The Hunters Hills/Te Tari a Te Kaumira SOUTH CANTERBURY Contents The Hunters Hills/ Takata whenua—first people of the land 1 Te Tari a Te Kaumira European history 2 Native plants & animals you might see 2 Stay in nearby Waimate or at a local DOC campsite, to Track grades 4 enjoy a wide range of outdoor experiences—camping, Safety is your responsibility 5 gentle walks with the family, stunning views out over Hunting 5 the Canterbury Plains, sparkling streams and abundant The Hunters Hills map 6 birdlife. Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve 8 Kelceys Bush 10 Takata whenua—first people of the land Te Tāpuae a Urihia Long ago, a travelling party led by the chief Te Kaumira Mts Blyth, Cecil, Studholme and Shrives 12 wished to travel from the Hakataramea valley to the Gunns Bush 13 Pureora district. While crossing The Hunters Hills they Hook Bush Conservation Area 14 were overtaken by an unexpected snowstorm. They Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve 16 hurried to reach safety but during the blizzard everyone got separated and when they re-assembled only Te Kaumira was missing. After the storm Te Kaumira’s body was eventually discovered under a rock shelter, and the mountain range was named Te Tari a Te Kaumira (The Long Range of Te Kaumira) in memory of Te Kaumira. Since the day Rākaihautū first walked upon this land Te Tari a Te Kaumira has been an important area for gathering food and other resources. The large number of umu (earth ovens) within this area attest to its importance to those peoples of Waitaha, Rapuwai, Kāti Mamoe and Ngāi Tahu who dwelt within the shadow of these peaks and whose descendants still walk these trails. It was from these lofty peaks that the pouākai, the greatest eagle to have ever lived, watched sentinel on all below, forever ready to swoop down upon any unsuspecting moa. Legend also tells us that the peoples of old had to guard their children so the pouakai would not carry them off as well. In 1849, local respected Ngāi Tahu rakatira Te Huruhuru explained to Charles Torlesse, a surveyor for the Canterbury Association, that the hills behind Waimate were a significant area of hunting for local Ngāi Tahu. Subsequently Te Tari a Te Kaumira was named ‘The Hunters Hills’ in recognition of the significance of the hills as a hunting area for local Ngāi Tahu . Published by Publishing Team Department of Conservation Christchurch, New Zealand 2012 Cover: On Mt Nimrod Track This page: Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve 1 low and high altitudes European history including the closely- branched shrub Teucridium From 1864 Waimate supplied the growing towns of parvifolium, a rocky outcrop Timaru and Oamaru with timber from the forests along plant Helichrysum plumeum The Hunters Hills. The first steam-driven sawmill was (it is only found in South established in 1865, and by 1877 this had grown to five. Canterbury and almost The risk of fire was a constant worry. Some major fires entirely in The Hunters were caused by bushworkers, travellers' cooking fires and Hills) and the climbing Rifleman/tītitipounamuPhoto: M F Soper shepherds burning grass lands. groundsel Brachyglottis In 1878 a huge fire destroyed the remaining forest and sciadophila. This area also ruined the Waimate timber industry. An unusually strong has the country's largest northwest gale, which blew roofs off houses and even St population of the iconic, but Andrews railway station off its piles, swept over Waimate threatened, Canterbury pink and fanned grass fires on The Hunters Hills. broom. At 4 pm on 15 November the Timaru Herald’s Waimate correspondent telegraphed, “Even now I see traps . and native animals coming down with families and what furniture they Short, energetic streams have have been able to save. in fact, if the present wind carved out the landscape Photo: A Fleming continues, I believe the whole of the bush in Waimate and provide homes to a South Island tomtit/miromiro will be completely cleared out”. range of indigenous fish. After an eight-day rampage the fires finally burnt out, Geckos and skinks are also leaving part of Waimate and much of the surrounding found with common skinks countryside, a desolate blackened ruin. in large numbers, and The fire put many men out of work and destroyed what some confirmed reports of was left of one of the finest tōtara forests in New Zealand. the scree skink Oligosoma waimatense/mokomoko. Native plants you might see Bird life is varied, with both introduced and native Small pockets of forest have survived the fire; they are an species present. Natives example of the dry-climate forest that used to be found include NZ bush falcon/ from Ashburton to Waimate. kārearea, bellbird/korimako, These remnants are mainly