This plea was last posted on July 15, 2023 . Note it will continue to be posted again and again until someone in ToePaw Council does something about it.

Tongariro River Trail needs more facilities!

Turangi is essentially a little tourist town relying on tourists for our future economic survival, so these complaints should be taken seriously. One of our most important tourist attractions is the Tongariro River Trail – a 15 km loop track around the Tongariro River.

Tourists have previously mentioned the lack of tourist information panels and distance markers, but this is something else that becomes more of an issue every school holiday.

Now we are at the end of school holidays we need to pass on the most common complaint we have received about the Tongariro River Trail. Usually, such comments are verbal and we cannot be confident that the message ever got beyond TRM?

The email complaint received below is typical:

The Tongariro Trail is terrific!
But why hasn’t the trail been outfitted with more toilets?
Hikers, bikers and fishermen have been forced to make unsanitary choices because there are only two toilets on the track. If this track is going to be promoted as family friendly it deserves well maintained toilets at more major entry and exit points.
Let’s get this sanitation issue up to date. The trail has health issues
that need to be addressed.

I am not sure if this is:

(1) a DOC matter? The Department of Conservation manages the track – or;

(2) an issue for Toe-paw Council who provides existing local toilet facilities on nearby Taupahi Park or;

(3) needs to be considered and approved by the Turangi Cogovernance committee in this new age of management by locally appointed sub-tribes who we are advised are very sanitation and conservation aware and whose sense of entitlement and ownership includes the administration of the water and the rain etc. or;

(4) it may need to be approved by NZTA (NZ Transport Authority) or whatever title they use now, as the Red Hut car park long-drop is located on a public parking reserve off SH1. or;

(5) approval by the Tongariro Trout Centre management committee as we know many anxious tourist walkers/bikers pop in there to use their toilet facilities as well; or

(6) As mentioned above Turangi is essentially a cute little tourist town catering for both local and international tourist walkers, bikers, anglers, trampers and families on the trail, so the Taupo Council’s Tourist Department – DGLT (Destination Great Lake Taupo) should be included as they may increase the pressure on Council officials. or;

(7) To encourage investment in public sanitation by all possible Government Departments, as this involves a wider public health risk and sanitation issue, the relevant Government Departments should also be included. But as it may be difficult to identify which one of the following could be responsible, SWMBO recommends sending it to all of them.

(8) As all these officials are masters at passing the buck and blaming others and delegating any responsibility, the best place to complain is your favourite website so they can place it on their blog and shame everyone into doing something about it.

Nothing is straightforward anymore… The schedule of Government Departments, waiting to receive your complaint, is repeated below:

See the problem…