Akatarawa Forest
{{Short description|Regional park in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Akatarawa Forest
| iucn_category =
| photo = File:Karapoti Gorge.jpg
| photo_alt = Photograph of Karapoti Gorge in the Akatarawa Forest
| photo_caption = Karapoti Gorge in the Akatarawa Forest
| label = Akatarawa Forest
| label_position = right
| location = Upper Hutt, Wellington Region, New Zealand
| nearest_city = Upper Hutt
| coordinates = {{coord|41|02|27.4|S|175|02|13.2|E|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|15000|ha}}
| established =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| operator = Greater Wellington Regional Council
}}
Akatarawa Forest is a regional park in the Upper Hutt within the Wellington Region at the southern tip of the North Island of New Zealand. It encompasses 15,000 hectares of native and plantation forest. It includes the headwaters of the Maungakotukutuku Steam, Akatarawa River West and the Whakatīkei River.{{Cite web|url=https://wellingtonnz.com/discover/sights-activities/akatarawa-forest/|title=Akatarawa Forest > HuttValleyNZ.com|website=wellingtonnz.com|language=en-NZ|access-date=21 December 2019}}
The park is owned and managed by Greater Wellington Regional Council, making it one of the largest landowners in New Zealand.{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Kate |title=New Zealand's biggest 50 landowners revealed |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/116661441/new-zealands-biggest-50-landowners-revealed |agency=Radio New Zealand |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=17 October 2019}}
Akatarawa is a Māori name meaning 'Trailing vines'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gw.govt.nz/History-5/|title=History {{!}} Greater Wellington Regional Council|website=www.gw.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2019}}
Activities include cycling, hunting, fishing, horse riding, 4WD-vehicle trips and trail biking, including at the Karapoti Gorge.{{cite web |title=Akatarawa Forest {{!}} Greater Wellington Regional Council |url=https://www.gw.govt.nz/akatarawa/ |website=www.gw.govt.nz |accessdate=21 December 2019}}
History
Akatarawa Forest has ancient northern rātā which predate human habitation of New Zealand, including one tree which is believed to be 1100 years old. Some of these trees are wider than Tāne Mahuta.{{cite news |last1=Tso |first1=Matthew |title=Rātā older than Genghis Khan struggling in the face of possum onslaught in north Wellington forest |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125661891/rt-older-than-genghis-khan-struggling-in-the-face-of-possum-onslaught-in-north-wellington-forest |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=7 July 2021}} One is largest rātā tree in New Zealand, at 39 metres tall.{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Lisa |title=Calls for pest control measures to protect Aotearoa's largest rātā tree |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/calls-pest-control-measures-protect-aotearoas-largest-r-t-tree |agency=1News |publisher=Television New Zealand |date=8 July 2020}}
Greater Wellington Regional Council carried out a 1080 dropping programme in 2013 to reduce pest species.
A trailbiker was seriously injured in the park in July 2017.{{cite news |last1=Weekes |first1=John |title=Sound of rescue chopper the best medicine for badly injured trailbike rider |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/93260365/sound-of-rescue-chopper-the-best-medicine-for-badly-injured-trailbike-rider |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=2 July 2017}} A dirt-biker was rescued from the forest in February 2021.{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Debbie |title=Rescued dirt biker one of 100,000 Kiwis carrying distress beacons |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/124334141/rescued-dirt-biker-one-of-100000-kiwis-carrying-distress-beacons |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=23 February 2021}}
Between December 2017 and August 2018, a 1.7 kilometre zig-zag track that is part of the Cannon Point Walkway was closed to the public due to a disagreement between Upper Hutt City Council and a private landowner over land access.{{cite news |last1=Tso |first1=Matthew |title=Cannon Point walkway reopened after stand-off over popular track ends |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/capital-life/105979587/cannon-point-walkway-reopened-after-standoff-over-popular-track-ends |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=7 August 2018}}
In early 2021, Forest and Bird campaigned for Upper Hutt City Council to keep a 35-hectare block as a wildlife corridor and reserve, connecting Akatawa Forest with Wainuiomata.{{cite news |last1=Tso |first1=Matthew |title=Opposition mounts against proposed land swap that could create 1000 Upper Hutt homes |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124054179/opposition-mounts-against-proposed-land-swap-that-could-create-1000-upper-hutt-homes |agency=Dominion Post |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=27 January 2021}}
In July 2021, a further 1080 operation was carried out in 2021 to combat a resurgence in possum numbers.{{cite news |title=Warning about dead poisoned possums on Hutt riverbed and Wellington Harbour beaches |url=https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=137733 |publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council |date=17 July 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Upper Hutt}}
{{Protected areas of New Zealand}}
{{Wellington Regional Council}}
Category:Forests of New Zealand
Category:Forestry in New Zealand