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Introduction Natural History Grey, mallard and paradise ducks are common on the lake edge, and New Zealand scaup, kingfishers and The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk (located in the Waikaremoana was formed only 2,200 years ago by a white faced herons are found in sheltered areas. south-west corner of the 212,673 hectare Te Urewera huge landslide, which blocked a narrow gorge along Both of New Zealand’s rare native bat species, the long- National Park) is a 46 kilometre 3 to 4 day tramping the Waikaretaheke River. tailed and short-tailed, are present in the park. track which follows the shore of the lake for most of its Water backed up behind this landslide to form a lake length. It is one of a network of Great Walks managed Deer, pigs and possums are found throughout Te up to 248 metres deep. The lake edge has since been by the Department of Conservation throughout New Urewera National Park. They have a major impact on the modified by a hydro electric development which Zealand. Prior bookings of great walk huts and ecology of the forest and its bird life. The department lowered the level by 5 metres in 1946. campsites is mandatory. encourages hunting of these animals and permits are available free from any DOC office in the East Coast The walk traverses a range of terrain with many types Hawke’s Bay. of vegetation from the montane beech forest of the Panekire Bluffs to dense rainforest. Podocarp mixed broadleaf forest is dominant in many areas. Bird life in Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery the area is abundant. Programme Moderately easy tramping, magnificent scenery and Prior to human arrival there may have been as many as plenty of opportunity for swimming and fishing ensure 12 million kiwi in New Zealand. The introduction of the walk is well used throughout the year. predators - e.g. mustelids (stoats, ferrets, weasels), dogs, cats, pigs and possums - has decimated them to History a tiny proportion of the original number. An aerial view of Lake Waikaremoana, with Panekire to the left. Work begun in 1991 by Landcare Research NZ into kiwi The remote nature of Te Urewera has for centuries The area is formed from young mudstone, siltstone decline in the area identified that predation of kiwi chicks cloaked and sheltered the Tuhoe, the local Maori and sandstone, mostly about 10-15 million years old. by stoats was the main cause. With assistance from the people. Tuhoe spiritual and cultural traditions are These sediments were originally part of the sea floor, Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery Programme, DOC closely linked with the forested hills of the park. but about two million years ago uplift brought them and the Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration Trust (a In pre-European times, life was determined by the above sea level. local Maori hapu trust) formed a partnership to halt the practical demands of an annual cycle of food gathering. decline of kiwi at Waikaremoana. The focus has been The mountains and hills of the area have been shaped Te Urewera nurtured an industrious and resilient on predator control on the Puketukutuku Peninsula. by continuous erosion. Major valleys like the Aniwaniwa people with links to the land. No part of the forest was Traps have been laid to kill stoats, the main threat to Valley have been carved more deeply from softer left unexplored. kiwi chicks. Kiwi numbers mudstones, while the more solid sandstones have and movement are also The Waikaremoana catchment is dotted with areas of tended to form ridges like Panekire. monitored. Possum and rat private land, some held sacred by the Tuhoe people. The vegetation of the Waikaremoana area forms a trapping complements the Where the walk crosses private land, you are welcome protective green cloak, mantling countless ridges and programme. to pass through, but please stay on the marked track. valleys. There are more than 650 types of native plant Kiwi numbers are Hine-pukohu-rangi came from the sky present in the park, some nationally rare. The increasing in the area and luring Te Maunga, the mountain, to earth vegetation pattern is ever changing - disturbances by visitors may hear their calls with her. Their child was a mortal volcanic activity, fire and storm damage, possum and at night. Only continued being, Tuhoepotiki; his descendants deer have modified the forest in many areas. The intensive predator control are the Tuhoe people. Tuhoe are lowering of the lake for power generation has will ensure a kiwi thus children of the supernatural, encouraged forest regeneration along the shore. population recovery. born of the remote mountain and Many birds live in the forest. Among the more notable the drifting mist. are kereru (wood pigeon), kaka (forest parrot), kakariki Robert White, of the Lake The symbol you