Auckland Council is extending an olive branch after a blunder encouraging people to ignore an iwi-imposed rāhui and head to the Waitakere Ranges on Waitangi Day.

A post from ATEED, which is an arm of the council, on Monday suggested a good way for Aucklanders to spend their Tuesday off work was to head to the Kitekite Track, in the Waitakeres.

"Who's up for a Waitangi Day Trip?" the original Facebook post read.

"The Kitekite track is an easy, level, metalled track from the car park at the end of Glen Esk Road and follows the Glen Esk stream to the base of the stunning Kitekite Falls.

"Pack a picnic and your togs to swim in the pools or hike to the top for beautiful views of the Waitakere Ranges."

The post did not mention that the council had committed to working with Te Kawerau a Maki Iwi on ongoing protection, nor that the mentioned track was protected under the rāhui.

The rāhui, or exclusion zone, was announced by West Auckland iwi Te Kawerau a Maki across the 16,000ha ranges park in a bid to curb the spread of kauri dieback disease.

At the end of last year Mayor Phil Goff and a majority of councillors did not support a full closure of the Ranges, but voted to support it in principle.

ATEED had since backtracked on its contradictory promotion of the Kitekite track and deleted the post.

An apology statement had since been issued apologising "unreservedly" for the message.

ATEED's original post promoted the Kitekite track in the Waitakeres as a great way to spend Waitangi Day. (Photo / Twitter)

The council-controlled organisation claimed the post was pre-scheduled and a mistake.

"Please be assured we are abundantly aware of the devastation kauri dieback disease is having on the park and we absolutely respect the significance of the rāhui and the measures Auckland Council is taking to stop the spread of this incurable disease," the apology said.

The botch-up comes as the latest folly in what has been labelled "mixed messaging" from the council around the rāhui.

"Unfortunately it is just yet another example of why the mixed messaging from Auckland Council by leaving tracks open is not helping anyone to understand the rāhui and the fact that the entire forest and every track is closed to protect kauri," it read.

"Saying you "respect the significance of the rāhui" is not the same as #RespectTheRahui if you still keep tracks open & encourage people to go walking in the bush."

Late last month, results from an on-site survey revealed thousands of people were snubbing the rāhui - even after being approached in the park and informed of it.

Of more than 1100 people approached by one council-employed kauri dieback ambassador in the week before Christmas, only a dozen chose to turn back because of the rāhui.

This was in spite of concerns that kauri could be wiped out within decades if drastic action was not taken.

Te Kawerau a Maki Iwi has been approached for comment.