Aorangi Forest Park
Aorangi Forest Park near Cape Palliser
New Zealand relief map
New Zealand relief map
Aorangi Forest Park
LocationNorth Island, New Zealand
Nearest cityWellington
Coordinates41°25′16″S 175°21′45″E / 41.421104°S 175.362396°E / -41.421104; 175.362396
Area19,402 hectares (47,940 acres)
Established1978
Governing bodyDepartment of Conservation

Aorangi Forest Park is a 194-square-kilometre (75 sq mi) protected area in the Wellington Region of New Zealand administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).[1] It had been called the Haurangi Forest Park but DOC changed to reflect the Māori name of the range protected by the park.[2]

The park has six backcountry huts and a recreational hunting area in the park.[2] There is a large herd of wild red deer and dry conditions, making the park a popular destination for deerstalkers.[3] There is also a small number of goats and pigs in the park.[4]

The park can be accessed by foot from several local roads, or via private land with the permission of landowners.[5]

History

Sign with former name

A sole-charger presided over the park for several decades, serving as "part caretaker, part sheriff" and de facto police, fire service and fisheries officer.[3]

A rare native long-tailed bat was detected in the forest park in March 2020.[6]

A 17-year-old hunter was rescued from the park in July 2020 after falling down a cliff.[7]

In 2021, James Cameron and his wife committed part of their farmland to establishing a functioning native forest from the Aorangi Forest Park to the foothills of the Remutaka Ranges.[8]

Two families became stranded in the park overnight in June 2021 after their four-wheel drive became stuck.[9]

See also

References

  1. "Data Table - Protected Areas - LINZ Data Service". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  2. 1 2 New Zealand (1996). Conservation management strategy for Wellington, 1996-2005 (PDF). Wellington Conservancy conservation management planning series. Wellington, N.Z: Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 047801807X.
  3. 1 2 Fuller, Piers (3 November 2018). "Ranger's seen it all looking after his own corner of the country". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  4. "Aorangi Forest Park". Department of Conservation, New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  5. "Aorangi Forest Park hunting". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
  6. Fuller, Piers (12 March 2020). "Rare, native long-tailed bats detected in South Wairarapa forest". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  7. Fuller, Piers (2 July 2020). "Trapped on a ridge, a young Wairarapa hunter feared he would die". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  8. Watkins, Tracey (1 August 2021). "Suzy Amis Cameron on why she and husband James have put down roots in New Zealand". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  9. Jacobs, Maxine (14 June 2021). "Passenger relives night stranded in bush after four-wheel-driving adventure takes wrong turn". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
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