Te Urewera National Park
Encyclopedia
Te Urewera National Park is one of fourteen national parks within New Zealand
and is the largest of the four in the North Island. Covering an area of approximately 2,127 km², it is in the north east of the Hawke's Bay
region of the North Island
.
On 28 July 1954, the catchment areas of Lake Waikaremoana
, Lake Waikareiti
and other Crown reserves were gazetted as a national park
, and by 1957 proposals were well underway to add the rest of the Crown land in Te Urewera north of Ruatahuna
. This proposal was formalised in November 1957 when an additional 1,350 km² were added. Further additions were made in 1962, 1975 and 1979, with smaller acquisitions and boundary alterations in the intervening period.
The lake bed and Māori enclaves were not included in the park gazetting. The Crown has leased the lake bed, which is managed by the Department of Conservation.
Te Urewera
is the traditional home of the Tuhoe
people. Due to its geographical isolation, it was one of the last regions to be claimed by the British during colonisation in the 19th century. Te Kooti
, the Māori leader, found refuge there from his pursuers among Tuhoe, with whom he formed an alliance.
The park's name comes from the Māori words ure meaning penis and wera meaning burnt, thus, the literal translation from Māori is "burnt penis" (National Park). The name comes from a historical event, passed down through maori oral tradition, of a chief several centuries ago who died while out with a hunting party in the forests of the present-day park. He rolled over in his sleep while lying too close to a camp fire, badly burning his groin. It is believed to be the only national park in the world whose name contains reference to human genitalia.
and bird life. Crown Fern, Blechnum discolor
is a widespread understory plant. An assortment of birds found in the North Island are present at the Park except for the Weka
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and is the largest of the four in the North Island. Covering an area of approximately 2,127 km², it is in the north east of the Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
region of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
.
On 28 July 1954, the catchment areas of Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana
Lake Waikaremoana is located in Te Urewera National Park in the North Island of New Zealand, 60 kilometres northwest of Wairoa and 80 kilometres southwest of Gisborne. It covers an area of 54 km². From the Maori Waikaremoana translates as 'sea of rippling waters'The lake lies in the heart of Tuhoe...
, Lake Waikareiti
Lake Waikareiti
Lake Waikareiti, also spelt Lake Waikare Iti, is located in Te Urewera National Park in the North Island of New Zealand. A number of hiking trails are found within the catchment basin of the lake....
and other Crown reserves were gazetted as a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
, and by 1957 proposals were well underway to add the rest of the Crown land in Te Urewera north of Ruatahuna
Ruatahuna
The town of Ruatahuna is located in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island, 90 kilometres west of Gisborne, and 18 kilometres northwest of Lake Waikaremoana...
. This proposal was formalised in November 1957 when an additional 1,350 km² were added. Further additions were made in 1962, 1975 and 1979, with smaller acquisitions and boundary alterations in the intervening period.
The lake bed and Māori enclaves were not included in the park gazetting. The Crown has leased the lake bed, which is managed by the Department of Conservation.
Te Urewera
Te Urewera
Te Urewera is an area of the central North Island of New Zealand. Located in rough, sparsely populated hill country to the northeast of Lake Taupo, it is the historical home of Tuhoe, a Māori iwi known for their controversial stance on Māori sovereignty...
is the traditional home of the Tuhoe
Tuhoe
Ngāi Tūhoe , a Māori iwi of New Zealand, takes its name from an ancestral figure, Tūhoe-pōtiki. The word tūhoe literally means "steep" or "high noon" in the Māori language...
people. Due to its geographical isolation, it was one of the last regions to be claimed by the British during colonisation in the 19th century. Te Kooti
Te Kooti
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader, the founder of the Ringatu religion and guerrilla.While fighting alongside government forces against the Hauhau in 1865, he was accused of spying. Exiled to the Chatham Islands without trial along with captured Hauhau, he experienced visions and...
, the Māori leader, found refuge there from his pursuers among Tuhoe, with whom he formed an alliance.
The park's name comes from the Māori words ure meaning penis and wera meaning burnt, thus, the literal translation from Māori is "burnt penis" (National Park). The name comes from a historical event, passed down through maori oral tradition, of a chief several centuries ago who died while out with a hunting party in the forests of the present-day park. He rolled over in his sleep while lying too close to a camp fire, badly burning his groin. It is believed to be the only national park in the world whose name contains reference to human genitalia.
Natural history
The Park supports a variety of floraFlora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and bird life. Crown Fern, Blechnum discolor
Blechnum discolor
Blechnum discolor is a species of fern in the family Blechnaceae. This species is endemic to New Zealand. As noted by C. Michael Hogan, this species is found in a number of forest communities in diverse locations within New Zealand, and is sometimes a dominant understory component.Spores are...
is a widespread understory plant. An assortment of birds found in the North Island are present at the Park except for the Weka
Weka
The Weka or woodhen is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit...
.