Tourists were seen defecating 'just metres from the footpath' at Mt Eden’s summit.

Iwi are shocked and disappointed by people defecating on the ground at the sacred Mt Eden volcano in Auckland.

The Tupuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority has received "a few" reports of people defecating next to the popular walking path, operations manager Scott De Silva said.

"We've heard a few reports of people going to the toilet [beside the road], there's probably a little bit of that happening around," he said.

Twitter via Mt Eden Mt Eden is a popular walk, including for tourists like Oprah Winfrey.

"I was pretty shocked to be honest, you know. I was pretty disappointed."

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The authority, which oversees the management and protection of Auckland's volcanic cones, decided to remove its two portaloos about a month ago.

They had been placed at the tour bus parking site but were taken away because they had both been vandalised and were deemed excessive, with fewer visitors over the colder months.

However, De Silva said they would be back by the end of this week.

Mt Eden resident Deborah van Praagh told NZME she saw two men hop off a tour bus and defecate just metres from the footpath last Sunday.

"It was certainly a shock," she said.

"They were very close to the footpath. We could see their bare behinds. My friend and I were retching. The stench was so bad."

The Mt Eden kiosk, which would include a public toilet, was due to reopen by the end of this year.

All vehicles, besides tour buses, have been banned from driving to the top of the summit since January 20.