News and media

Breakthrough - Matapouri to Ngunguru

• 05 Sep 2008

Private landowners have ushered Te Araroa through one of its most difficult sections - a seven kilometre stretch between Matapouri and Ngunguru.

The bush picture above might not look like much, but it's the first Te Araroa clearance for that route. A full construction team will start building the trail over coming months.

Te Araroa's Northern project manager, Fiona Mackenzie, said she now has agreement from every private landholder that the route can come through, though one landholder has still to confirm exactly where.

"This is a very challenging section." said Fiona. "We couldn't link Matapouri and Ngunguru along the coastline - the terrain was very steep and a lot of development had taken place there. Nor could we use the road connection, which is narrow winding and dangerous. We chose to go inland via several public and private forest and bush blocks and paper roads Our negotiations there lasted almost a year, but the support co-operation from neighbours and the landholders has been very encouraging."

"This area is a hub of conservation effort. It's been a delight to work with so many people who care deeply about our country, and our environment. Significant efforts are being made to protect kiwi in this area, and consequently no dogs will be allowed on this leg of the trail."

Amongst the generous support offered was an agreement by Nicholas Chamberlain and Carolyn Taylor for a 125 metre walking easement through the back of their property. That will allow Te Araroa to connect a Crown forestry block, currently leased to Rayonier, to a paper road through beautiful bush. The paper road then joins up with a forestry block whose private owners checked with their insurance company, then agreed to trial Te Araroa.

Kerry Bond (left) and Noel Sandford examine a forestry track which will also be joined into the route.