Aorangi_Forest_Park

Aorangi Forest Park

Aorangi Forest Park

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For Aorangi Forest statistical area, see Pirinoa § Aorangi Forest statistical area.

Aorangi Forest Park is a 194-square-kilometre (75 sq mi) protected area in the Wellington Region of New Zealand administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC).[1] It had been called the Haurangi Forest Park but DOC changed to reflect the Māori name of the range protected by the park.[2]

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The park has six backcountry huts and a recreational hunting area in the park.[2] There is a large herd of wild red deer and dry conditions, making the park a popular destination for deerstalkers.[3] There is also a small number of goats and pigs in the park.[4]

The park can be accessed by foot from several local roads, or via private land with the permission of landowners.[5]

History

Sign with former name

A sole-charger presided over the park for several decades, serving as "part caretaker, part sheriff" and de facto police, fire service and fisheries officer.[3]

A rare native long-tailed bat was detected in the forest park in March 2020.[6]

A 17-year-old hunter was rescued from the park in July 2020 after falling down a cliff.[7]

In 2021, James Cameron and his wife committed part of their farmland to establishing a functioning native forest from the Aorangi Forest Park to the foothills of the Remutaka Ranges.[8]

Two families became stranded in the park overnight in June 2021 after their four-wheel drive became stuck.[9]

International Dark Sky Reserve

Main article: Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve

The Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve is an area of 3,665 km2 (1,415 sq mi) that was designated in January 2023. The reserve is certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve, requiring a dark "core" zone that is surrounded by a populated area where policy controls protect the darkness of the core. For the Wairarapa reserve, the dark core is the entire area of the Aorangi Forest Park in the south of the reserve.[10]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Data Table - Protected Areas - LINZ Data Service". Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  2. [2]
    New Zealand (1996). Conservation management strategy for Wellington, 1996-2005 (PDF). Wellington Conservancy conservation management planning series. Wellington, N.Z: Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 047801807X.
  3. [3]
    Fuller, Piers (3 November 2018). "Ranger's seen it all looking after his own corner of the country". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  4. [4]
    "Aorangi Forest Park". Department of Conservation, New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  5. [5]
    "Aorangi Forest Park hunting". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
  6. [6]
    Fuller, Piers (12 March 2020). "Rare, native long-tailed bats detected in South Wairarapa forest". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  7. [7]
    Fuller, Piers (2 July 2020). "Trapped on a ridge, a young Wairarapa hunter feared he would die". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  8. [8]
    Watkins, Tracey (1 August 2021). "Suzy Amis Cameron on why she and husband James have put down roots in New Zealand". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  9. [9]
    Jacobs, Maxine (14 June 2021). "Passenger relives night stranded in bush after four-wheel-driving adventure takes wrong turn". stuff.co.nz. Dominion Post.
  10. [10]
    "Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve (New Zealand)". International Dark-Sky Association. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
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