Moehau Range#Port Charles
{{Short description|Mountain range in North Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Moehau Range
| photo = Moehau Range from south of Amodeo Bay.jpg
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| photo_caption = Moehau Range from south of Amodeo Bay
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| type = mixed sedimentary greywacke with some plutonic and andestic formations
| age = Jurassic/Cretaceous, about 150 million years ago
| geology = Predominantly Manaia Hill Group greywackeˌ sandstones and siltstones (Waipapa terrane)
| volcanic_arc = Coromandel Volcanic Zone
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| last_eruption = ~ 15 million years ago
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The Moehau Range is the northernmost range on the Coromandel Peninsula, extending from the settlement of Colville, New Zealand northwards to the tip of the peninsula. Mount Moehau is the highest point of the range, at 892m above sea level.
Physical geography
The Moehau Range is the central feature of the Colville Ecological District. Environment Waikato's local area planting guide describes the area as "long ridges and steep streams radiating out to the coast, steep and broken hillslopes, floodplains, harbours and estuaries." The Colville Ecological District takes in {{convert|77201|ha}}, 59% of which is in indigenous vegetation, and 8% of which is virgin forest.Environment Waikato, [http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/land/biodiversity/plantingguides/documents/coromandel1.pdf What to Plant in Coromandel Ecological Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215106/http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/land/biodiversity/plantingguides/documents/coromandel1.pdf |date=2007-09-27 }} To the south the range is drained by Waikawau River.
= Geology =
Most of the range is made up of metamorphic, prehnite-pumpellyite Manaia Hill Group greywackeˌ sandstones and siltstones (Waipapa terrane) of Jurassic/Cretaceous age, formed about 150 million years ago. They have few fossils,{{Cite journal|title=Subdivision and petrology of the Mesozoic rocks of Coromandel (Manaia Hill Group)|journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics|volume=15|issue=2|pages=203–227|last=D. N. B. Skinner|date=1972|doi=10.1080/00288306.1972.10421955|doi-access=}} but are interbedded with feldspar-lithic volcanic sandstone, siltstone and mudstone/argillite, with minor conglomerate and coarse sandstone.{{Cite web|url=https://data.gns.cri.nz/geology/|title=GNS Science - Geology Web Map Client|website=data.gns.cri.nz|access-date=2019-11-16}} To the south west of the range the Paritu Pluton is exposed. It consists of 17 million year old mid Miocene sub-volcanic intrusions, including hornblende-pyroxene granodiorite, pyroxene-hornblende quartz diorite and biotite-pyroxene.{{Cite journal|title=Miocene intrusive Rocks of Moehau Range, Coromandel|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand|volume=5|issue=3|pages=329–351|last=D. N. B. Skinner|date=1975|doi=10.1080/03036758.1975.10421854}} Several dikes of andesite porphyry and quartz porphyry were intruded into the Manaia Hill rocks around 15 million years ago.
== 'Granite' quarries ==
Coromandel granite was first advertised in 1900.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19000228.2.64.7|title=Auckland Star|date=28 February 1900|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-11-16}} It has been quarried in the plutonic area, on the coast between Port Jackson and Waiaro, at Paritu quarry,{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapspast.org.nz/?zoom=14&x=1810240&y=5954648&layerid=NZMS1%201959|title=MapsPast {{!}} Current and historical topographic maps (topomaps) of New Zealand|website=mapspast.org.nz|access-date=2019-11-16}} The quarry was taken over by the Coromandel Granite Company{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/waikato-times/20150420/281861527039301|title=Memory Boxes|date=20 April 2015|via=PressReader|access-date=2019-11-16}} in 1918, when a wharf was built about a kilometre to the south.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.tcdc.govt.nz/store/default/3716892|title=TCDC District Plan Appendix 3 Historic Heritage|date=2015|website=Thames Coromandel DC}} Although called granite, it is a quartz diorite rock. It has been used for many monuments and buildings, including Parliament House, Auckland Chief Post Office, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Ferry Terminal and Auckland Railway Station. Quarrying ended in the 1960s, though in the early 1990s Moehau quarry was reopened for the refurbishment of Parliament House.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecoromandel.com/explore/listing/paritu-stone-wharves|title=Paritu Stone Wharves|website=The Coromandel|access-date=2019-11-16}}
Demographics
The area is sparsely populated. In the area north of Port Charles Road, which includes the whole of the range, the 2013 population was only 129, living in 63 houses.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|title=2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place|website=archive.stats.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-18}} However, it is part of Te Rerenga census area, where are 2,028 dwellings were occupied, but 3,897 unoccupied.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-a-place.aspx|title=2013 Census QuickStats about a place|website=archive.stats.govt.nz|language=en-nz|access-date=2020-02-18}}
The main settlements are Port Jackson{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz9210/Port-Jackson/|title=Port Jackson, Waikato|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}} and Port Charles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz9226/Port-Charles/|title=Port Charles, Waikato|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18}}
= Port Jackson =
= Port Charles =
