Hawke's Bay winery present options to keep controversial Te Mata Peak walking track

Tensions over a controversial walking track in Hawke's Bay surfaced again today after the winery responsible presented alternative options for keeping it.

Craggy Range winery had vowed to remove the path on Te Mata Peak after facing a backlash from local iwi, and critics claim it's now going back on its promise.

Craggy Range built the walking track late last year with resource consent.

But Te Mata Peak is sacred to the local iwi who weren't consulted, so the winery announced the path would be removed.

"We made that decision based on a principal belief that we did not want to leave the land or the community in a worse position," said Mike Wilding, Craggy Range chief executive.

Craggy Range commissioned a report looking into various options for the track, and now it says there is a better solution than just restoring the hillside.

Under Craggy Range's preferred plan, the area would be planted with native bush to hide the zig zag section of path.

This would mean "replanting native flora, increasing biodiversity, increasing the level of bird habitat within there and creating a native bird corridor," Mr Wilding said.

But the iwi, which wants the land restored, is not convinced.

"Not at any time have they actually applied to or seek to get a cultural impact report. And perhaps if they did at the start, we may not have found ourselves in this situation," said Mike Paku of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga.

The Hastings District Council says it has asked for more information from Craggy Range and will need time to fully assess each option to find the best outcome for everyone involved.

The Environmental Defence Society, which originally threatened legal action, says the winery has reneged on its promise and is gaming the system.

Its own expert advice claims restoring the path would have no adverse impact on the environment.

"It's going to require some level of compromise by parties, but I think there is a lot of good will there and everyone is focused on a solution," Mr Wilding said.

The next step in the long running dispute is now in the hands of the council.