A petition to save the historic Saddle Hill near Mosgiel - named by Captain Cook - was launched yesterday by Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.
The petition urges the Dunedin City Council to appeal to the Environment Court for an urgent ''stop work order'' on the continued quarrying of Jaffray's Hill, the lower hump of Saddle Hill, by the private company Saddle Views Estate Ltd.
She said the protracted legal process had left a cloud of uncertainty over the landmark's future, given the Environment Court had declared that no consent for the digging exists, but that decision was subsequently overturned by the High Court.
Saddle Hill was a landmark of significant cultural and historical importance, woven into local tales and legends, and according to Maori legend, the hill was the final resting place of the Taieri taniwha.
''But all of this is under threat, as the ridge line that makes it so unique looks to be increasingly volatile, due to continuous quarrying,'' Ms Curran said.
