The controversial track on Te Mata Peak could be here to stay.

The track which is carved into the face of Havelock North Hill made headlines last year, when local residents and iwi described it as an 'ugly eyesore'.

Consent for the track was given to Craggy Range winery, but after the feedback they decided to get rid of it.

However, the winery's CEO Mike Wilding told Larry Williams it turns out that might not be possible.

He says they commissioned a report to assess what'd happen if they removed it.

"What clearly came through in that report was we'd be leaving the land and the community in a worse position than if we remediated."

Wilding says they've put forward the idea to replant the track with native fauna instead.

LISTEN TO MIKE WILDING TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE