The Christchurch City Council is raising concerns about the increasing use of red-zoned land in the Port Hills by residents, which has council rangers fearing for public safety.

Several areas across the Port Hills have been classified as red-zoned due to the high risk of death or injury from falling rocks, caused by changing weather conditions or land movement.

Despite this, council rangers have observed more people entering these restricted areas, including young people and community groups, sometimes for activities such as horse riding and building bike tracks.

To mitigate these risks, the council has erected fences and warning signs to keep people out of the dangerous zones.

However, these measures have often been undermined, with fences and signs frequently being stolen or damaged within days.

Red Zone Manager Dave Little pointed to the rock wall in Sumner as an example of a high-risk area that is still being accessed by the public. “We have noticed people riding horses, and kids have been building bike tracks and jumps in recent weeks,” Little said.

“We understand the appeal of these spaces, but it is just not safe, and no one should be in there without training or approval.”

He also said some areas have been accessed for community planting efforts, which, although well-intentioned, are still dangerous.

“These areas are restricted for a reason,” Little warned. “They are dangerous.”

The council’s concerns are not unfounded. In March of this year, a boulder came loose on Mulgans Track in Clifton, crashing through several barriers.

“We need the community to stay out of Port Hills red-zoned land for everyone’s safety and peace of mind,” Little said. He said that council staff, including rangers working in the community, do not want to see anyone hurt.

Christchurch City Council plans to reassess the risks associated with these red-zoned areas over the next two years.

The goal is to determine if any parts of the red zones can be safely used for activities like community planting, but as Little noted, “this process is site-specific and will take time.”