HISTORIC OFFENCE: Old graffiti etched into the rock is seen behind epic barbecue participants.

Barbecues and graffiti on top of Mount Taranaki have outraged Taranaki DOC boss Phil Mohi.

"The act of cooking over an ancestor is tapu – it's something that you just don't do," he said.

Mr Mohi was responding to the story in yesterday's Taranaki Daily News which reported that a group of Christian climbers had carried a barbecue and couch to the summit of Mt Taranaki for an "epic" barbecue.

He also took a swipe at people who had left graffiti on the summit rock, and was clearly visible in a photo the Daily News published.

He was not suggesting the barbecue climbers were responsible for the graffiti, some of which looks years old. It consists mostly of people's initials carved into the rock.

"It's a pity people felt they had to leave their mark after having the energy and will to reach the summit," he said.

"The graffiti offenders went out of their way to cause offence," he said.

He said the summit barbecue was disappointing because the young people there probably didn't realise or hadn't learnt that the mountain and especially the summit is a very sacred place for iwi of Taranaki.

"We discourage camping at the summit and try to make people aware that the very highest part is the most sacred of all – and ask climbers to avoid standing there.

"There's a difference too between eating prepared food for sustenance and actually cooking on the summit," he said.

Barbecue organiser Jordan Millen said climbers were not trying to offend and were unaware they were doing so.

"We are sincerely sorry for any offence we may have caused during this trip on Mt Taranaki, we were unaware of any tapu or the sacred nature of the summit and that it was not respectful to cook there," he said.

He said the group was respectful to all mountain users on the day and the mountain itself, something which his brother Adam had made a point of talking to the group about before they began their trip up the mountain.

They had also brought back more rubbish than they took up as they collected any rubbish they saw along their route, he said.

Mr Mohi said that was a good reflection on the group and he encouraged and applauded all those that made use of the park.

"But part of our management role is to promote and protect the mountain's cultural and spiritual values," he said.

He said the summit barbecue presented a timely reminder that the mountain is of huge significance to a great many people and that such actions show little respect to a very special place.

DOC's interpretation panels do explain the overall significance of the mountain but Mr Mohi said that staff will be exploring other ways to build greater awareness among the public.