Eleven men and women of Ngāti Pāhauwera descent are celebrating after recently graduating from the Māori Conservation Foundation Course.
Continue Reading...Archives For 30/11/1999
After joining DOC earlier this year Ellen thought it was time she got some firsthand experience of the sites DOC manages, so decided to visit Otatara Pa Historic Reserve.
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Coppermine Creek Track
When exploring New Zealand’s conservation areas it is often easy to be absorbed by the beauty of the forest and (hopefully) the tunes of native birds. We often forget that even the most remote pieces of bush often have a component of human history.
Coppermine Creek is one of these areas. Located in the south eastern reaches of the Ruahine Forest Park, the Coppermine Creek roadend is only 20 minutes drive from Dannevirke or 45 minutes drive from Palmerston North.
Early European settlement in the area was based around farming. Copper was first found in the creek in 1887 when settlers found traces in the creek bed while searching the bush for lost cattle.
Attempts were made to prospect copper on and off for the next 100 years, however extraction was never enough to make it commercially viable.
Magazine shaft used for storing explosives and other mining equipment
Still in existence from those days is the magazine shaft used for storing explosives and other mining equipment, and this makes for an interesting destination to walk to.
Recently myself and three other intrepid adventurers explored Coppermine Creek.
It takes an hour or so from the roadend to reach the magazine shaft.
The first 30-40 minutes of the Coppermine Creek Track was wide and well-graded making for easy walking. The track travelled through lowland podocarp forest and several tall totara and rimu could be seen towering above the lower canopy.
At one point we passed through a grove of yellow leaved poplars (planted for erosion control in the mid 20th century). It was strange to see deciduous exotics amongst the green native forest.
Halfway to the magazine shaft the track crosses another track. To the right is a track that crosses the creek and continues up the ridge to complete a loop back out to the car park via the ridge. This track provides a more strenuous option for returning to their cars than the Coppermine Creek Track.
Crossing Coppermine Creek
Rock-hopping up the creek
On the left is a boggy track called the Wharite Peak Track. It climbs steeply to the windswept leatherwood tops and along to Wharite Road, the southern tip of the Ruahine Range. On a clear day there are magnificent views, but it is recommended for experienced trampers only.
However, to get to the magazine we continued straight on.
The path became a little rougher in places, with a detour around a washout before crossing the creek and passing the site of an historic work and accommodation base for mining work done in the 1920’s.
Soon after this the track joined the creek and from here we rock hopped up the creek bed for some distance. This route would not be safe after heavy rain.
Interpretation signs along the track tell the pioneering story
We reached the site of the magazine in just over an hour from the roadend. There are several interpretation panels along the route, and one at this site.
After a bit of scouting around we discovered the actual magazine across the creek from the interpretation panel. The magazine was excavated in 1930, and as well as storing mining equipment was used to store munitions during World War II.
Turning on our torches we ventured into the low shaft. It was impossible to stand straight and was very wet underfoot.
The shaft was about 15 metres long and we were fascinated by the huge spiders and beautiful cave weta. At the far end of the shaft was a large group of cave weta clinging to the roof of the magazine. This was definitely a highlight of the trip.
A highlight: Cave weta clinging to the roof of the magazine
From the magazine area the track continued up the hill and after 20 minutes we reached the site of the original mineshaft. Unfortunately the original mineshaft is no longer visible as it was in-filled in the 1990’s and is now just a slope.
Entering the magazine
Retracing our steps we headed back towards the car park. When the tracks crossed, we chose to take the loop track up over the ridge and out via the farmland, taking about 2 hours from the intersection.
It is quite a strenuous climb for the first 40 minutes or so, but well worth the effort for those looking for a more energetic outing. There are views across southern Hawke’s Bay from the top portion of track, which passes through private farmland.
The weather suddenly changed on us—it rained, it got cold, and I was pleased to have my coat, my gloves, and my warm jacket—all the gear you need to take, just in case!
Please note, if you choose to take this route please respect the privilege of walking across private land, avoid stock and leave gates as you find them.
Coppermine Creek offers something for all, a great family trip—to the magazine and back—or the longer loop back to the car park. Either choice gives you a great chance to get back to nature while enjoying part of New Zealand’s fascinating pioneering history.
Every Friday Jobs at DOC will take you behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation.
Today we profile Gabriela Gomez Fell.
With John Adams, ex DOC and Wildlife Service legend, at our end of the year volunteer BBQ
At work…
Position: Community Relations Ranger – Hawke’s Bay.
What kind of things do you do in your role?
I organise and run events, manage volunteers, give talks, participate in our education programmes, produce our newsletter, work with the media, do a bit of web management, mmm… what else… coordinate the odd poster and pamphlet, work with the council, groups and other agencies on different projects; basically anything that has to do with the public and getting them informed/involved. Also, I occasionally get to go out in the field and I am part of a very successful catering service run by the Community Relations team = )
Playing a food web game with school children
What is the best part about your job?
Getting to see people’s faces when they learn something they didn’t know about, and working with people that like to get up in the morning to go to work.
Walk and talk to the Cape Sanctuary - waiting in line to feed Cooks Petrels
What led you to your role in DOC?
Since I arrived in New Zealand I’ve explored different areas of public conservation land, and thought DOC did a pretty good job looking after it. I was curious to see how they did it and wanted to be a part of it.
What was the highlight of your month just gone?
I got to interview students that participated in one of our education programmes years ago to see if the programme was working and if they remembered anything; they did. They remembered so much more than what I was expecting. It was a wonderful feeling to know that what we do actually does make a difference and that the messages we are putting across are being remembered.
With Bryan Welch measuring a stranded whale
The rule of three…
Three loves
- My family (my husband and my family back in my home land and around the globe)
- Mountains (particularly in winter)
- Spending time outdoors (walking, taking photos, cross country skiing, cycling, kayaking, hiking and swimming)
With most of my family on our wedding day just over a year ago
Three pet peeves
- Disrespectful people
- Ants in my pantry
Three foods
- Freshly picked summer fruit
- A good salad with fresh herbs
- Grandma’s baking
Valle Frances, one of the most beautiful places from home
Three favourite places in New Zealand
- Fiordland (so peaceful, beautiful and similar to home)
- Wanaka (great atmosphere, close to Snowfarm, wonderful lake and mountains to play in)
- The Coromandel (particularly when the pohutakawa trees are in full bloom)
Favourite movie, album, book
Movie(s) – The Banff film fest; the movies blow me away every year, if you have not gone to one you must. And for a more mellow experience, Amelie—love it!
Album – Anything from St. Germain, you can’t go wrong with him. It is great background music for anything.
Book – In a sunburned country by Bill Bryson, I have never laughed so much reading a book.
Zapatito de la virgen - Calceolaria Uniflora, a very special flower found in Patagonia
Deep and meaningful…
What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?
Don’t worry, enjoy it.
With the contorta crew - Kaweka Forest Park
Who or what inspires you and why?
Explorers, mountaineers, pioneers, people that go great lengths to follow their dreams and conquer what others might see as impossible, and people that survive challenges that would defeat others.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An archaeologist.
And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?
I would probably be at uni getting a masters degree.
If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
Some marine mammal—probably a dolphin—to be able to live underwater, play with gravity, see birds diving for food, schools of fish and penguins zooming by, and to teach other dolphins a thing or two about how great marine protected areas are and to keep away from fishing nets.
What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
Go out, explore, live it, love it, be proud, get involved and let others know about it; “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax.
