Kaniere Scenic Reserve A beautiful West Coast lake
WHOSE ROHE? Ngäi Tahu is the iwi, Käti Waewae are the hapü. Contact Käti Waewae Rünaka for further information.
Surrounded by luxuriant bush, Lake Kaniere is often described as one of the most beautiful lakes in Aotearoa/New Zealand. It is 8 km long, 2 km wide and as deep as 195m in some places. There are walks for all abilities and opportunities for a number of water sports.
WHATS IN A NAME? The name is linked to the pounamu (greenstone) history of the area. The mountain Tühua overlooks Lake Kaniere on one side and the major Arahura River pounamu source. Kaniere refers to the act of sawing pounamu. Kani means saw and ere refers to the action of sawing.
SPECIAL FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR Protect plants and animals The giant kahikatea (white pine) trees on the Kahikatea Walk Remove rubbish Tühua the mountain Bury toilet waste Dorothy Falls/Kokore Keep streams and lakes clean Giant moss at the start of the Canoe Cove walk it looks like mini- ature pine trees Take care with fires
Camp carefully
Keep to the track WALKS Consider others
Respect our cultural heritage Canoe Cove Walk
Enjoy your visit (Easy, 15 min one way) This track takes you through a rimu and kahikatea forest to a sheltered Toitu te whenua ( Leave the land undisturbed ) sandy beach: a great spot for a picnic or a swim. The track is at the
45 north end of the lake and 1 km from the Landing along Lake Kaniere Road. There is some parking at the start.
Dorothy Falls and Beach Walk (Easy, 2 min and 5 min) Have a look at this waterfall. It is signposted from the road as you drive down the east side of lake. On the opposite side of the road is a short track that will take you down to the lake.
Kahikatea Forest Walk (Easy, 10 min loop) This walk follows the Sunny Bight Creek and passes through virgin kahikatea forest and over a flax swamp. The track starts at the Sunny Bight picnic area at the north end of the lake.
Lake Kaniere Walkway (from Kaniere Lodge to Lawyers Delight Hut) (Moderate, 1 hour one way) If your group is feeling more adventurous and is suitably equipped, then you might like to walk through lush bush to Lawyers Delight Hut. There is a lookout point part way along the track with a fantastic view down the lake. At Lawyers Delight you can leave the track and spend some time on the beach before returning. Be careful of slippery rocks on the track and be prepared for a good climb on your return journey. The track starts from the road, just south of Kaniere Lodge.
LONGER WALKS If your group is ready for a longer walk, you could try the Lake Kaniere Walkway or the Kaniere Water Race Walkway. Both of these walks are one way so you would need to organise transport to drop you off and pick you up. Take appropriate clothing and check the weather forecast before you leave.
Lake Kaniere Walkway (Moderate, 4 hours one way with no stops) This track follows the western shores of the lake passing through lakeside forest, over streams and next to beaches. You can start either at the southern end of the lake, near Lake Kaniere Lodge or at the northern end at Sunny Bight.
Lake Kaniere Water Race Walkway (Moderate, 1 hour or 4 hours one way) If your group is interested in the history of the area, you could walk along some or all of the historic power station water race. The track starts at the Landing at the northern end of the lake. You can then walk to Ward Road (for an hour) or continue to the end of the track (4 hours).
46 BE PREPARED RISK ASSESSMENTS See our activity Be Prepared in "Using this Resource". In addition to the general risks outlined, you need to consider:
water risks around the lake and the rivers, especially if you undertake any water sports, or our suggested activity in Geologists Creek; slips and falls on some of the tracks if students do not watch where they are going; traffic in carpark areas around the start of tracks, especially at the start of Canoe Cove Walk; and washing your hands after the minibeast hunt or stream dip activities.
Dont forget to include hazards at the lodge if you are staying overnight.
ATTRACTIONS AND FACILITIES
Interpretation Panels Lodge
CONTACT If you would like a DOC officer to accompany your group for some of your visit, please contact the Community Relations Officer at the Hokitika Area Office a few weeks before your trip on: 03 755 8301.
