Securing the future of Te Ara Pataka...
Another exciting new conservation project has just commenced on Banks Peninsula around Mt Herbert/Mt Bradley. A group of interested parties lead by the Rod Donald Trust have just brought a large parcel of land on the southern side of Lyttleton Harbor above the Orton Bradley Estate. The plan is turn this area into a new park with the interim name of Te Ahu Patiki.
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| Map: the Te Ahu Patiki Conservation Park |
Te Ahu Patiki is a 500 ha parcel of land including the summits of both Mt Herbert and Mt Bradley two of the highest points on Banks Peninsula. The land was previously a part of Louden Farm's owned by Phillip King and Sarah Lovell-Smith. The two families are long term land owners on Banks Peninsula and have lived here for over 100 years.
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| Signatories at the deed settlement ceremony for Te Ahu Patiki in 2021 |
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| The summit of Mt Herbert is within Te Ahu Patiki |
The Rod Donald Trust in partnership with Orton Bradley Estate, the Department of Conservation and Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke started negotiations to purchased the land in July 2021 with the intention of creating a new conservation park. A crowd funding appeal was the final piece of the puzzle and the $400 000 raised enabled the partners to amass the $2 million dollars needed to acquire the land.
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| Most of these hills are contained in Te Ahu Patiki |
The partnership have a long term vision to restore native bush to most of this new park so that one day there will be a sizeable area of native forest around the two peaks. With the land owned by the Rod Donald Trust and other DOC reserves along Te Ara Pataka this will create a native forest corridor from near Hilltop Tavern to Packhorse Hut on Kaituna Pass. Together the reserves will cover over 1700 ha of land providing an ecological hotspot on Banks Peninsula.
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| In Mt Sinclair Reserve, Te Ara Pataka in May 2020 |
The inclusion of the Orton Bradley Estate is a excellent action as it will ensure there is a sea to summit walking corridor from Lyttleton Harbor right up to the top of Mt Herbert. Orton Bradley Estate is a 600 ha reserve immediately below Te Ahu Patiki. It is a farm park with extensive walking tracks, camping areas and an outdoor education center.
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| Looking up the Mt Herbert Walkway, Orton Bradley Estate |
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| The Orton Bradley estate connects with Mt Herbert |
Protection of this land and securing permeant public access to Te Ara Pataka will go some way towards realizing the vision of early Christchurch conservationist Harry Ell. Harry Ell was the prime champion of a long distance trail from Christchurch to Akaroa in the 1900-1920's. We have him to thank for the many tracks and reserves which dot the Port Hills which he advocated for as a City Councilor and MP.
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| Mt Bradley is contained within Te Ahu Patiki |
Te Ara Pataka, the Crater Rim Walkway and Summit Walkway now form a continuous track network from Godley Head all the way to Hilltop. Plans are afoot to extend this the rest of the way to Akaroa finally making his dream a reality.
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| You can walk from Awaroa/Godley Head's..... |
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| ...to Hilltop Tavern on public tracks!!! |
The land will be protected in perpetuity with a QEII conservation covenant and it will be managed to facilitate natural regeneration of the native forest which once cloaked all of Banks Peninsula. Seed plants will be sourced from other areas of native forest on the Peninsula.
Grazing stock will be removed from the land and an intensive planting scheme will be undertaken. Gradually the gorse which currently covers the land within the park will make way for native forest and native bush.
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| The view back along Te Ara Pataka from Mt Herbert |
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| Mt Bradley from near the Remarkable Dykes |
I am really excited about this project...I am a fan of tramping on Banks Peninsula, the Port Hills and the Te Ara Pataka Track in particular. I have walked the full track three times now and other sections multiple times. I would love to see these hills covered in native bush once again....
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| At Packhorse Hut, Kaituna Pass...Mt Bradley to rear |
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| View down to Port Levy from Te Ara Pataka, 2016 |
I look forward to seeing the hills gradually transform over the next couple of decades from the current open grasslands to a state more like they would have resembled before human interference.
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| Jon on the summit of Mt Herbert in July 2020... |
Definitely a watch this space moment...
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