broadleaf/kāpuka with fantail/pīwakawaka, brown mahoe, ribbonwood/mānatu, tree fuchsia/kōtukutuku creeper/pīpipi and South and occasional kahikatea, mataī and tōtara. Island tomtit/miromiro. NZ falcon/kārearea Photo: K Lange At higher elevations there are sub-alpine species while Other forest species lower down there are scattered podocarps on river include the New Zealand terraces. In the south at Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve woodpigeon/kererū, South ngaio makes an unusual appearance, reflecting the Island rifleman/tītipounamu, influence of the coastal climate. shining cuckoo/ A few notable plant species have been recorded at both pīpīwharauroa (seasonally), and occasional tūī. Common skink 2 3 Track grades Mountain-bike tracks —fairly flat, wide, smooth track or Choose the type of track that matches your skills, Grade 1 gravel road. fitness and the experience you want—be realistic. Grade 2—mostly flat with some gentle Walking track climbs on smooth track with easily-avoidable • Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. obstacles such as rocks and potholes. • Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be Grade 3—steep slopes and/or avoidable steep, rough or muddy. obstacles possibly on narrow track and/or • Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. with poor traction. There may be exposure at • Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are track’s outer edge. bridged. • Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required. Safety is your responsibility Tramping track Follow these five simple • Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking. rules to help you plan • Track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy and prepare before sections. engaging in land-based • Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high- outdoor activities: level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required. Plan your trip • Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Tell someone Expect unbridged stream and river crossings. Be aware of the weather • Tramping/hiking boots required. Know your limits Route Take sufficient supplies • Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking. Visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz to learn more • Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very and to log your outdoor intentions with your trusted steep. contact. • Suitable for people with above-average fitness. High-level backcountry skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills required. Hunting • Complete self-sufficiency required. Public conservation land in and around The Hunters • Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect Hills/Te Tari a Te Kaumira is open for recreational unbridged stream and river crossings. hunting. Wallaby are present throughout the area and • Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required. there may be occasional goat, pig, red deer, fallow deer and chamois. Maps you may need Hunters require a hunting permit, available along with NZTopo50 additional information through CA 18 Waituna CB 18 Ikawai www.doc.govt.nz/canterbury-hunting 4 5 6 7 Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve Enjoy—a wide range of tracks, from an easy, fun cycle with the family along Railway Track, to a steep Mt Ellen 50-minute walk to the Whitehorse monument (Waimate 389 m District Council) with great views out over Waimate. W H Follow State Highway 82 (Hakataramea Highway) from L IT IN E K H O Waimate; after about 3.5 km the car park is on the right of T R R A S the road. C E K The reserve is named after Michael Studholme who was N the first European settler in Waimate—he came to New GA IO T R Zealand with his two brothers in 1848. K A C C A K 82 R His pastoral lease, 'Te Waimate' was said to be; “an T D IR estate which Lincoln delegates, after having visited and B L L E inspected the land throughout the Colonies, pronounced B K C Y A A to be the very finest in New Zealand, if not in the R W T H G Y I Southern Hemisphere. So rich is a large portion of the A H W A L E land that it is said to be able to carry a bullock to the I A M A R R A acre.” T A K The reserve was donated to the public by the Gama A H Foundation in 2008 and then generously gifted to the Department of Conservation to manage in 2009. There is QU A I L TR a mixture of regenerating podocarp and hardwoods and ACK K AC TR some coastal species, like ngaio, are present due to the W BIRD A BELL T micro climate in the gorge. E R F N In December 2010, a fire started by a tree falling on A L L T power-lines burnt 154 hectares and took six days to put R A 0 500 metres C out. Native bush will again regenerate through the gorse K and broom over the coming decades.