EXTENT OF PARK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 26 November 1942, Page 2

EXTENT OF PARK

SCENIC BEAUTY OF REGION The Park comprises an area of 37,622 acres, made up of 21,900 acres of provisional State forest, 14.354 acres of Crown land, and 1368 acres of scenic and other reserves situated in the Totaranui, Kaiteriteri, Waitapu and Takaka Survey Districts, and-covering what is sometimes known as the Kaiteriteri Peninsula. It is granite country, much of which is still in virgin bush, and possesses great scenic and botanic value, while the historical associations of Tasman, D'Urville, and Captain Wakefield with that part of Tasman Bay give it added interest as a national reserve. A good deal of it is in practically the same state as when seen by the first settlers in Nelson. There are miles of rugged coastline, open bays, beautiful rivers with many falls, and beaches of golden sand with a background of bushclad ranges. Four fine rivers, the Marahau. Falls. Awaroa and Avvapoto rise in the reserve, through which the three last named flow for the greater part of their courses to the sea.

EARLY PROPOSALS The scenic beauty of the region has long been recognised. Areas at Bark Bay and at Sandfly Bay were set apart for purposes of scenery preservation as long ago as 1897, while old records show that in 1906 the Nelson Scenery Preservation Society was pressing for the reservation of the country along the appropriately named Falls River from the sea to its source. In 1920 and 1921 large areas within the boundaries of the new national park were set aside as provisional State forest pending a more detailed investigation of the country, and in 1936 the Lands Department in Wellington raised with its Nelson office the question of whether scenic reservation should be made along the Falls River. In November, 1937, the Nelson Labour Representation Committee of the New Zealand Labour Party resolved that in view of the new road then proposed round the coastline on the western side of Tasman Bay from Tarakohe round to Kaiteriteri the Government be urged to take steps to preserve all the bush on the seaward side of the ranges at Astrolabe, Torrent Bay. Frenchman’s Bay, Sandfly Bay and Bark Bay, and to make as much of that area as possible into a scenic reserve. This led to proposals by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act of some 35,000 acres of Crown land and provisional State forest. The proposals were discussed between the Lands Department and the State Forest Service, but it was decided to hold the matter in abeyance pending the construction of the proposed coastal road.

Then last year Mrs Perrine Moncrieff, well known throughout the Dominion for her great interest in our native flora and fauna, commenced a movement to have the area set aside as a national park. She interested the Nelson local bodies, and in October, 1941, a petition signed by representatives of the Nelson City Council, the Waimea. Takaka and Collingwood County Councils, the Motueka Borough Council, the Takaka Town Board, the Nelson Hhrbour Board, and the Nelson Automobile Association was sent to the Government through Mr H. Atmore, M.P., praying for the constitution of a national park between Totaranui and Marahau on Tasman Bay. The proposals covered substantially the area recommended in 1938 by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for reservation under the Scenery Preservation Act. 1908. and after further examination by the departments concerned were approved by the Government.

THE NAME The question of an appropriate name for the new reserve was submitted to the Geographic Board, which recommended adoption of the name “Abel Tasman Park” as commemorative of the visit of Tasman in 1642. This recommendation has been adopted, and the name will not conflict with the Tasman Park of the Mt. Cook district. Nelson Province has always been recognised as possessing many areas of outstanding scenic value, and this has led to the reservation throughout the district of large numbers of scenic reserves. To name only a few mention might be made of the reserves at Lakes Rotoroa and Rotoiti, in the Buller Gorge, along the Westport-Greymouth road, and in the Inangahua Valley. Nor have general recreation requirements been neglected. Nelson has a full quota of public domains set apart for the use and enjoyment of the people. In the vicinity of the new national park the Government has in recent years been able to assist in the acquisition and development of public domains at the popular Kaiteriteri and Pohara Beaches.