Extras added to pristine park
Nearly 900 hectares of pristine forest and coastline have been added to the Kahurangi National Park in the northwest of the South Island.
Nelson MP and Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith announced the additions to the park yesterday.
The five significant areas were originally left out because of their ownership status, mining permits over them, or being insufficiently investigated, he said.
‘‘The first of these areas have been progressively purchased from their private owners by the Government through the Nature Heritage Fund,’’ Smith said.
‘‘The last two areas were owned by the Government when the park investigation began but were not included because of potential mining issues. The mining permit on the Steatite Block was surrendered in 2014.’’
Smith kayaked down the idyllic Whanganui Inlet in western Golden Bay to mark the extension of the park, with the Department of Conservation’s northern South Island operations director Roy Grose and Nelsonmarlborough Conservation Board chairman Bob Dickinson.
Kahurangi, which means ‘‘treasured possession’’ is a diverse terrain of untracked wilderness, ancient karst geology and nikau-dotted beaches.
Smith said all five areas were recommended for addition by the Nelsonmarlborough Conservation Board and the New Zealand Conservation Authority, after consultation with local iwi, and Governor-general Sir
Jerry Mateparae approved it in June. Smith said there was not a park anywhere in the world with all the features of Kahurangi – ‘‘with its wild coastlines, stunning estuaries, massive limestone escarpments, snowy mountains, tussock downs, huge river rapids, pure springs and deep caves’’.