Copy Supporting an Application for Water Conservation Order on the Ngaruroro River from Whitewater NZ

Copy Supporting an Application for Water Conservation Order on the Ngaruroro River from Whitewater NZ Legal and common names for our Organisation: Whitewater NZ Incorporated (Legal Name); Whitewater NZ Inc, Whitewater NZ (other common names) Signatory of Application: Graeme Wilson; Acting President Contact Details: Graeme Wilson 9 Amamoor Street Northwood Christchurch 8051 03 323 8623 027 480 2405 [email protected] Whitewater NZ Whitewater NZ is the national organisation representing recreational white water canoeing and kayaking in New Zealand. Our purpose is to preserve New Zealand's white water resources and en- hance opportunities to enjoy them safely. Whitewater NZ advocates for access to and conservation of rivers with outstanding white water amenity as well as facilitating safety and education amongst our membership and the wider kayaking community. The work of Whitewater NZ is co- ordinated by the executive and officers. These people work with kayaking clubs and individuals around the country to support advocacy and other activities. 1 Whitewater NZ is a voluntary non-profit incorporated society and is affiliated to the NZ Canoe Federation which is a member of the International Canoe Federation (ICF). The organisation was formed in 1957 and was known as the New Zealand Canoe Association (NZCA) until 1995 and New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association (NZRCA) until 2010. Attributes of the Ngaruroro River Physical description The Ngaruroro River rises in the eastern edge of the volcanic plateau, southeast of Lake Taupo and north of the Taihape to Napier highway. After leaving the tussock country of the upland plateau at the top of the river it flows down through a series of wild and scenic gorges through beech forest of the Otutu Bush and the Kaweka Forest and then into manuka forest to pass between the Kaweka Range and the Burns Range at Kuripapango, where the Taihape to Napier Road crosses the river. From there the river continues south through further confined gorges where it is joined by the Taruarau, its major tributary, before heading off in an easterly direction emerging onto the Hawkes Bay plains near Whanawhana, between the Kaweka Range to the north and the Ruahine Range to the south. The river then becomes braided as it travels down to the coast in Hawkes Bay entering the sea south of Napier and north of Hastings. The Taruarau River, rises immediately to the west of the Ngaruroro River between the Tawake Tohunga Range and the Golden Hills, in an area of dry, barren rolling tussock country. The river travels south into a deep scrub covered valley with impressive rocky crags overhanging the river bed [1] and finally is crossed by the Taihape to Napier Road. Below the road the river drops into enclosed gorges before swinging east to finally flow into the Ngaruroro River below the Lower Gorge. Description of the kayaking runs Ngaruroro River The Ngaruroro River offers kayakers a range of paddling experiences. They include two outstanding multiday wilderness kayaking trips, both of which are of a moderate class or difficulty (see Appendix I for a description of river class). Multiday kayaking runs are rare in New Zealand. Landscape, vegetation, wilderness, scenery and class of rapids vary over the length of the river. The sections that are kayaked include: 1. The upper river from Boyd Hut or Ngaawapurua Hut down to the Cameron carpark at Kuripapango or down to the Kuripapango bridge; 2. The Oxbow, which is a short section from the Cameron car park down to the Kuripapango bridge; 3. The lower river from Kuripapango bridge to the next road access at Whanawhana; and 4. The braided river below Whanawhana to the coast. The Upper River is normally accessed by helicopter or fixed wing flight to the airstrip below Boyd Hut, which is a little below the junction of the Te Waiotupuritia and Mangamingi Streams, or by helicopter to the Ngaawapurua Hut. Kayakers then take two to three days to run the river down to Kuripapango, on the Taihape to Napier Road [1-3], or may continue further on down to Whanawhana. The river passes mainly through DoC land, and several huts are available for use. 2 This is an outstanding wild and scenic kayaking run. Landing at the Boyd airstrip after a successful flight from Taupo and team adrenaline and excitement levels building at the beginning of a three day adventure with over 100km of paddling. Part of the adventure is getting to wilderness areas. Auckland University Canoe Club (AUCC) trip October 2012. Photo: Ross Whittome. The river starts out as a relatively small braided river in the upper reaches with Class I to II white water in open tussock country. The river then