Friends of Taihape Charitable Society

The native reserve within Taihape's ‘Hautapu River Park’s’ area is a rare resource that is not normally found so close to a State Highway 1 Township. The reserve encompasses vast amounts of established (many over 500 years old) native podocarp trees that Horizons Regional Council have apparently classes as:

“…mature Kahikatea, Totara, Matai Forest (classed as CL4 ecosystem type). This forest type is critically endangered, and the area also includes some highly threatened grass species. This site has very high ecological value.”

To realise the potential for users, we recommend the Hautapu River Parks area consider:

• Building up to 6 bridges to link the tracks together

• Upgrade the tracks with a metal base to suit all user groups

• Engage a specialist map and reserve designer and link it with the Councils public interfaces

• Appropriately sign/advertising

• Create numerous public interest points throughout the area, including linking with local Iwi’s history (and other interested parties) to tell the story of the area

• Provide facilities public require to make the area a destination

The added benefit of developing this area increases awareness to a multitude of aspects, as well as provides a lot better access to control weed and pest issues to protect the native ecological environment.