The Waikato River Trench is the gateway into Taupo by road, foot and bike and is the major link for bird life from the Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary to the town and beyond. The river valley has a major track network on both sides of the river with huge numbers of visitors.
With restoration it will not only link the birds back into town but it will also be a huge benefit to outdoor users.
The area has a wide range of native pockets, regeneration bush and exotic planting. These are all broken up into separate areas which are either being invaded by wilding pines, have isolated areas of very heavy blackberry or an area that has been logged and then left in a very poor state.
Restoration planting has been undertaken here for many years as part of the McDonalds sponsored planting programme and more recently sponsored by the Hilton Hotel. There is potential for further planting in this area, especially supplementary planting of tall forest species within already planted areas as well as increasing the area already planted. Strategically, as a wildlife corridor, land adjacent to the Waikato River is a priority because it is the largest area of habitat in close proximity to most of Taupo town.
In early 2015 Greening Taupo was successful in securing funding of $100,000 spread over three years from the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust (WCEET) for restoration work alongside the Waikato River above and below the Huka Falls.
Greening Taupo utilises the skills and expertise of Bike Taupo, one of our community partners, to undertake the majority of the weed control work. The project has gone full steam ahead with many of the wilding pines either poisoned or felled and a large areas planted with natives by the community alongside the Rotary Track. A large planted area is being cared for by the local tramping club and support from the Greening Taupo Wicked Weeders.
Restoration is also underway below the Huka Falls towards Aratiatia, with funding from the Waikato River Clean up Trust, Greening Taupo continues to contract our community partners Bike Taupo to control wilding pines and assist in preparing planting sites. The planting alongside the Aratiatia bike/walking track was undertaken by the community and was another fun, successful event, with many choosing to mountain bike the 4km in. Cath from Kids Bike Taupo was there to provide bikes for many of the children. Another site is being prepared for planting in 2019.
Greening Taupo is planning to apply again for funding from WCEET for the ongoing restoration for both sides of the river within this area.
Waikato River Trench Projects are:
Weed control – removal and eradication of weed species such as pines, gorse and blackberry to allow the establishment of native vegetation, reduce track maintenance costs and safety risks to track users.
Enhancement planting – through the establishment of native plantings to replace the weed species which are to be removed. These plantings, along with existing adjacent seed sources will facilitate the establishment of a native corridor in the long term.
Pest control – set up a trap line along the 25kms of walking and cycling tracks that traverse the area. These traps will be managed and monitored by a combination of the community, schools and iwi. They will also be used as part of Greening Taupo’s established education programme with schools and the Trust Board’s programme of getting young Maori involved in conservation projects in their rohe.
Recreation enhancement – the control of weeds and the establishment of a permanent and healthy native vegetation cover will mean a significant reduction in costs to Bike Taupo, the Department of Conservation and Taupo District Council in managing and maintaining the tracks in the area. These tracks are well used (up to 200 people per day in some parts and over 1000 per day in the area around Huka Falls), meaning that the wider public benefit of such work will have significant results. Removal of older wilding pines will also mean that the safety of users will be increased. There will also be redevelopment work to part of the track to make it more accessible by bikers and walkers using the path to travel from Taupo to Spa Park.
Cultural connection – As a result of the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board’s involvement, a comprehensive interpretation/storytelling plan will be able to be developed. For the first time, local iwi will be able to tell their story of the values of this area (including the Lake Taupo, the Waikato River and the Huka Falls) to the hundreds of thousands of people who use the area each year. In addition as the project is being developed and executed in partnership with Ngati, it will also provide an opportunity for iwi to play a key role in working to restore these areas.
Waikato River Trench Key Project Areas
Department of Conservation Reserve Area
Restoration planting has been undertaken here for many years as part of the McDonalds sponsored planting programme and more recently sponsored by the Hilton Hotel. There is potential for further planting in this area, especially supplementary planting of tall forest species within already planted areas as well as increasing the area already planted. Strategically, as a wildlife corridor, land adjacent to the Waikato River is a priority because it is the largest area of habitat in close proximity to most of Taupo town.
Taupo District Council Reserve Area
There are recently logged areas on the eastern side of the Waikato River where forest restoration could occur, using a wide range of vegetation and tall forest species.
Priorities for pest (and weed) control to enhance native bird abundance include the Waikato River Reserves and the Rangitira Point Scenic Reserves, one of which is Mine Bay Scenic Reserve which is leased from Patuiwi trustees for a scenic reserve. Consultation with the landowners would be a fundamental preliminary step before the any community initiated a pest or weed control project here. Several Taupo Forest and Bird residents have suggested that they would be interested in participating with a community pest control project. These sites are likely to be obvious choices.
Hipapatua (Formally known as Reids Farm)
Located on the banks of the Waikato River north of Taupo, Hipapatua - Reid's Farm Recreation Reserve has been a popular location for picnicking, sightseeing, kayaking and camping for many years and has been managed by a reserve management plan adopted in 1997. A new management plan for the area was adopted by the council in 2017.
This reserve is part of the Waikato River corridor located opposite the Patuiwi block and a narrow strip of land managed by DOC and used for the Huka Falls walkway. Parts of this reserve are used for freedom camping and access to the Waikato River. There is considerable potential to improve the vegetation which at present is dominated by wilding pines, willows and pest plants. This would also serve to open up the access into parts of the reserve that are currently inaccessible.
Owen Delany Park (TDC)
Removal of extensive areas of plantation and wilding pines from Owen Delany Park in 2012 has left about 10 ha of barren wasteland. This reserve occupies a critical position as it connects the Waikato River corridor with the Eastern Arterial bypass corridor and potentially links to Mt. Tauhara. It also contains the Otumuheke Stream corridor which is a significant geothermal area containing rare native ferns and other geothermally induced vegetation.
The council considers that the use and types of recreation of this park can be increased. The intention is to link existing tracks to the eastern arterial by pass along the north side of the park, enhanced by a planting of a mixture of natives and exotics to enhance amenity values, wildlife habitat, recreational value and community involvement. Re-vegetation of tall forest species would be appropriate throughout much of this area, using species such as red beech, totara and matai in association with faster growing low forest re-vegetation species.
This is a priority project for the Taupo District Council and could potentially be a large project, for which the planning is just beginning. There is significant potential for the redevelopment of this park to be a joint venture between TDC and the Greening Taupo brand. The council has some funding for this project already from the revenue of the sale of the wood from the pines.