OTHER EXCITING THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE AREA
Hire kayaks to explore the edges of the lake Visit the West Coast Historical Museum in Hokitika Visit Water World in Hokitika Visit the Kiwi House in Hokitika
ACCOMMODATION Accommodation is available for schools at Kaniere Lodge, which is owned by the Kaniere Lodge Trust and can sleep up to 40. Facilities include a fully equipped kitchen, showers, a drying room, and a large dining area/common room. You can make a booking through Westland High School and the number is: 03 755 6169.
47 More Information RESOURCE MATERIAL
Community Relations DOC Walks Fact Sheets from the Hokitika Office or in the Resource Ranger Box. Department of Kaniere Super Site Resource Box available to borrow from the Conservation Hokitika Office or the Teacher Resource Centre in Greymouth. This Te Papa Atawhai contains books for identifying trees and insects, magnifying glasses, Hokitika Area Office Private Bag 701 bug pots, and DOC Walks information. HOKITIKA The Tattooed Land by Barry Brailsford (1997) Stoneprint Press p.200- Ph: 03 755 8301 201 Fax: 03 755 8425 Greenstone Trails by Barry Brailsford (1996) Stoneprint Press p.129- 133 Nets for sampling invertebrate life in Geologists Creek are available for borrowing from the DOC Hokitika Area Office.
HOW TO GET THERE From Hokitika, head east 19 km along the Lake Kaniere Road. At Kaniere, take the left branch of the Y intersection. This road meets the lake at the Landing. The road forks at this point, the right road heads to Sunny Bight and the other is the Dorothy Falls Road, which takes you around the east side of the lake past Hans Bay. The access road around the lake is metalled, narrow and care is required. The best approach for a bus is via Kokatahi. Kokatahi is signposted from Kaniere Township. When you reach Kokatahi, follow the signs to Lake Kaniere.
48 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AT KANIERE
THE CURRICULUM The tracks and environmental issues at Lake Kaniere present a range of learning experiences for Ss to achieve curriculum objectives. By using and adapting our suggested activities and incorporating the curriculum objectives below, you could develop a trip around the following general aim:
Aim: Ss will have an understanding and appreciation of the Lake Kaniere environment and the different ways in which people use and relate to this environment.
Social Studies Focusing your trip on one or more of the environmental issues described below can develop the essential skills of inquiry, values exploration and social decision making. It is also in the aims of environmental education to develop these skills. Take the example of weeds. Ss would first need to identify the problem by listing why weeds are a problem, where they are, and where they come from. In terms of values exploration, Ss could examine how different groups e.g. farmers, Ngäi Tahu, bach owners, boaties, and DOC might have different opinions about the weed problem.
Ss could also examine their own thoughts and feelings. Many Ss will not have considered the weed threat before. With regard to social decision making, Ss would need to come up with a range of possible solutions and consider the impacts of these solutions on the different groups. For more examples of environmental issues see below.
For SO L2:1 & L3:1, Ss could explore how participation in groups, e.g. being a bach owner, a boatie or a farmer involves rights and responsibilities and how and why people make and implement rules and laws for managing settlements, scenic reserves and farming.
In P&E at all levels, Ss could examine how peoples activities influence the Lake Kaniere environment and vice versa, or how different groups, e.g. tourists, DOC, recreational groups, bach owners, and Poutini Ngäi Tahu currently view and use the lake, and how it has been used in the past.
49 In R&EA L4:1, Ss could examine how and why people use resources differently and the consequences of this. The obvious example at Lake Kaniere is how different groups use the lake. The lake is used for recreation, tourism, a water supply, a power supply, and part of the area is also a nohoanga site for Ngäi Tahu.
Health and Physical Education See our activity Be Prepared in "Using this Resource". Technology Under TC at all levels, Ss could develop technological solutions to some of the environmental problems at Kaniere. For example, they could design a trap for catching possums or stoats.
