Trip Reports

On Saturday 3 December, a group of 19 Masterton Tramping Club members, partners and friends travelled to Mana Island. We were taken in a launch from Mana Marina to the island. This was part of the fun as it was a pristine day and we could see our destination getting closer and closer for most of the trip.

When we reached Mana Island, we were greeted by the ranger who welcomed us and gave us a few tips about keeping the island rodent and weed seed free. We had already checked our packs and bags at the marina as one of our Members, Jason Christensen, was a ranger on the island for twelve years and not only organised the trip but also had us well prepped.
We had a bit of a break then and explored the woolshed before beginning our walk. Jason led us up Tirohanga Track. A new self-guided walk has been initiated so Jason was able to give us pamphlets about this and the option of being our own tour guides. There are numbered markers along the route and we were lucky enough to have Jason stop at each peg and explain the significance of the area.
These numbered pegs indicated everything from lizard colonies to historical landmarks and Jason was a mine of information. Julie found a lizard on the track as we walked and Jason was able to tell us the history of the McGregor skink on the island.

We continued up the track, marvelling at the veiws that are implied by the name of the track. We paused to hear stories and interesting snippets of information from Jason so this was not a strenuous walk although we did climb to quite a height. This afforded us views of Kapiti, Porirua, Ohau Point and the Kaikoura Coast.Our lunch stop was the old lighthouse site. There were many other opportunities for Jason to enlighten us about the history of the island as we walked. We were also able to see the conservation measures in place, the regenerating bush, the strategies to attract bird populations and the eradication of weeds and pests. One of the measures we were able to observe was this fence, placed to ensure the introduced lizards could find each other. We also saw some enormous wetas.
After lunch, we continued our circumnavigation of the island. Coming down the track, we could hear the Ngatitoa Taiaha Wananga taking place in the clearing near where the whare of Rangihaeata once stood. Jason also told us about Maori occupation of the Island, the tangata whenua and their involvement with the conservancy.

Te Mara Bush, 20 November 2016

In March 1944, the milling company C.E. Daniell Ltd of Masterton was running out of logs. The company applied for access to a block in the Te Mara Basin within State forest 31 north of Masterton, and suggested that the Forest Service could replant it with exotic trees as at nearby Mikimiki.

After inspecting the 350 acres of beech, rimu, rata and kamahi forest—which needed a three mile access road—the Conservator of Forests recommended against logging. However Director of Forestry Alex Entrican, also the government’s Timber Controller with the job of keeping mills open, wrote: ‘… the forest is now mature and the large trees should be utilised before they begin to deteriorate.’ He approved the application and informed the local bodies and Chamber of Commerce. All suggested that Entrican consult the Wairarapa Catchment Board, which had been elected under new legislation but had not yet met.

When the proposal became public, resistance soon appeared. Catchment Board member Laurie Robinson wrote to Entrican: ‘far too much of our watershed has been depleted already, when this area is stripped of trees down to 15 inches what then? … The people of Masterton are deeply concerned …’. The Wairarapa Times-Age published editorials and a torrent of letters. One correspondent had visited the area and found all millable trees blazed ready for the axe. A returned serviceman wrote: ‘The Te Mara Forest is tranquil and cool and green and you can find peace there and somehow it stands for everything we longed for in the sweltering desert and now it seems all that beauty is to go’. From ‘Forest Lover’ came: ‘With a prodigal disregard for the future, we have denuded our country of native bush to such an extent that erosion is becoming rampant, and we are being compelled to retreat ever further back into the high country to obtain essential timber supplies.’ A minority favoured logging. ‘Be reasonable’ wrote: ‘When I see the State houses in Masterton and know how many people are wanting them, well I say let’s get more State houses. And to do this we must have timber … ’

The first meeting of the Catchment Board discussed the Te Mara hot potato for two and a half hours. Uncertain of its powers and feeling its way, the Board concluded that logging was inevitable but hoped that conditions would be ‘rigidly enforced’.

As opposition and anger with the Forest Service grew, the Mayor sent the Minister an urgent telegram: ‘STRONG PROTEST BEING RAISED IN MASTERTON AGAINST MILLING TE MARA BUSH IN THIS DISTRICT PLEASE WITHHOLD ANY CUTTING OPERATIONS + KEMP MAYOR

In late July, the MP for Wairarapa inspected the Te Mara area with a delegation that included Masterton Tramping Club member Ben Iorns. As a builder and returned serviceman Iorns understood the need for timber and supported the government’s housing projects, but he now resigned as an honorary forest ranger. ‘…I feel no honour or pride in further association with a Service so obviously out of step with public opinion; the puny efforts of a hundred honorary Rangers would not counter-balance such a mass destruction as is contemplated at Te Mara Creek.’ He suggested to the Commissioner of Forests that burial caskets—which consumed annually a third of the projected yield from Te Mara—should be made instead of fibrous plaster.

A well-attended public meeting in Masterton received messages of protest from organisations throughout Wairarapa and carried a resolution against the Te Mara logging. In September, a deputation of six (including Mayor Kemp, Iorns and Robinson) met Prime Minister Peter Fraser and Commissioner of Forests C.F. Skinner. Entrican (in attendance) explained that the bush at Te Mara was badly eaten out by deer and that the only way of re-establishing it was to open it for milling. Fraser said he preferred the timber to be used for housing rather than allowed to rot, and suggested an inspection.

