The construction of 100s of metres of new raised boardwalk in Te Papakura o Taranaki will help to protect two of the highest wetland areas in the country.
A section of the new boardwalk in Te Papakura o Taranaki / Egmont National Park. Photo: Supplied / DOC
Part of the $19 million Taranaki Crossing project, the work includes building 720m of 1.2m wide boardwalk from the Pouakai Hut down to the Pouakai Tarns, and 650m of 1.2m wide boardwalks across the Ahukawakawa wetland.
Department of Conservation strategic project manager Carl Whittleston said the boardwalks would replace existing track which deteriorated.
"Previously we've had timber rafts in there and what's happened over time is that some of those have sunk into the wet areas and people then start to walk around them and onto the fragile vegetation and eco-system."
Whittleson said the boardwalk would complement work already completed on the Mangorei Road Track that leads to the Pouakai Tarns famed for their Instagram-worthy photo opportunity of the mirror image of Mt Taranaki.
"People will now have a really nice surface to walk on as they go down to visit the tarns, noting that the tarns is a really popular destination."
Whittleson said Ahukawakawa wetland would also benefit hugely from the boardwalk, which would be about 400mm above ground level.
"It's one of New Zealand's highest wetlands and it has some very unique species growing in and around there, and we're looking to separate people from walking in the wetland so that they are now walking on the boardwalk."
The boardwalk, which is costing about $800,000, should be complete in April.
Whittleson said it was one of the biggest jobs in the national park in decades.
"We've had to flying over 100 tonnes of material and tools in there. We've had crews of up 16 people needing to stay up there for 10 days at a time to get the work done."
Specialist hiking track builder Milton and Harward Construction is the contractor.
Managing director of the Auckland company, Greg Hafoka, said it had made a deliberate effort to hire local people.
"When we tendered for this work, we undertook to try and recruit local iwi members to provide work opportunity for unemployed people, as well as adding to their skills.
"One of the local hapū members approached us through the local DOC office as he is back from Australia due to Covid-19. We are delighted to have his younger brother joining us too.
"Taranaki iwi responded and have connected us with four great guys who have some skills, need work and will upskill some more with us. We hope these six men can bring their new skills back to their whānau and iwi to benefit the region.
Hafoka said having iwi members onboard had added to the experience of working Te Papakura o Taranaki.
"We are especially excited to have these iwi members on our team because caring for the maunga is an enriching spiritual experience too. They are contributing to a legacy of care and community amenity that will be there for many years to come."
DOC Taranaki operations manager Gareth Hopkins said the work had commenced with a karakia led by members of Taranaki iwi.
He said DOC and Taranaki iwi hapū Ngā Mahanga a Tairi representatives had been working collaboratively since 2019 on the cultural and environmental impacts of the boardwalks as well as their design.
"The relationship is intended to make informed and sustainable decisions to protect and enhance the mauri (life force) of the culturally significant areas of Ahukawakawa and Pouakai."
The next stage of the Taranaki Crossing project will be to upgrade tracks from Te Rere o Kapuni / Dawson Falls to the plateau.