Ss will achieve T&S objectives L2:1, L3:1,2 & L4:2 by considering various future scenarios for Lake Kaniere. For instance, raising the level of the lake again, converting farmland to dairy and the implications of effluent run-off into the lake and rivers, or the building of a water wheel on Dorothy Falls!
Science For LW objectives, groups could compare the vegetation on the Kahikatea Walk and the Canoe Cove Walk. In this way, Ss can identify plants (in a general sense) and compare the different types growing in each area.
In our activities below, we suggest a minibeast hunt where Ss look at the relationship between the structure and function of various bugs. We have also suggested a stream dip at Geologists Creek for the same reason.
Ss can study the interdependence of people and local ecosystems by considering the implications for the Hokitika water supply if Lake Kaniere became polluted.
As a glacially formed lake, Kaniere is a place to study landscape features and processes as part of PE&B. At L2, Ss can study the lake, the rivers and the landscape and consider how people affect these features by, pollution, settlement, roads, farming, recreation and other activities. In L3:1&2, Ss could focus on the rivers and the lake as part of the water cycle, looking at how the use of the lake as a water supply affects the cycle. They could also gather and present information on the glacial origin and history of the lake.
50 Mathematics, English and Art For Mathematics, Ss can count, estimate, and calculate percentages of (different types of) visitors, stones, trees and plants.
As part of a minibeast hunt or stream dip (see below), Ss can refer to numbers of tails, or legs as a way of identifying animals.
For geometry, Ss could look for natural symmetries and shapes in the environment. For example, younger Ss could look for and sketch 3 round objects, 3 square objects, and 3 rectangular objects.
For English, Ss can undertake written and oral presentations and discussion before, during and after the trip. They could prepare questions on one of the environmental issues and conduct an interview with a local DOC officer.
For Art, Ss can record their pre- and post-visit impressions of Lake Kaniere or explore some of the environmental issues below through pictures, posters, dance, drama and music.
If your school is on camp at Lake Kaniere, there is the possibility of taking time to use the bush to establish an imaginary space as the setting for a play or for story telling. The Atua Kaitiaki described in "Using this Resource" , could be the basis for this activity.
Environmental Issues The difficulty of managing different and changing demands on the lake (a nohoanga site, for farming, a power source, a trout fishery, a water supply, and a site for tourism and recreation).
Farm animals causing damage to native vegetation and stream life where they graze in unfenced bush or around streams.
Pest plants (weeds) along the roadside like wandering willy that threaten the scenic reserve and the threat of boats introducing water weeds like lagarosiphon.
Animal pests like possums, stoats and cats.
The future management of the lake.
51 TEACHERS BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Mäori Cultural Heritage Lake Kaniere provided access for Ngäi Tahu/Mäori between the Hokitika and Arahura Rivers and between the East and West Coasts via Browning Pass/Noti Raureka. The Arahura River is a key source of pounamu and several pounamu flakes have been found in the Lake Kaniere area.
Water and Power In 1875, the Lake Kaniere water race was opened to provide water for gold mining along the Kaniere River. A small settlement was established at Milltown (also known as Sawdustville) at the north end of the lake, where a mill supplied timber for the water-race project. Subsequently, the water race was used to supply water for power to the goldfields and Hokitika.
Landform Processes The lake was formed by glacial erosion and melting during the last ice age 13 000 years ago. On your visit, you will come across a number of rock types. At Dorothy Falls and in Geologists Creek there are granites. In the Styx River you will find greywacke and schists. Mount Tühua and Mount Upright Te Taumata o Uekanuku are both granite upthrusts.
Animals Geologists Creek has some invertebrate life such as mayflies/piriwai and caddis flies to study. You might also see native bullies and eels/tuna. In the lake itself, there is a mixture of native kokopu and introduced perch and brown and rainbow trout.
In terms of native birds you should be able to see fantails piwakawaka and you might see a weka. You might be able to hear a pigeon/kererü in flight or the song of a bell bird/korimako. Other birds common to the area are the grey warbler/riroriro, tits/ngiru ngiru, and silver-eye/ tauhou. At night, you might see a morepork/ruru sitting on the pole outside the window of the lodge or hear him call from the forest.
