Whakatāne District Council is now accepting proposals for the reinstatement of a walkway that connects West End with Ōtarawairere Bay on the Ngā Tapuwae o Toi walkway.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) opened last week, inviting plans for either repairing and reinstating the existing track or developing alternative routes without reliance on council funding.

The RFP requires proposals to demonstrate how they will address geotechnical challenges, cultural and environmental considerations, and health and safety requirements in a way that is sustainable for the long term.

The council has made comprehensive technical reports and site assessments available to support groups in developing their proposals.

Alexandra Pickles, general manager community experience said the RFP responded to projects and services committee direction to enable community-led solutions.

“This is an opportunity to try something different in a safe and considered way,” she said.

“It’s not solely about reinstating a much-loved track; it’s about maintaining confidence in public safety, careful stewardship of a significant place, and long-term resilience.”

The walkway holds deep cultural significance as Ngā Tapuwae o Toi - the footsteps of Toi, an important early ancestor of Ngāti Awa. The route traverses what was once the domain of Toi, passing near Kapu-te-Rangi Pā, one of the oldest known pā sites in Aotearoa.

The West End section has been closed since October 2022 following major landslides.

Five separate geotechnical reports, peer-reviewed by independent consultants, show the escarpment has experienced at least 49 landslides over 70 years and faces very high ongoing landslide risk.

The deadline for proposals is 3pm on May 22. They must be submitted through the Government Electronic Tenders System (GETS), where full RFP documentation, technical reports and submission requirements are available.