Thread: Kaimanawa Forest Park

I may be passing that way tomorrow, and was intending to do just that.

I'm well aware that there is a large swathe of Maori land (Rangipo Waiu) that separates the Desert road from the Kaimanawa State Forest park. The Waipakahi road was formed during the Tongariro power project development, in the late 1950's/early 1960's. It was a busy place in the 1960's A big concrete batching plant was based down there. I remember a bailey bridge permitting access to the northern bank of the Waipakahi river.

I would have expected there was some sort of agreement in place with the NZ Forest Service and LINZ (equivalent) to permit the continued access to the park through the Maori land. I would have expected that its successor, DoC continued or improved that agreement...but maybe not.

If what people have said is indeed happening, its a concerning escalation of the reduction in access to public lands. DoC have made it exceedingly hard to park your car out of sight of the Desert road at the Southern access corridor by installing all sorts of elephant traps and chains etc (complete with hidden hidden cameras). Now Waipakahi and Rangipo roads may well be being closed off. Pretty much no easy access to the entire western side of the Kaimanawas. Gonna be some pretty pissed trampers and hunters, given the lack of any discussion or communications from DoC to the Public about this.

Originally Posted by XR500

I may be passing that way tomorrow, and was intending to do just that.

I'm well aware that there is a large swathe of Maori land (Rangipo Waiu) that separates the Desert road from the Kaimanawa State Forest park. The Waipakahi road was formed during the Tongariro power project development, in the late 1950's/early 1960's. It was a busy place in the 1960's A big concrete batching plant was based down there. I remember a bailey bridge permitting access to the northern bank of the Waipakahi river.

I would have expected there was some sort of agreement in place with the NZ Forest Service and LINZ (equivalent) to permit the continued access to the park through the Maori land. I would have expected that its successor, DoC continued or improved that agreement...but maybe not.

If what people have said is indeed happening, its a concerning escalation of the reduction in access to public lands. DoC have made it exceedingly hard to park your car out of sight of the Desert road at the Southern access corridor by installing all sorts of elephant traps and chains etc (complete with hidden hidden cameras). Now Waipakahi and Rangipo roads may well be being closed off. Pretty much no easy access to the entire western side of the Kaimanawas. Gonna be some pretty pissed trampers and hunters, given the lack of any discussion or communications from DoC to the Public about this.

After enquiry, was because of motorised vehicle use of the access corridor, and surrounding lands, I'm advised.