Vegetation The reserve contains a range of vegetation from the lowland kahikatea at Sunny Bight through the terrace land/drier ground supporting rimu, tötara, mataï, and miro to sub-alpine scrub to alpine tussock land on Mt Tühua. Because the reserve comprises lowland forest through to the tussock land, you can observe the altitudinal changes in the vegetation as you climb Tühua (lowland podocarp to rata-kamahi to sub-alpine to tussock).
52 Pests As you walk the tracks at Lake Kaniere you are likely to see signs of possum damage in the form of part eaten leaves and broken stems on the track. Other pests present in the area are cats, stoats and a few deer. While possums are a serious threat to the native bush, they also eat bird eggs, as do stoats. Cats predate native birds.
PREVISIT ACTIVITIES
Try the Be Prepared activity in "Using this Resource". Focus on water safety and the importance of staying in a group on all walks.
Research the formation and origins of Lake Kaniere.
Ask the Ss to tell you their expectations of the visit to Lake Kaniere. Has anyone in your class been there before? Encourage Ss to find out information from friends and family. What animals and plants might they see? Write or draw their ideas and repeat the exercise after the visit for comparison.
Assign a different Lake Kaniere plant to each S. These Ss are responsible for identifying their plant during the trip. So, you could have a kahikatea expert, a rimu expert, a tree fern expert, and a marble leaf expert; and likewise for flax, hebe and five finger.
Practise the waiata E Tü Kahikatea ready for a live performance on the Kahikatea Walkway!
53 VISIT ACTIVITIES We have outlined some ideas for activities on Kahikatea and Canoe Cove walks, as well as at Geologists Creek and Dorothy Falls. Please adapt them for your group.
Curriculum Links Art: music Science: LW, all levels and PE&B L2:1, L3:1&2 Mathematics: numbers and measurement
Activity One Kahikatea Walkway (Allow 35 mins)
Examples of Specific Learning Outcomes Ss will describe the bush using their senses of smell, touch, sight and hearing. Ss will identify and sketch 3 plants and appreciate the diversity of species in the Aotearoa/New Zealand bush.
Equipment & Preparation If you have an older group, you could convert the following ideas into a worksheet Plant and insect ID cards or books (available in the Resource Box) Pencil and paper for sketching and/or a camera
There are several activities for you to carry out as you complete this circuit. There is no specific place in which to do each activity, use your judgement and have fun!
Stop One - Awareness of the Environment and Use of Senses Walk along the track for a few metres and then find a safe, comfortable place to stop. Ask everyone in the group to say an adjective describing this area. If your class is familiar with the Atua Kaitiaki, you could ask them to identify the different Atua that are present. See if you can keep quiet for 2 or 3 minutes! Ask everyone to hold out their fists in front of them and close their eyes. Every time a S hears a noise they should release a finger or thumb from their fist until they reach 10. What noises did you hear? Which noises did you like? Why? Which noises didnt you like? Why? What does it smell like here? Do you like it? How many different shades of green can you see? Choose one shade
54 and make up a name for it. Without picking any plants, take 10 minutes to see if you can find something rough, something smooth, something furry, something smelly and something prickly. Try to put it back where you found it when you have finished!
