Gorge carvings to greet visitors
The carvings of Rangita¯ ne carver Craig Kawana at both entrances to Te Apiti-Manawatu¯ Gorge were dedicated at a blessing and a ribbon cutting event on Monday.
Visitors to the eastern side of Te Apiti-Manawatu¯ Gorge will be greeted by Te Hononga Maunga, a carved entrance at the Ballance Bridge carpark designed to provide blessing and safe passage to all who pass by.
The carvings have been worked on for a number of years.
Rangita¯ ne o Tamaki nui-a¯ Rua kauma¯ tua Manahi Paewai blessed the carvings in a dawn ceremony and later the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage joined Te Apiti-Manawatu¯ Gorge Governance (MGG) group members.
The MGG was established in 2016 and formalised the various organisations which had been under way for a decade.
MGG and Horizons chairman Bruce Gordon said the project work has helped contribute to the overall experience for around 70,000 visitors a year.
“The group is working to secure finances to deliver work programmes that contribute to a long-term vision with funding contributed from DoC, Horizons, PNCC, MDC, TDC, KiwiRail and the NZTA.
“Through the partnership of councils, iwi, DoC and landowners the group has completed biodiversity management and health and safety plans, as well as successfully securing $105,800 of central government funding towards installing larger toilet blocks at both ends of the popular visitor destination and $100,000 towards targeting invasive weeds within the gorge.”
Gordon said groundwork for pest plant and animal control was continuing to contribute to improved biodiversity, and they were investigating the possibility of reintroducing native species previously found in the area.
“Recent developments to increase recreational user experience include a walking bridge upgrade at the eastern end of the 11km Manawatu¯ Gorge track, plant identification signage along the entire length to help educate visitors about the special flora, including the rare maidenhair fern, that live in Te Apiti, and the Te Ara o Mahurangi Mountain Bike Trail.
“The popular Tawa Loop track at the western end of the gorge is scheduled to receive an extensive upgrade in autumn 2019.
“Wider work is also under way to plan for future enhancement, including proposed new visitor facilities and recreational trails to complement the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatu¯ Tararua Highway construction on the northern side of the gorge.”
Paewai said the name Te Hononga Maunga refers to the unique position of the gorge between two mountain ranges and was a revered place to Rangita¯ ne. “Rangita¯ ne people, who reside both east and west of Te Apiti would recite karakia (prayers) when travelling through to invoke safe passage.”
Paewai said the carvings were sister carvings to the ones at the Ashhurst entrance which blessed visitors at the beginning and end of their journey.
Signage at the site provides an explanation of the carvings’ history. Further signage highlighting particular aspects of the carvings, including guardians and ancestors, will be added in early 2019.