Tararua Range

Coordinates: 40°48′S 175°24′E / 40.8°S 175.4°E / -40.8; 175.4
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Tararua Range
Pukeamoamo / Mitre
Elevation1,570 m (5,150 ft)
Geography
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWellington
Range coordinates40°48′S 175°24′E / 40.8°S 175.4°E / -40.8; 175.4
Borders onRemutaka Range and Ruahine Range
Tararua Range from Mount Holdsworth
Clem Creek flowing into the Waiohine River

The Tararua Range, often referred to as the Tararua Ranges or Tararua, is one of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand.

The Tararua Range runs northeast–southwest for 80 km (50 mi) from near Palmerston North to the upper reaches of the Hutt Valley, where the northern tip of the Remutaka Range begins. It is separated in the north from the southern end of the Ruahine Range by the Manawatū Gorge.[1] Most of the Range is wilderness, protected as the Tararua Forest Park.

The highest peak in the Tararua Range is

Pukeamoamo / Mitre (not to be confused with Mitre Peak) at 1,570 m (5,150 ft). Other prominent peaks include Mount Bannister at 1,537 m (5,043 ft) and Mount Hector at 1,529 m (5,016 ft), which is named after the scientist Sir James Hector. Its Māori name is Pukemoumou, or 'hill of desolation'.[1]

Geography

The Tararua Range is divided into two distinct northern and southern regions. Each of these is dominated by a central mountain peak: Arete in the north and Hector in the south. A total of ten rivers rise on the mountain slopes, providing water for the surrounding rural and urban areas from

Kāpiti coastal plain.[3]

Mountain peaks

The 15 peaks in the Tararua Range of 1,500 m or higher are (from north to south):

Name Elevation
Logan 1,500 m
Bannister 1,537 m
South Bannister 1,513 m
Arete 1,505 m
Lancaster 1,504 m
Brocket 1,538 m
Pukeamoamo / Mitre 1,571 m
Peggys Peak 1,545 m
Girdlestone 1,546 m
North King 1,535 m
Middle King 1,521 m
South King 1,531 m
McGregor 1,540 m
Angle Knob 1,510 m
Mount Hector 1,529 m

Other notable peaks in the range are Jumbo Peak (1,405 m) and Mount Holdsworth (1,470 m).

Climate and vegetation

The western slopes of the ranges are subject to prevailing moisture-carrying winds, channelled by Cook Strait to the south. These are the source of an annual rainfall of approximately 5,000 mm, resulting in the dominance of conifers, ferns and shrubs on the western side of the ranges. By contrast, the pattern on the eastern side is one of open beech forest in a drier environment.[1] In spite of a reputation of being composed of gloomy bush, impenetrable

kamahi.[4]

The forest in the northern part of the Tararua Range consists mainly of

kahikatea are dominant.[5]

History

The rugged terrain and frequently harsh weather of the Tararua Range served to discourage any substantial attempt at penetration by early Māori. Although there is archaeological evidence of exploration by

Rangitane and Muaūpoko iwi (tribal groups). The Ngati Mamoe survivors attained a mythical status as the patupaiarehe (fairy folk) of the Tarurua Range.[6] In the 1820s the Muaūpoko in turn were forced to flee to the ranges when under attack by the Ngāti Toa led by Te Rauparaha. In spite of such intrusions, the mountain range remained the home of distant gods or hostile wild men (maero). As such, it was a special place to be respected but avoided.[7]

In the 1870s a large portion of the ranges was sold to the New Zealand Government by a coalition of the Iwi in possession of the surrounding region. Specifically excluded from this "Tararua Block" purchase was an area of 1,000 acres reserved to protect the

State Forest, subject to protection. Additional watersheds were added over the following decades, to create a Crown conservation reserve in excess of 250,000 acres. The scenic beauty of the Tararua Range made the mountains a popular subject for paintings during the Victorian period – though largely romanticized and usually undertaken from a distance.[9] By the 1920s, with the neighbouring countryside largely settled, the potential of the range as an area for outdoor recreation rather than for exploitation began to be recognised.[10]

Tararua Forest Park

Ōtaki River near Ōtaki Forks.