Stop Two - Kahikatea The kahikatea is our tallest native tree. Find a spot where you can see these trees (hint: they are the tallest trees on this walk!). These trees are probably hundreds of years old. They were here when the first Trans- Tasman jets started flying from Aotearoa/New Zealand to Australia. What other interesting things do you think these trees have seen in their lifetime? Use your kahikatea experts (or look in tree identification guide) to see if you can find any young tree seedlings growing beneath the big trees. Choose one of the kahikatea trees and estimate how many Ss would need to stand one on top of the other to reach the top of the tree. Sing the waiata E Tü Kahikatea/Stand up White Pine! Stop Three - In the Bush! What type of plants live here (trees, shrub, ferns, mosses, lichens, epiphytes)? See how good you are at observing plant diversity! Divide into small groups: a tree group, a shrub group, a fern group, a moss group and a lichen group. Take three minutes to count how many different types of your plant there are in this area. For example, the tree group will count how many different types of tree there are and the shrub group will count how many different shrubs they can see, and so on. Which group had the most variety? Feel the leaves on the tree ferns. Are they soft or crisp? Use the Plant Guide, or your experts and see if you can identify 3 plants or trees. Sketch and label these plants. Older Ss could select a 5 10 metre transect and sketch or photograph the vegetation structure or layers. Is there a little, some, or a lot of light here? Is it wet or dry? How do you think these plants have adapted to living here? Possums like to eat the plants in this piece of bush. Can you see any evidence, such as half-eaten leaves or fresh stems on the ground, to show that possums have been feeding here recently? What type of plants do they seem to be eating? There are a few cats in this bush too. Why do you think there are likely to be cats here? Why are they a problem? What do we do to protect our forests from possums and cats? What would you do to protect the bush and the birds?
55 Activity Two Canoe Cove Walk (Allow 45 minutes return) This walk takes you through the bush down to the lake a great spot for a picnic! The vegetation is different to that along the Kahikatea Walkway and it is an interesting exercise to see if you can compare the two without being a plant expert!
Specific Learning Outcomes Ss will identify and label at least 3 minibeasts found in the litter layer. Ss will identify at least three differences between the vegetation on the Kahikatea Walk and the Canoe Cove Walk and provide at least 2 (educated) reasons for the differences noted.
Preparation and Equipment If you have an older group, you could convert the following ideas into a worksheet. Magnifying glasses and bug viewers (available in the Resource Box). Plant and insect ID cards or books (available in the Resource Box). Pencil and paper for sketching and/or a camera Stop One - In the bush Look down as you first enter the bush and see if you can see the giant moss on the ground it looks like miniature pine trees. Then, walk a hundred metres into the bush and repeat the Stop Three questions from the Kahikatea Walk.
Stop Two Minibeast hunt Walk a little further along the track. Millions of animals live in this piece of bush. However, you will probably never see many of them because they are skilled at camouflage; and very small! Try to name at least 7 animals that you think might live here. Where do you think these animals like to live? In pairs or threes and using bug pots or magnifiers if you have them, carefully lift rocks, dead leaves or rotting pieces of wood and see if you can find any minibeasts. Count and sketch the number of legs, wings, and body parts. Look at an insect guide or take your sketches back to school to identify the creatures you find. Dont forget to put the creatures carefully back where you found them! These animals are natures great recyclers! How do think they recycle the bush? Why is this an important job? What would happen if all the minibeasts disappeared? Wash your hands before you eat!
56 Stop Three On the beach Stand on the beach with a good view of the lake. Do you think this landscape has changed or will ever change? How and why? See if you can think of a clever explanation for the creation of Kaniere Lake! Look at the pebbles on the beach. Are they are all the same size, colour and shape? See how many different groups of stones you can make. Sketch and label a part of the landscape or the different types of pebble on the beach.
Stop Four Comparison As a group, see if you can remember the main differences between the plants on the Kahikatea Walk and those on the Canoe Cove Walk. Can you think of some good reasons why they are different?
Activity Geologists Creek Three (30 mins to as long as you like) Geologists Creek crosses under the road about 1 km north of Kaniere Lodge. You can access the creek through a gate on the east-side of the road, just south of the river.
Examples of Specific Learning Outcomes Ss will identify stream invertebrates using a classification key or a book. Ss will note the relationship between the structure and function of at least 2 invertebrates. Ss will determine how clean the creek is according to the invertebrate life present.
Preparation Nets and trays or containers (available for borrowing from the DOC Area Office in Hokitika). An insect key or book (in the Resource Box). Pencils and paper for sketching. Instructions Remind Ss of the need to be careful around water and to wash their hands at the end of the activity. Break your class into smaller groups, with an adult accompanying each group.
