Thread: Kaimanawa Forest Park

Yep.

But the bit that will grind people's gears is that in essence, Public funds (the PGF) have been given to a private trust and a successful business that has resulted in the loss of public access to public land.

Originally Posted by XR500

I may be passing that way tomorrow, and was intending to do just that.

I'm well aware that there is a large swathe of Maori land (Rangipo Waiu) that separates the Desert road from the Kaimanawa State Forest park. The Waipakahi road was formed during the Tongariro power project development, in the late 1950's/early 1960's. It was a busy place in the 1960's A big concrete batching plant was based down there. I remember a bailey bridge permitting access to the northern bank of the Waipakahi river.

I would have expected there was some sort of agreement in place with the NZ Forest Service and LINZ (equivalent) to permit the continued access to the park through the Maori land. I would have expected that its successor, DoC continued or improved that agreement...but maybe not.

If what people have said is indeed happening, its a concerning escalation of the reduction in access to public lands. DoC have made it exceedingly hard to park your car out of sight of the Desert road at the Southern access corridor by installing all sorts of elephant traps and chains etc (complete with hidden hidden cameras). Now Waipakahi and Rangipo roads may well be being closed off. Pretty much no easy access to the entire western side of the Kaimanawas. Gonna be some pretty pissed trampers and hunters, given the lack of any discussion or communications from DoC to the Public about this.

After enquiry, was because of motorised vehicle use of the access corridor, and surrounding lands, I'm advised.

Originally Posted by XR500

Soooo. Wheels within wheels.

Just had a very polite and informative conversation with a gentleman from DoC Taupo who rang me back. Said I was the first of what he was expecting to be a looong line of complainants.

Yes, the local Maori Trust has decided to close public access.

BUT, its a commercial decision, not soley an environmental rubbish/illegal hunting one. HELISIKA have required the closure of the road so that they will pay the Trust considerable sums to lease long term the area and be able to use the end of the road there as a helicopter base during summer, to run downhill MTBing tours, and other scenic touristy stuff.

The hut on the tops and the heli base just off the tar seal road about 4km in are visible on G Earth.

Helisika? If so that might cause a controversy...

So which roads are actually being closed?
Rangipo intake road?

No, only Waipakahi at this stage. The DoC guy said there was some maintenance going on along the Rangipo intake rd....we will see.

Convoys of 4x4s are poking further into some of that country and that land is very slow to recover. There was monitoring going on a couple of months ago so might be getting some medicine.

I wonder if this will impact on Helisikas hunter business.
I'm disinclined to use them as a result.

Unfortunately they have a strangle hold on the private land around that area and right across to the Ahimanawas.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Unfortunately they have a strangle hold on the private land around that area and right across to the Ahimanawas.

Spot on there, use them or dont go unfortunatley,they have no shortage of clients

Well.. that sucks.

Originally Posted by Mohawk .308

Does anyone know exactly where this gate on Waipakahi Rd is be installed?

I was on the road today, and intended to come back via the Desert rd and take a photo. Unfortunately Mr Google said it'd be an additional 150km on my trip to New Plymouth, so at today's diesel prices that would have been a $70 photo, and I had to get back to feed the girls and only just got back on dark.

This situation also reminds me of Boyd's airstrip where Air Charter Taupo lost the lease to fly people in. Left to the local heli operator to expand their service and give less choice/competition.

The old guy who lives down rangipo road told us this would happen about a year ago. I think I had posted it somewhere on here. He pretty much said the Maori land owners have had enough of people leaving the land a mess, spotlighting and issues with peoples deer selection when hunting. He said Doc weren’t doing enough to take care of the land so they want it back under their control. I better clarify this is what he had told me so this is second hand information.
I have spent a lot of time up rangipo intake road, about 6 weeks a year for the last 6 years and haven’t really had any issues. Sure some young spotlighters on a couple of occasions but they soon leave when you put lights back at them. Going to be really gutted if access is cut.

So these are not public roads then? The gates will need security guards or the cost of maintaining them will be substantial.

OK so it looks like Tree trunk could be in trouble but Ragapoi and Waipakahi are public as far as I can see. Can I block the road in front of my house because people dump rubbish?