Contents:
Ruapehu club trip – March 3-9.
Save the Kea – Fundraiser
Kawhatau Base – Ruahine User Group Forum Information
Ruahine User Group – Draft Minutes of the February 2017 Meeting
Track Cutting – Northern Ruahines
Ruapehu club trip – March 3-9.
The annual club trip for a week’s stay in the ATC hut on Mt Ruapehu had 17 club members this year. We hope that we get some info. posted on their activities.
Save the Kea – Fundraiser
Five members of the NTC tramped the Richmond Forest Park from 25th Feb through to 3 March 2017. In Starveall Hut we met two of the members of the Buller Tramping Club who are tramping the Te Araroa Trail to raise funds to ‘Save the Kea’. The link to their website is here. Save the Kea. We appreciated the Ems Powercookies which we found were very wholesome. They can be purchased in most supermarket stores in NZ, but are made in Westport.
Kawhatau Base – Ruahine User Group Forum Information
After of a lot conversations and work undertaken by a number of people (thank you all who have input into this), DOC have decided formalised public access to Kawhatau Base via a track through the Rangitane Scenic Reserve, and via the Kawhatau River, would be the most pragmatic option.
As you know, current access to Kawhatau Base is via the Rangitane road bridge, with a walk of approximately 10 km in the River. The proposed route will effectively halve this (see attached map). Kawhatau Base proposed river access
We are seeking your feedback as to whether or not people will use our proposed route to access Kawhatau Base; this will help to determine if external funding is received to undertake necessary upgrade work on the Base.We’d like to re-open Kawhatua Base as sole-occupancy bookable accommodation, and there is volunteer interest in working with DOC to maintain the Base.
Please note; part of the process, prior to this route becoming a reality, would be to undertake due diligence regarding cultural and environmental impacts, and engagement with our neighbours.
Cheers,
Nicole
(Senior Ranger/Supervisor Community, Manawatu)
Please note; on the attached map Rangitane Scenic Reserve is shown in blue, while the red shows the proposed line through the reserve, into the river, after which it joins up with an existing track to Kawhatau Base.
Ruahine User Group Minutes Feb 2017
RUG Minutes Feb 2017 – DOC-2986937
Track Cutting – Northern Ruahines
Hi everyone, track cutters are at Kawhatau base cutting up to Colenso high point, down the old river road and then up to Hikurangi. From there they will be flown into Crow hut to cut up to Rongotea trig and then back up to Hikurangi from there. Track cutters will be in Kawhatau Base for about 5 days and then Crow hut until 24 Mar. DOC staff will be at McKinnon Hut from 20 – 25 Mar cutting track to river, marking poled route towards Kawhatua and hopefully doing a bit of work on the Crow swing bridge.
There is now a rerouted track from Kawhatau Base down to the cable way.
Cheers
Tumau Hoggart
Ranger Conservation Services – Kai-Ārahi
Conservation for prosperity Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai
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