57 Give each group one or two nets and a plastic tray or bucket. Ask them to fill the tray with some water first otherwise the animals will die when they empty their nets into the tray. Demonstrate the technique of kick sampling where one S kicks or dislodges a few rocks upstream and another S is positioned a couple of metres downstream to catch the disturbed invertebrates. The Ss then take the net to their tray or container as quickly as possible and turn it inside out in the water to empty any animals they might have found. Take it in turns and repeat a few times in different places. When Ss have a few invertebrates in their tray, ask them to identify and sketch them, labelling the special features they have. For instance, consider why a mayfly has three tails and a caddis fly has a special case. Water creatures are good indicators of how clean the water is.
Return all your animals back to the river very carefully and wash your hands before you eat.
Activity Four Dorothy Falls Dorothy Falls is worth a visit and we have suggested a post-visit activity relating to this site. In order to carry out the rap or story exercise, your group will need to spend a little time at the falls thinking about who Dorothy might have been. There is also some scope to study the waterfall as a landscape feature for the Science PE&B learning objectives.
58 POST VISIT EVENING CAMP ACTIVITIES AND ACTION!
Management of the Lake and Surrounding Area Debate or Role Play There are many different demands on the Lake Kaniere environment; for farming, as a power source, a trout fishery, a water supply, for settlement and as a site for tourism and recreation. Part of the area is also a nohoanga site. Using this theme, you could build a role-play or have a discussion or debate on one of the following scenarios: a plan by the local council to raise the level of the lake by 2m to increase water supply to Hokitika to cope with growing numbers of tourists and residents in the area; a plan by a local business to build the Kahikatea Retreat; a luxury hotel and golf course at Sunny Bight; a plan to set up a large dairy farm along the east side of the lake; a plan by a Christchurch developer to build a small estate of baches in Hans Bay; the news that there is going to be a plague of stoats in the Kaniere Scenic Reserve this summer; or a plan by the local council to build a new, and bigger, adventure playground along the Hans Bay foreshore. Whichever example you choose, Ss will need to identify all the interested parties and their concerns and the effects of the scenario on the Lake Kaniere environment. Use the ideas from the Waiuta scenario for setting up a role-play.
Weed and Animal Pest Control Activities
For English: Create a poster or a pamphlet to raise awareness amongst Kaniere bach owners of the problems that garden escape weeds present to the bush. Send a copy to the DOC Hokitika Area Office. Find out which weeds are a problem in your own community by contacting the Regional Council or your local DOC office. Think of ways to encourage your community to eliminate the weeds you identified. Think about what you can do to help.
For Art: Create a wanted poster for one of the animal pests in your community. Think of ways to encourage people to get rid of the pest.
For Technology: Design a possum trap. Dont forget to consider the impact of your trap on other species like weka and kiwi. Think about the different lifestyle and characteristics of possums and kiwi and see if you can design a bird-friendly trap. Send a copy of your design to the DOC Hokitika Area Office. They would love to see your ideas!
59 For Science: Use Ss knowledge from their minibeast hunt and/or stream study, and in pairs design a Super Creature that has special features (adaptations) to survive in either: the West Coast bush; the Canterbury Plains or high up in the Southern Alps. Explain the designs to the rest of the class.
Species and Ecosystems Activities Investigate the Mäori uses of plants and Mäori names for the plants you identified. Refer to your schools Forestry Insights Pack. Create a display to show the different types of bush on the Kahikatea Walk and the Canoe Cove Walk. Use photos and sketches from your visit. Adopt a creek near your school. Identify the invertebrates present in the creek and see how clean it is. Contact the Regional Council for information about getting involved the National Waterways Project.
Landform Processes Theme Activities
For Science: Under PE&B, consolidate what the Ss learnt and observed on the trip by discussing, for example, which processes resulted in Dorothy Falls and Lake Kaniere. Think about how people have affected, and can affect, these processes.
For English and Music: Use your adjectives and discussions at Dorothy Falls to write a rap or a story about Dorothy!
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