passes down through small gorges, which gradually increase in height as the river descends first into hills covered in scrub and flax and then into gorges surrounded by beech forest. The flow in the river steadily increases from the many small streams flowing into it. The river bed is largely confined to a single channel with a combination of boulder and bedrock rapids. Passage down many of the Class II to III rapids is very tight and difficult in rafts and catarafts, especially in lower flows, but easier in kayaks. Many of the rapids have small steep drop offs down through boulders close to cliff faces. Paddlers have to be careful to avoid pinning (getting stuck) on rocks in such tight rapids. Travel down the upper river to Ngaawapurua Hut, where there is also good camping in the beech forest, and down to Rocks Ahead Hut, is relatively slow in lower flows of about 10 cumecs or so, as the river twists and turns and drops down through many tight Class II to III rapids. There are one or two tight technical Class III+ rapids. A little below Rocks Ahead Hut, the rate of travel down the river picks up. The tight Class III rapids remain, but down to and below the Kiwi Mouth Hut the flatter reaches of the river become longer and straighter between corners and at times between rapids. At Cameron Hut, where there is also good camping, the vistas up onto the surrounding hills are spectacular, as the surrounding country is very precipitous. Good Class II to III white water continues down to the gauging site cableway above the campground and Cameron carpark, although there are some longer sections with fewer rapids. 3 Upper Ngaruroro River tussock flats. Photo: Eric Martinot. Clear blue, cold crisp drinking water with an abundance of trout in the upper tussock clad reaches of the Ngaruroro River. Photo: Ross Whittome. 4 A section of the Upper Ngaruroro in the transition from high country tussock to pristine beech forest. Hidden Valley’s four day raft descent with about 20 people October 2012. Photo: Doug Rankin. In the beech forest zone on the Upper Ngaruroro, crystal clear water, good white water and beautiful scenery. Typical tight rocky Class III rapid. Hidden Valley’s raft descent October 2012. Photo: Doug Rankin. 5 Campsite at the old Forestry Service Omarukokere bivouac in the Upper Ngaruroro, with a bonfire at night beside the river. Part of the magic of a river journey. At this point the party had seen about three people all day so there are a few hunters and fisherman up in the upper river. AUCC trip October 2012. Photo: Ross Whittome. Throughout the river, the scenery from river level is outstanding. Especially notable is the progressive change in vegetation cover down the river from tussock to scrub country to beech forest and finally into the manuka forest lower down towards Kuripapango. Trout and eels are often visible in pools when the river is low and clear. The river is very remote and has a very strong wilderness feel. Kayaking parties venturing down the river have to be capable, self-sufficient and independent, and able to kayak with their boats full of camping gear. Some kayaking trips are made with raft support. Weather on the river can be inclement at times and flows can rise quickly, and so parties have to be competent and equipped to deal with such conditions and make appropriate decisions. This type of environment, where the scenic and wilderness vales are very high, where the river features challenge the river users and offer the possibility of multiday trips, and where climatic conditions and remoteness also may provide a challenge, is highly prized by river users. It makes the Ngaruroro River outstanding. The Oxbow is a good section of Class II water from the DoC campground down to the Taihape- Napier Road bridge at Kuripapango. This is frequently used by campers in the area over summer to float down in all sorts of craft, and is an ideal nursery ground for canoe club members, youngsters, schools and families alike to be introduced to white water. The reach is widely used by members of the Hawkes Bay Canoe Club for training novice kayakers. The Lower Gorge run from Kuripapango to Whanawhana is accessed from the campground or from just above the Taihape-Napier Road bridge. This is another outstanding wilderness run. This is usually a two day Class III-IV trip, but in high water is a Class IV trip and can be run as a very long day trip. 6 From Kuripapango the river flows down a narrow rocky gorge, containing numerous Class II to III rapids for the first 10 km or so. This section of the river is often characterised by vertical schist rock walls and unbroken manuka landscape. This is very scenic but with a rugged character quite distinct from the Upper River run.

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