The 116,535 hectare

New Zealand Department of Conservation and extends from the Pahiatua Track in the north, to the Rimutaka Saddle in the south. The main entrance on the eastern side of the ranges is at Holdsworth, and on the west side from Ōtaki Forks
.

Roads

The only all-weather road right across the range is the Pahiatua Track, which joins Palmerston North and Pahiatua. It is now used more heavily since the Manawatū Gorge road was permanently closed in 2017 due to recurring large landslides.[citation needed]

Recreation

The Tararua Range serves as a popular

tramping location for the greater Wellington district. It is one of the most frequently entered ranges in the country, with between 120,000 and 150,000 people visiting each year. Among the many tramping tracks is the well-known Southern Crossing running from Ōtaki Forks in the west, over Mount Hector and exiting via Kaitoke.[1]

Camping

Waiohine Gorge campsite map

The hills include 6 campsites.[11] They are accessible by car, although visitors may need to travel over gravel roads that contain occasional fords. Campsites are generally located within the foothills of the range, alongside a river or stream.

Tramping

Waiohine River gorge, route of the 'Hill and Sutch' party

The Tararua Range is significant in the history of tramping in New Zealand, due to its accessibility for people in Wellington and nearby towns. Two of the most popular tracks are the

Levin to the Wairarapa, and the Southern Crossing from Ōtaki Forks to near Masterton
.

The Sutch Search

In April 1933, the Tararua Range was the focus of what later came to be known as

LSAR).[13] It was covered intensely by media at the time, and when the group finally returned they sparked strong public debate regarding the responsibilities of those who enter the wilderness.[14]

Tramping fatalities

A combination of steep terrain, dense bush, difficult river crossings and changeable winter weather conditions has caused over twenty-two tramping deaths in the Tararua Range since 1970, most recently one in January 2023.[15]

Other deaths included those of the Chief Executive of the

National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Dr Seddon Bennington and a friend Marcella Jackson, who died of hypothermia in June 2009.[16][10]

Mountain running racing

The Tararua Mountain Race, following a track of 35.4 km (22.0 mi), from Kaitoke to Ōtaki Forks, has been held annually since 1990. The running race involves a total ascent of 2,250 m (7,380 ft) plus a slightly longer descent, and requires the deployment of 50 volunteers as marshals, search and rescue teams, first aid helpers, and support staff.[17] It frequently encounters adverse weather and is not regarded as a suitable event for inexperienced participants.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Maclean, Chris (3 March 2011). "Wellington places – Tararua Range". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  2. ^ Maclean (1994), pp. 26–30
  3. ISBN 0-86863-466-2
    .
  4. ^ "Vegetation in Tararua Forest Park". Department of Conservation. 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012. If you think the vegetation of the Tararua Range is just gloomy bush, impenetrable leatherwood, and wet snow tussocks on the mist-shrouded tops you will be pleasantly surprised if you look closer.
  5. ISBN 0-86863-466-2
    .
  6. ^ Maclean (1994), page 41
  7. ^ Maclean (1994), pages 68 and 78
  8. ^ Maclean (1994), pp. 68–71
  9. ^ Maclean (1994), pp. 106–107
  10. ^
    Dominion Post
    . Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  11. ^ Department of Conservation. "Tararua Forest Park". Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  12. ^ Maclean (1994)
  13. ^ "History of LandSAR in New Zealand". New Zealand Land Search and Rescue. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  14. ^ Mike McGavin (27 August 2010). "Re-living the Sutch Search". Windy Hilltops. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  15. ^ Schwanecke, Gianina (13 January 2023). "Family farewell tramper who died in Tararua Range". Stuff. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  16. ^ Dominion Post, 15 July 2009
  17. ^ http://www.tararua-race.org.nz Archived 2013-05-04 at the Wayback Machine

Sources

Maclean, Chris (December 1994). Tararua: The Story of a Mountain Range. Whitcombe Press.

ISBN 978-0-473-02613-4
. Retrieved 8 October 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tararua Range.
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