Thread: Kaimanawa Forest Park

@stumpy - is that a locked gate across the main access road ? Or a side road off it ?

That’s the gate up to the new helisika lodge / landing site.

First, my email to Mr Little, sent in August


Dear Minister

I am writing to you to urge you to reconsider giving the piece of land known as Waipakihi Road away in settlement negotiations.

It has recently become public knowledge that the Rangipo North 7C trust intend to block public access to the Western Kaimanawa ranges currently accessed via Waipakihi Road. This road is not, in fact a road, but was taken from the Tongariro National Park and the Kaimanawa Forest Park for the purposes of hydro power development in 1968.

Since then, the road has become an iconic and popular access point to people wishing to explore, fish, hunt and raft the Kaimanawa ranges, as well as the Waipakihi and downstream Tongariro rivers.

Recently, a joint venture between a local helicopter operator and the Rangipo North 7c Trust have obtained approximately $600,000 from the PGF and have constructed a helicopter base to fly mountain bikers into a track heading down from the Needles area to the base. It would seem logical that this base will also be used to fly hunters into the Maori owned blocks adjacent.

To preserve the exclusive access necessary for maximum commercial benefit the Trust have erected a gate across the piece of land the road is on, with the announced intention of blocking public access.

We believe that this has been done in the expectation that the land will become theirs through the negotiation process, and that they are simply advancing the calendar.

This is a very important access point for many New Zealanders, as it is one of only 5 roads to access the Western Kaimanawa ranges (3 of which are also currently under threat of closure), and the only one that offers driveable access to the river – essential for younger and less physically able people.

The Iwi have publically stated the action is the result of rubbish dumping – I am sure this may be a small part of the case, but am very doubtful it is anywhere near as important as the effect access will have on their publically funded commercial venture. In any event, this is a problem faced by any New Zealander with a road on their boundary, and closing public access would not be tolerated in any other case I believe.

It is our firm belief that the greater good for New Zealand would be served by this piece of land remaining in the possession of the Crown, with access to the all available in perpetuity.

We remain,

Yours faithfully


Aaaaaaand his response, notable for what it doesn't say, as much as what it does

As I understand it the mention of Part 7c is to do with a collapse of the Trust that previously owned the land North of the "road", and the subsequent non-transfer of the assets to the new trust - which just carried on operating.

The crucial parts are his sentence "Part Rangipo North 7b is still in Crown ownership".
Not Helisika.
Not anybody else.

It would appear then, that the gates are constructed on land that does not belong to the Trust, but rather is owned by all New Zealanders, and held by the Crown for all.

P.S. 6 months for a reply to a fairly simple enquiry - I wish I could run my business like that. Customers might get grumpy though.

Looking at the survey map in PillowDribblers link above, part 7b is the first several hundred meters of the road from SH1, and is in Crown ownership (as is the surrounding land), after that all the way to the river its part 7C which is also Crown land - but not for long going on that email

Should have looked at the map again before opening my yap.

All of which shows that there was always a plan to give the road away, and explains why DOC, FMC, Walking Access, Uncle Tom Cobly and all were singing the same song.

After rereading the letter, and talking with someone else fairly deeply involved in this I realise that I interpreted it incorrectly.

The 7B and 7c blocks are separate to the road easement. The Hon Mr Little is dodging the question, and answering with information I didn't request - the detail about the ownership of the land on either side. I'd hesitate to call a former Minister of Justice a liar, but his letter is at odds with the information the offices of the Crown charged with holding all agree on - that the land commonly called Waipakahi Rd is Crown land.

Nah, I don't think he dodged the question.
The letter refers to Part Rangipo North 7C, which is the land most of the road is on, and is totally separate from the block called Rangipo North 7C. The name is a bit misleading, because Part 7C is not part of 7C.
He's basically saying the land the road is on (Part 7C) is currently Crown land but is to be given to the Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust in the near future, and he can't (or won't) change that.

Originally Posted by Cigar

Nah, I don't think he dodged the question.
The letter refers to Part Rangipo North 7C, which is the land most of the road is on, and is totally separate from the block called Rangipo North 7C. The name is a bit misleading, because Part 7C is not part of 7C.
He's basically saying the land the road is on (Part 7C) is currently Crown land but is to be given to the Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust in the near future, and he can't (or won't) change that.
Attachment 217172

That was my reading also

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

Before I read all 41 pages, can anyone tell me if the gate on Waipakihi road is open or closed please.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

@stumpy - is that a locked gate across the main access road ? Or a side road off it ?

@stumpys is the road gate still open do you know?

Rangipo open as of Sunday,conc blocks got anti poison tagging.

Originally Posted by PillowDribbler

Rangipo open as of Sunday,conc blocks got anti poison tagging.

Do you know about Waipakihi at all?

No sorry i have moved on from having my nuts regularly soaked in cold water so drive pass.

Gates opened end of road washed out thou