the meantime, due to recent dialogue, the area is open to the public, including for rock climbing and other recreation such as walking and swimming. Please note that this is a special area so be respectful when visiting. Follow our crag behaviour guide, and do not install any new bolts or anchors.

Please take care when climbing at Mangorewa and inspect all bolts and anchors before use, given the lack of recent traffic. Any safety issues can be noted online via a warning on ClimbNZ and theCrag.