Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is a publicly accessible conservation park in the

North Island The North Island, also officially named Te Ika-a-Māui, is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but much less populous South Island by the Cook Strait. The island's area is , making it the world's 14th-largest ...

of New Zealand. The park is centered on the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks Te Urewera. The Whirinaki Forest is one of the world's last prehistoric rainforests. The

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...

is responsible for administering the park jointly with the local iwi,

Ngāti Whare Ngāti Whare is a Māori iwi of New Zealand. It is part of a group of tribes participating in the " treelords" Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the New Zealand government involving Central North Island forestry land and cash. As part of the ...

Tramping Tramping may refer to: Travel * Hiking * Trekking * Tramping in New Zealand, a style of backpacking or hiking *Czech tramping, a Czech outdoors pastime Places *Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380, Saskatchewan, Canada ** Tramping Lake, Sa ...

is a popular recreation in the park and there is a network of 175 km of tracks and 9 huts that are used for this purpose. The unsealed River Road provides access to a carpark and the starting point of many walks. Short walks lead through native bush to Waiatiu Falls,

Arohaki Lagoon Arohaki Lagoon (formerly Arahaki Lagoon) is a small ephemeral lagoon located in the Whakatāne District of the North Island, New Zealand. It is within the Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park, south and can be accessed via a walking t ...

, Te Whaiti-Nui-A-Toi Canyon, and Whirinaki Falls, respectively. The rain-fed Arohaki Lagoon is often alive with Southern Bell Frogs. Longer tramping tracks connect several huts and two other access roads. The forests were a focus of protests over logging in the 1970s and 80s. Large parts of the park remain covered in native podocarp forest featuring rimu, totara, kahikatea, matai ( Prumnopitys taxifolia), and miro. Some higher parts contain beech forest. The forest supports a wide range of birds, some of which are endangered. Whirinaki is the location of Nga Hua a Tane, a radical place based research program on rainforests and the ecosystem services they provide to support life on our planet, led by the local school, Te Kura Toitu o Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi and its community. In 2010, a co-governance agreement was signed with Ngati Whare as part of a treaty settlement. As part of the settlement, the New Zealand government apologised for past injustices and acknowledged the park was integral to Ngati Whare's cultural identity and wellbeing. The settlement provided for a joint Ngati Whare and Crown regeneration project, which aimed to regenerate 640ha of exotic pine adjacent to the park back to indigenous podocarp forest, with David Bellamy as patron. The park's name was changed from Whirinaki Forest Park to Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne means the abundance of Tāne.

Moerangi Mountain Bike Track

The Moerangi Track is a dual purpose track for mountain bikers and trampers located in the Whirinaki Te Pu-a-Tane Conservation Park. The track is 35 km of Grade 3 (intermediate) mountain bike track and takes around 5 to 6 hours to complete for someone with medium to high level of fitness. Situated along the track are three huts, Skips, Rogers and Moerangi. All three spots are a good stopping point for riders or a place to stay on an overnight ride.

References

External links

Whirinaki Forest information – Ngati WhareWhirinaki Forest information – Department of ConservationConservation Management Plan – Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (2017)NZ On Screen
– "Moa's Ark : Stamp of the Giants" (1990 television series) includes Whirinaki Forest Park
Nga Hua a Tane – rainforest research program
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tane Conservation Park Taupō District Conservation parks of New Zealand Protected areas of the Bay of Plenty Region Ngāti Whare

Moerangi Mountain Bike Track

See also

Further reading

References

External links