Cook named Port Charles as he sailed by on 17 November 1769.{{Cite web|url=https://thetreasury.org.nz/Cook/cook.htm|title=THE TREASURY James Cook|website=thetreasury.org.nz|access-date=2020-02-19}} A sawmill opened in 1865 and closed in 1890,{{Cite web|url=https://thetreasury.org.nz/Sawmilling/sawmilling.htm|title=THE TREASURY Sawmilling|website=thetreasury.org.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} later belonging to the Auckland Timber Co{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18830827.2.31|title=NEW ZEALAND TIMBER INDUSTRY. AUCKLAND STAR|date=27 August 1883|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} and with a tramway.{{Cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/364419|title=Showing forestry workers grouped on and around a bush locomotive near Port Charles|website=Kura Heritage Collections Online (Auckland COuncil Libraries)|access-date=2025-04-17}} The population was 67 in 1901.{{Cite web|url=https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1901-census/1901-results-census/1901-results-census.html|title=1901 census results|website=StatsNZ}} Northern Steamship Co. vessels used to call at Port Charles.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19020712.2.13.6|title=NORTHERN S.S. CO.'S MOVEMENTS. AUCKLAND STAR|date=12 July 1902|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} The road from Colville opened in 1928.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19280403.2.151|title=Coromandel Peninsula. Auckland Star|date=3 April 1928|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} A volunteer fire fighting group is based locally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/111263-port-charless-new-smoke-chaser.html|title=Port Charles's new 'smoke chaser'|website=sunlive.co.nz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-19}} There were severe floods in 1950{{Cite web|url=https://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/May_1950_Waikato_Flooding|title=May 1950 Waikato Flooding|website=hwe.niwa.co.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} 2002 and 2016,{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/community/whats-happening/news/media-releases-archived/heavy-rains-highlight-losses-but-also-wins/|title=Heavy rains highlight losses but also wins|date=April 2016|website=waikatoregion.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} the 1950 flood moving the school off its foundations, bringing about its closure{{Cite web|url=https://natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?vid=NLNZ&docid=INNZ7129938700002837&context=L&search_scope=INNZ|title=The little Port Charles School|website=natlib-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com|access-date=2020-02-20}} and 2002 flooding 23 homes.{{Cite web|url=https://hwe.niwa.co.nz/event/June_2002_Upper_North_Island_Weather_Bomb|title=2002 Upper North Island Weather Bomb|website=hwe.niwa.co.nz|access-date=2020-02-20}} The beach is also being eroded.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Global/1_Your%20Council/_2014%20Standing%20Committee%20Order%20Papers%20and%20Minutes/District%20Plan%20Hearings%20Panel/Technical%20report%201%20-%20Primary%20Development%20Setback%20review.pdf|title=Review of Primary Development Setback at Selected Beaches|last=Dahm|first=Jim|date=October 2009|website=Thames Coromandel District Council}}
History
Mt Moehau is sacred to the Marutūāhu tribes of Māori. Many important chiefs, including Tama-te-kapua of Te Arawa, are buried on its summit. The full name of the mountain is Te Moengahau-o-Tamatekapua (the windy sleeping place of Tamatekapua).{{cite web|title=Marutūahu tribes - Origins |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/744/mt-moehau |website=Te Ara : The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|accessdate=1 December 2014}}
Folklore
Mt Moehau was reported by Māori to be the most sacred of the mountains of the Patupaiarehe (or tūrehu, karitehe or kōrakorako),{{Cite news|last=Homer|first=Lloyd|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga|title=Moehau mountain, Coromandel|language=en|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2400/moehau-mountain-coromandel|access-date=2021-07-09}} an elusive and mystical light-skinned mountain folk.Grey, George (1849). A story of patupaiarehe [fairy-like people] on Moehau. New Zealand: Manuscript number: GNZMMS 7.
Biodiversity
The Moehau Range is considered one of New Zealand's six 'biodiversity hot spots'. The Moehau peak contains a selection of indigenous vegetation that is unique for a North Island forest, and is home to silver and pink pine, kaikawaka, sweet hutu (Ascarina sp.) and southern rātā, and is the northern limit for many southern montane species such as mountain toatoa and mountain cedar (pahautea). The range is also noteworthy for the rare native Archey's frog (Leiopelma archeyi), whose young hatch from eggs, bypassing the tadpole stage. Moehau is also home to the Moehau stag beetle (Geodorcus sp.), the Moehau wētā (Hemiandrus sp.) and a population of approximately 500 brown kiwi.Ecotours: Wildlife: Bay of Plenty: [http://www.ecotours.co.nz/Brian/wildlife/bayofplenty/coromandel.htm Coromandel], accessed 28 May 2007Environment Waikato, [http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/land/biodiversity/plantingguides/documents/coromandel1.pdf What to Plant in Coromandel Ecological Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215106/http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/land/biodiversity/plantingguides/documents/coromandel1.pdf |date=2007-09-27 }}
The Moehau Environment Group [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121253/http://www.meg.org.nz/index.html] works to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Northern Coromandel Peninsula.{{Cite web |url=http://www.meg.org.nz/index.html |title=Moehau Environment Group website |access-date=2007-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121253/http://www.meg.org.nz/index.html |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}Thomas Everth, [http://www.te-software.co.nz/blog/fence.htm To Fence or not to Fence?: An opinion on the proposed Coromandel predator fence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070327181531/http://www.te-software.co.nz/blog/fence.htm |date=2007-03-27 }} In 2020 the group were given $400,000 to do possum, mustelid, rat and cat control on up to {{Convert|15000|ha||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|date=23 July 2020|title=Council Helps Sustainability of Community Groups With $1.63m in Grants|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2007/S00470/council-helps-sustainability-of-community-groups-with-163m-in-grants.htm|access-date=2020-07-24|website=scoop.co.nz}}