Within days Skinner visited Te Mara with the deputation, who first showed him erosion of the banks of the lower Waipoua River, allegedly caused by logging at Mikimiki (still in progress) and Kiriwhakapapa. Skinner was unconvinced of the erosion risk, but acknowledged the beauty of the large rimu at Te Mara and recommended that some be reserved. A 66 acre reserve, including a rimu seven feet in diameter, was delineated in March 1945. Logging went ahead and continued until 1954.

The three mile (five km) access road runs through a property now farmed by Jason Christensen. The logged area lies within what is now Tararua Forest Park.

On Sunday 20 November Jason guided us through the Te Mara Basin and showed us the remains of logging activity. We thank him and the owners of two neighbouring properties through which we passed.

Those on the walk came from a variety of groups:

South Wairarapa TC

Masterton TC

Friends of Mana

NZ Alpine Club

Local farmers

Club Trip on 6-7 November.
Haurangi Hut in the Orongorongo’s

We left Masterton about 9.30am with a two hour drive over to the catch pool car park then a the walk in with rain threaten to come down at any time but it didn’t happen On the way.

On 22/10/16 Ben, Karl and Clayton left Kiriwhakapa cap park at 8 40am in chilly conditions. We headed onto Blue Range hut for smoko. We arrived at 1030am to an empty hut. We departed at 11am heading to Cow Creek hut where we arrived at 1.30pm. We left at 2.30pm in improved conditions heading along the saddle track towards Arete Forks. This track was long and hard with many ups and downs. We ran into a windfall where Ben managed to find and hug some onga onga. We finally arrived at Arete Forks hut at 7pm after many short stops along the way.
Next morning we left at 9am heading down river towards cow creek hoping to cut our time in half as suggested in the hut book. After maybe an hour we decided we try to get back up to the track but after spending an hour getting no where we were back in the river. Half way down Ben was very cold so we stopped for an hour warming him up in the sun. From then on the pools became deeper and we were forced to swim. We finally arrived at Cow Creek at 3pm. After 30 minutes we left heading down the river track towards Mitre Flats. This was much easier travel but still challenging after our long day and we arrived at 7pm to a warm and mostly full hut. On Monday we joined Nigel for a leisurely walk out to the pines carpark and the end of our trip.

You will not find many DOC track markers on the circuit from Holdsworth Lodge to the Lookout, on to Pinnacle Ridge and back to the Gentle Annie track towards the Lodge again. Once you leave the Holdsworth Lookout there is a well padded track, with a few pieces of old venetian blind to keep you on the path.

After an early tea break, and rest, after the initial climb up to the Lookout, our party of four headed off through this area of beech forest, along the way we came across the remains of an old shelter, now just some rusting iron and bits of timber.

At the lookout we had seen a small flock of Kereru flying out of the park, we heard quite a few more on our walk, as well as Grey Warbler and at least one Kaka.

By the time we had lost quite a lot of our initial height gain, dropping down to the Gentle Annie Saddle, we decided it was time for a second cuppa, or was it an early lunch? Having walked down to the Saddle it was now time to climb out and on to Carrington Ridge, this section was “red line” (new territory) for John. From the junction with the Ridge it was a 20 minute walk to the next junction, with the old Gentle Annie track going to Powell Hut, here at high point 801 it was time for (a second) lunch. The was the only point we felt a breeze, the forecast high winds had never arrived.

After lunch we headed off the track for a short time until we met the new(ish) Gentle Annie track and made our way down a ridge (more red line for John) to the Atiwhakatu Stream and back to the Lodge. A good sheltered walk on a day forecast to bring wind and rain.

Those on the walk: Flo, John, Paul & Nigel

Club trip 27th &29th Aug. With an improving forecast Ben Bob Ben and I left Putara road end at 10 30am. With the rain coming down Bob led us off with a good pace. As we approached the ridge we ran into a few patches of snow and a chilly breeze. By the time we got to Roaring stag hut we were all cold and very wet. We were joined in the hut shortly after by a party of 4 who had come down from cattle ridge. We got the fire going warmed up and played some cards. Sunday the weather had cleared we stayed a little longer to enjoy our lazy Sunday morning. Heading out we ran into 2 members from the Parawai Tramping club who had been up to Herapai. Good easy winter tramp with some good company

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Club trip 17th Aug. A beautiful day in the Wairarapa. Snow on the Tararuas, lunch at the trig on Rewanui, and a pair of NZAF trainers giving us a free air display

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This week’s mid-week over-night trip with two members Paul and Jason tramped up east Holdsworth and along to Jumbo Hut for the night. The weather was Fine and frosty to start with then a light breeze started on the tops. A great trip to amble along the tops taking lots of photos. A nice sunrise over the valley next morning before heading to the road end and home,

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2016 MTC Snow Craft weekend at Mt Ruapehu .
The week leading up to the trip the numbers dropped from seven to three! For those of you who pulled out you missed at fantastic weekend up the mountain. Two perfect days with little to no wind and Soft powder to hard ice which made for some interesting training conditions.