A tribe based at the foot of Mount Ruapehu says the cancellation of a car rally on the Ohakune Mountain Road is a win for the maunga and a win for Tongariro National Park.
Ngati Rangi put pressure on Ruapehu District Council to stop the Ohakune Giant 1000 rally, saying the vehicles would tear up the land.
The local mayor, Sue Morris, said Mount Ruapehu was a sacred and unique part of the region and the event organiser called off the road race.
Ngati Rangi Trust pouarahi (chief executive) Che Wilson says he's over the moon with the decision.
Mr Wilson says the iwi will still hold a picnic this weekend to celebrate the maunga, which was planned before the car rally was cancelled.
Ohakune Giant 1000 organiser Max Hodder told says Radio New Zealand he has cancelled the rally, because he cannot guarantee safety around the picnic planned by Ngati Rangi.
