Aorangi Forest Park | |
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Aorangi Forest Park | |
Location | North Island, New Zealand |
Nearest city | Wellington |
Coordinates | 41°25′16″S 175°21′45″E / 41.421104°S 175.362396°E |
Area | 19,402 hectares (47,940 acres) |
Established | 1978 |
Governing body | Department 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
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
- ↑ "Data Table - Protected Areas - LINZ Data Service". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
- 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.
- 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.
- ↑ "Aorangi Forest Park". Department of Conservation, New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ↑ "Aorangi Forest Park hunting". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
- ↑ Fuller, Piers (12 March 2020). "Rare, native long-tailed bats detected in South Wairarapa forest". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
- ↑ Fuller, Piers (2 July 2020). "Trapped on a ridge, a young Wairarapa hunter feared he would die". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Jacobs, Maxine (14 June 2021). "Passenger relives night stranded in bush after four-wheel-driving adventure takes wrong turn". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
External links
- Aorangi Forest Park at the Department of Conservation
- Aorangi Forest Park at Google Maps