I have found the answer now,
users/username/library/Preferences/autodesk/maya/scripts is the right location however is hidden. pres shift+cmd+full stop to unhide.
this is confusing as there is another path to a scripts folder on the drive that is not hidden as mentioned in the documentation at
Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/2017/scripts.
it really would be helpful to update the installation instructions to make it more clear as the paths are almost identical but refer to different locations. why maya needs so many scripts folders is confusing as well! thanks