Ahuriri Conservation Park is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

of 49,000 hectares including tussock grasslands, forest, and river habitat, located in Canterbury,

South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...

, New Zealand, and centred around the headwaters of the

Ahuriri River The Ahuriri River is a river in the Canterbury and Otago Regions of the South Island of New Zealand. The headwaters are on the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. The river flows for through the southernmost part of the Mackenzie Basin befor ...

. The park includes trails and huts. The mountains, forests, tussock lands and river valleys are used for tramping, fishing kayaking, horse riding and hunting. Both the park and neighbouring Ben Avon Station are located near the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a

dark-sky preserve A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts or reduces light pollution or maintains and protects naturally dark night skies. Different terms have been used to describe these areas as national or ...

, and are used for astronomy. The town is serviced by the tourist town of

Omarama Omarama is a small town (population 291 as of the 2018 census) at the junction of State Highway 8 (New Zealand), State Highways 8 and New Zealand State Highway 83, 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Ze ...

History

The park was established in 2005, and includes the Birchwood Station leasehold farm the

New Zealand Government The New Zealand Government () is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifica ...

bought back for NZ$10 million in 2004. It contained extensive wetlands that had remained largely undeveloped. Birchwood Station continued normal farming operations until the end of the leasehold in 2010. The road to the former Birchwood Station homestead stopped being regularly maintained by

Waitaki District Council Waitaki District Council () is the territorial authority for the Waitaki District of New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the So ...

in 2011. In 2014, ecologist Peter Espie reported a decrease in native plant species in the park, and suggested introducing grazing management. Parts of the 2020 Disney film ''

Mulan Hua Mulan () is a legendary Chinese folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century Common Era, CE) of Chinese history. Scholar, Scholars generally consider Mulan to be a fictional character. Hua Mulan is depicte ...

'' were filmed in the Ahuriri Valley near the conservation park, including the training camp scenes and some battle scenes.

References

{{Authority control Protected areas of Otago Waitaki District 2004 establishments in New Zealand Protected areas established in 2004

History

See also

References