see on signs, shelters and other (parakeet), North Island robin, New Zealand falcon and Waikaremoana Hapu Trust weighs facilities along the lake track is an interpretation of rifleman, and at night, morepork (forest owl) and North a kiwi chick. Hine-pukohu-rangi. Island brown kiwi. Photo: B Turnpenny. Please Remember Further Information Lake To limit ecological damage camping within Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre 500 metres of the great walk is not permitted Te Urewera National Park Waikaremoana except at the designated great walk campsites. State Highway 38 Aniwaniwa Great Walk Fires are a hazard to any bush area. Removal of firewood can quickly cause substantial Ph: 06 837 3900 (Great Walk bookings) damage to a site. Gas cookers are therefore Ph: 06 837 3803 (general enquires) TE UREWERA NATIONAL PARK recommended. Fax: 06 837 3722 Email: [email protected] Native plants and animals must not be disturbed, destroyed or removed from the park. The bush is a taonga, a treasure for all. East Coast Hawke’s Bay Conservancy Office Removing plants or animals from the environment 63 Carnarvon Street detracts from the enjoyment of those who follow. Dead Gisborne plants and animals also have a part to play by Ph: 06 869 0460 providing nutrients for the environment. Fax: 06 867 8015 No dogs or other animals are permitted. Dogs Email: [email protected] and other animals have reduced populations of native birds in our national parks. The law Gisborne i-SITE Visitor Information Centre forbids bringing animals into national parks. 209 Grey Street Hunting is by permit only. For the safety of all Gisborne users and to assist search and rescue Ph: 06 868 6139 operations, hunters must have a permit Fax: 06 868 6138 issued by DOC. These are available free from any DOC Email: [email protected] office in the East Coast Hawke’s Bay. Please carry all rubbish out of the park. Environmental Care Code Protect plants and animals Camp carefully Remove rubbish Keep to the track For further information Bury toilet waste Consider others about recreation activities and Keep streams & lakes clean Respect our cultural heritage conservation visit: Take care with fire Enjoy your visit www.doc.govt.nz Toitu te whenua (leave the land undisturbed) A morepork at night. Photo: C S Robertson. Cover photo: A tramper overlooking Lake Waikaremoana. Photo: M Lee. Published by Department of Conservation CROWN COPYRIGHT PO Box 668 Gisborne November 2005 Introduction Natural History Grey, mallard and paradise ducks are common on the lake edge, and New Zealand scaup, kingfishers and The Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk (located in the Waikaremoana was formed only 2,200 years ago by a white faced herons are found in sheltered areas. south-west corner of the 212,673 hectare Te Urewera huge landslide, which blocked a narrow gorge along Both of New Zealand’s rare native bat species, the long- National Park) is a 46 kilometre 3 to 4 day tramping the Waikaretaheke River. tailed and short-tailed, are present in the park. track which follows the shore of the lake for most of its Water backed up behind this landslide to form a lake length. It is one of a network of Great Walks managed Deer, pigs and possums are found throughout Te up to 248 metres deep. The lake edge has since been by the Department of Conservation throughout New Urewera National Park. They have a major impact on the modified by a hydro electric development which Zealand. Prior bookings of great walk huts and ecology of the forest and its bird life. The department lowered the level by 5 metres in 1946. campsites is mandatory. encourages hunting of these animals and permits are available free from any DOC office in the East Coast The walk traverses a range of terrain with many types Hawke’s Bay. of vegetation from the montane beech forest of the Panekire Bluffs to dense rainforest. Podocarp mixed broadleaf forest is dominant in many areas. Bird life in Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery the area is abundant. Programme Moderately easy tramping, magnificent scenery and Prior to human arrival there may have been as many as plenty of opportunity for swimming and fishing ensure 12 million kiwi in New Zealand. The introduction of the walk is well used throughout the year. predators - e.g. mustelids (stoats, ferrets, weasels), dogs, cats, pigs and possums - has decimated them to History a tiny proportion of the original number. An aerial view of Lake Waikaremoana, with Panekire to the left. Work begun in 1991 by Landcare Research NZ into kiwi The remote nature of Te Urewera has for centuries The area is formed from young mudstone, siltstone decline in the area identified that predation of kiwi chicks cloaked and sheltered the Tuhoe, the local Maori and sandstone, mostly about 10-15 million years old.

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