Proposed Tararua National Park

Forest and Bird, Issue 105, 1 August 1952, Page 9

Proposed Tararua National Park

A MOVE ME NT is afoot to have the whole of the Tararua Ranges at least, and if possible also its extension via the Rimutakas to Palliser Bay, declared a National Park. The sponsors are the Tararua National Park Project Committee with headquarters at Masterton. Included in its personnel are members and ex-members of Catchment Boards, River Boards, Electric Power Boards and Tramping Clubs. This Committee has circulated an attractively produced illustrated pamphlet in support of its case to local bodies, tramping clubs, Members of Parliament and others.. In this it points out that milling in the upper reaches of the rivers has left along almost the whole eastern side of the Tararua Ranges, right up to the foothills in many places, extensive shingle terraces, through which all the main streams from the Ranges must pass, the rapidity of the water run-off after heavy rains being greatly increased. It mentions that the botanist member of. the Wairarapa Catchment Board some years ago recommended that at least 25,000 acres of the eastern foothills of the Ranges be resumed and

either replanted or allowed to revert to natural growth. More licenses to mill bush further inside the area have, however, since been granted. It also quotes a combined advertisement of the N.Z. Forest Service and the Soil- Conservation and Rivers Control Council in the Wairarapa Press, addressed to residents of the Wairarapa, which says : “The forests of the Tararua Ranges are watershed protection forests which must be preserved. They are necessary for the conservation of water supplies for many towns and settlements, to minimise the flooding of fertile land and to prevent erosion”. The President and Secretary of our Society and the Wellington Regional Planning Officer were invited to be present at a meeting of the Committee which was held on Sunday, 20th April, at Featherston, the time and place being arranged by the Committee for their convenience. The Committee is asking for support for its case and the response so far has been encouraging. It hopes to send a deputation to the Hon. Minister of Lands to lay the case for a Tararua National Park before him.