Monday Walkers
With the sun already beating down and a forecast of plus 25C it was a relief to be walking in the cool shelter of Opepe Reserve last Monday. The sunlight filtering through the trees highlighted the colours of the bark on the big native trees. The kotukutuku, tree fuschias, with their reddish-brown flaky bark had shed their crimson flowers across the path. No kereru¯ were spotted but no doubt they will be soon feasting on the berries. Kotukutuku are acknowledged as the largest fuschias worldwide. Both miro and matai are thriving in the reserve. We learnt that the underside of the miro’s flaking bark has a dark tone while the matai with its hammer marked bark is lighter. Male and female matai flowers are born on different trees and the fruit takes a year to ripen. Moving from the cover of the bush we walked the grassy track to visit the more sombre area of the grave site for members of the Armed Constabulary. Taupo¯ or Tapuaeharuru was once an important crossroad of the North Island and Opepe was the site of one of the Armed Constabulary’s defensive redoubts. In 1870 the availability of water, grass and timber helped support a population of 300. We crossed State Highway 5 to the southern side of the reserve where the colonial imports; hawthorne and broom were flowering. We followed the old Napier-Taupo¯ Rd eastward to an abandoned dry well and then east to the Opepe Spring which in the past was channelled via a hollowed out log to water horses and stock. Little miromiro sat watching our progress through the bush to the old sawpit. How amazing to think cutting through these massive logs by hand was once commonplace. The conflict and the use of natural resources at Opepe, the place of moths, is an important part of our history and is well worth a visit. Ours ended on a sad note with Tony, a 22-year veteran of Monday Walkers, announcing he was retiring from walking. Next week it’s a longer walk out of town. If you would like to join us or for more information search Taupo¯ Monday Walkers on Facebook, phone 027 592 2994 or email walkersmondaytaupo@gmail.com.