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Archives For 30/11/1999

Volunteers working for our freshwater future

Department of Conservation —  02/07/2012

by Anna McKnight, DOC Community Relations Ranger

The famous Trout Centre ‘fish outs’

The Tongariro National Trout Centre is world famous in the central North Island for its kid’s fish outs.

One on one time with volunteers crazy about fly fishing

Fishing for your first trout with a volunteer angler is a big part of local identity – you catch a trout at the children’s pond when you are young, and then grow up and go on to take your own children and grandchildren.

Kids fishing – an intergenerational affair

Tongariro Trout Centre Society president Rob Lester explains, “I think we are the luckiest volunteers when you see the delight on the children’s faces”.

There are seven fish outs a year that attract up to 200 children at a time and bring visitors in from out of town.

Local kids catch their first trout on kid’s fish out days

Tongariro Trout Centre Society

The Tongariro Trout Centre Society was incorporated in 2001 to develop, promote and expand the Tongariro National Trout Centre. In partnership with DOC and Genesis Energy, the Centre has become a place that not only promotes the Taupō Fishery, but is also a leading advocate for freshwater conservation.

Volunteers with Genesis Energy on sharing the river

History of the Tongariro Trout Centre

The land was originally gifted from the Downs family and in 1926 a trout hatchery was established. The site was chosen for the purity and temperature of the water from the Waihukahuka spring and stream—cool, clear and clean.

Blue Gold – interpreting the importance of freshwater

In 2003 the River Walk building was opened to help promote the Taupō Fishery.

The Taupō for Tomorrow education programme classroom was built in 2006 and named after the late kaumātua, Whakapumautanga Downs.

2011 saw the opening of the Genesis Energy Freshwater Aquarium where you can get an up-close and personal experience with many of our native species such as kōkopu and kōaro.

The visitor centre was also upgraded with interpretation that includes a 20 minute film and a series on freshwater conservation titled ‘Blue Gold’.

Whio/blue duck

Whio (blue duck) can now be seen from the grounds of the Tongariro Trout Centre due to a local collaborative effort on predator trapping. It has hosted Whio Family Day for the last three years.

More than a trout on the end of the line

It is exciting to see the Tongariro Trout Centre not only giving us the buzz of a trout on the end of our line, or even bringing us face to face with a kōkopu or whio for the first time, but leaving us with a deep understanding of the importance of clean freshwater for our future.

The children’s pond in action

Working together, in partnership with our volunteers, is fast tracking us towards our dreams and goals to preserve our freshwater for future generations.

In Central North Island, Volunteers , , , , , , ,
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Pocket Ranger: The new Tongariro Alpine Crossing smartphone application

Dave Conley —  30/01/2012

 
Anyone who has done the Tongariro Alpine Crossing can relate to marvelling at the sheer beauty and scale of the landscape—wondering why the Red Crater is red, the Emerald Lakes are just so and whether the hot ground under your feet is likely to erupt.

So, to answer these, and many other questions, DOC has partnered with a Turangi-based community group, Project Tongariro, to create the Pocket Ranger—a free smartphone application set to transform the way visitors to Tongariro National Park get their information. 

The Pocket Ranger provides mapping, interpretation, and safety messages for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, as well as providing information about the local area, including accommodation, activities, transport, guiding and dining.

Taupo nui-a-Tia Area manager Dave Lumley telling tales about the crossing high above the Emerald Lakes

It has been developed so that it can be used as a ‘template’ that can be easily adapted for use in other great walks, national parks, cycle ways and mountain biking tracks. This means other organisations can take advantage of the research and financial investment that DOC and Project Tongariro have made, including licensing the technology, and won’t have to build an app. from scratch.

QR code for the Pocket Ranger

The latest version of the app. has video clips for each section of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and includes a Quick Response (QR) code reader. QR Codes will be placed on existing track markers, at points of interest along the way (e.g. the Red Crater) and, when scanned, the QR Code will lead users directly to the information or story relating to that point of interest.

Further development is being investigated in terms of GPS capabilities, more detailed mapping, and the ability to perform a ‘check in’ at the start of the track for safety.

Capturing the stunning landscape of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Check it out at www.tongariro.org.nz/pocketranger and let us know what you think!

In Central North Island, Recreation , , , , , , , ,
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Ohakune gets on its bike

Dave Conley —  04/08/2010

Prime Minister John Key opens the Ohakune Old Coach Road section of the Ruapehu-Whanganui cycle trail.

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In Central North Island, Historic, Recreation
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Nga Haerenga – New Zealand Cycle Trail Project

Dave Conley —  26/05/2010

Preparations are really cranking up for the opening of the first stage in the new Ruapehu – Whanganui trails cycleway.

The Hapuawhenua viaduct, with the old viadict in the background. Photo: Natures Pic/Rob Suisted.

The Hapuawhenua viaduct, with the old viadict in the background. Photo: Natures Pic/Rob Suisted.

DOC staff from around the sheer awesomeness that is Mount Ruapehu, plus a few colleagues from far and wide (cheers Connie and Erana 🙂 ) are furiously planning for what we hope will be one of the peaks of the local calendar. We’ve even managed to encourage Prime Minister John Key to come along, as well as the Minister for Conservation, Kate Wilkinson, so we are looking to have a great day.

DOC staff installing one of the many interpretation pieces to be found on the track.

DOC staff installing one of the many interpretation pieces to be found on the track.

The cycleway is part of Nga Haerenga, the National cycleway project, and is the first of the quick-start projects to open, so we are bigging it up to the local DOC trackies, and their teams who have made it happen. When the first cyclist rubber hits the track, (and by that I mean their tyres not their trousers!) they will love the experience that awaits them. The Ohakune Old Coach Road section of the track will open on July 2, and offers a great family ride back through one of the most significant sites in the history of the New Zealand railway. That’s not to say it’s only for the train-spotters either, everyone can enjoy the scenery, stories and sounds of Southern Ruapehu.

One of the tunnels on the trail which can be explored by visitors.

One of the tunnels on the trail which can be explored by visitors.

It’s going to be a huge community day, so come and celebrate with us. Bring your bike and your lycra and get on it!

Links

In Central North Island, Historic, Manawatu/Wanganui, Recreation
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Active in the Park off to a fun start

Dave Conley —  13/01/2010

Active in the Park, the DOC summer programme in and around the central North Island is up and running again this year, and it has been off to a really busy start, which gives me a pretty lame excuse for the late post but I’ll work with it! We have tried to put together a programme with a little bit of interest to anyone, and really want it to be family friendly.

Take the Poronui bike ride on the weekend, we had over 60 people on the ride of all ages and had a fantastic time in a place you can never normally ride. Big thanks to Poronui Lodge for letting us on, hopefully we can get in there again next year.

The climb up to the crater lake on Mt Ruapehu was another awesome trip, despite the weather. Howling gales and snow would ordinarily put people off, but this trip showed how much fun it can be to challenge yourself when you are well prepared and have the right people with you to show you the way. And every hard-won metre uphill was a huge buzz on the way back down, with the perfect snow conditions making for a fast descent on the seat of your pants. Nearly 300 vertical metres on your butt was a great way to get down the hill in a hurry!

We have a heap planned for the upcoming week, finishing with a new trip from Urchin tops to Umukarikari which should be a real blast. Lets hope the weather lets us get out there! You can check out the programme at www.doc.govt.nz/tongarirosummer

Catch ya

In Central North Island, Recreation
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