TRAMPERS TOLD NOT TO CLIMB TONGARIRO CROSSING'S MOUNT DOOM

[Kiwi Frontline]

TRAMPERS TOLD NOT TO CLIMB TONGARIRO CROSSING'S MOUNT DOOM

Trampers seeking to climb Mt Ngauruhoe, or "Mt Doom", will be asked to show "respect" for the mountain by giving up their quest.

The popular trek up Mt Ngauruhoe, a feature of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, is an added bonus for keen walkers who embark on the 20-kilometre journey along one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks.

The mountain holds a special attraction for some visitors thanks to its famous role as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings.
But the Department of Conservation (DOC) wants people to stop walking up Ngauruhoe as its peak, along with Mt Ruapehu's peak, are considered sacred.

People would be advised it was a culturally significant area, but DOC could not stop them from going up the mountain.

It was time to show respect for the sacred land, he said.

In a statement, iwi spokesman Te Ngaehe Wanikau said the mountain peaks and all waterways and peaks on Tongariro were sacred to the local hapū Ngāti Hikairo Ki Tongariro.

People should respect the sanctity of the sacred mountains, Wanikau said.......

www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/97909833/trampers-told-not-to-climb-tongariro-crossings-mount-doom

[second-class-citizen]

Why would it be "culturally significant" considering it's doubtful any maori went up there for food or for any reason at all. And why would they climb it just for the hell of it? But all this make-it-up-as-you-go BS and us dumb non-maori are expected to cringe with admiration at this superior "culture" where they could talk to whales and communicate with volcanoes. In case anyone's forgotten, here's a few culturally significant maori practices that doesn't get much mention these days; murder, cannibalism, rape, slavery, and wiping out bird species to extinction without the intelligence to realise that extinct means gone forever. Not to mention how the sick were treated by pre 1840 maori. This "culture" with no numbers or alphabet was a stoneage culture and should be treated as such. "Culturally significant" means whatever they now want it to mean. Total BS.