The Abbey Caves reserve is closed.

The Team from Whangarei District Council

We are supporting the rāhui (restriction of access) that Ngāti Kahu o Torongare and Whangārei Hapū have placed. Please be considerate and stay out of the caves and the reserve.

RĀHUI
He Aituā: Ki te hunga katoa ki Te Whenua Tāpui o Kiore Taretare i te 10 o May, 2023

Nō te aituā i pā ki tētahi taiohi o Whangārei i te Tūrei, te 9 o Mei 2023, kua rāhuitia Te Whenua Tāpui o Kiore Taretare e Ngāti Kahu o Torongare me Ngā Hapū o Whangārei. Hena koa, kia manawa popore mai ki tēnei aituā, ki tōna whānau, ki tēnei rāhui anō mā te kore tomo mai ki te whenua tāpui nei.

----
Mayor Vince Cocurullo expressed his sincerest condolences to the whānau, friends, fellow pupils, staff and all members of the community grieving for the loss of the young man at the caves yesterday.

"Thank you to all who took part in the search in any capacity and to those who prayed for everyone involved."

"This is not the outcome anyone wanted, but returning the young one to his family to farewell over the next few days would not have been achieved so quickly without the enormous efforts of many people."

"Thank you to all who have come forward to offer comfort and support as well. I support the words of the Hapū, who said this is a time for manaaki and care to all, particularly to the family, his peers and school community."

He reiterated that multiple organisations will be involved to identify how a tragedy like this could be prevented in future and Council would be part of that process.