Akatarawa Forest is a regional park in the

Upper Hutt Upper Hutt () is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and one of the four cities that constitute the Wellington#Wellington metropolitan area, Wellington metropolitan area. History Upper Hutt is in an area originally known as Orongo ...

within the

Wellington Region Greater Wellington, also known as the Wellington Region (Māori language, Māori: ''Te Upoko o te Ika''), is the southernmost regions of New Zealand, region of the North Island of New Zealand. The local government region covers an area of , and ...

at the southern tip of the

North Island The North Island ( , 'the fish of Māui', historically New Ulster) is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, islands of New Zealand, separated from the larger but less populous South Island by Cook Strait. With an area of , it is the List ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. It encompasses 15,000 hectares of native and plantation forest. It includes the headwaters of the Maungakotukutuku Steam, Akatarawa River West and the Whakatīkei River. The park is owned and managed by

Greater Wellington Regional Council Wellington Regional Council, branded as Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), is the regional council overseeing the Wellington Region of New Zealand's lower North Island. It is responsible for Public transport in the Wellington Region, p ...

, making it one of the largest landowners in New Zealand. Akatarawa is a

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

name meaning 'Trailing vines'. Activities include cycling, hunting, fishing, horse riding, 4WD-vehicle trips and trail biking, including at the Karapoti Gorge.

History

Akatarawa Forest has ancient northern rātā which predate human habitation of New Zealand, including one tree which is believed to be 1100 years old. Some of these trees are wider than

Tāne Mahuta Tāne Mahuta, also called "God of the Forest", is a giant Agathis australis, kauri tree (''Agathis australis'') in the Waipoua Forest of Northland Region, New Zealand. Its age is unknown but is estimated to be between 1,250 and 2,500 years. It ...

. One is largest rātā tree in New Zealand, at 39 metres tall. Greater Wellington Regional Council carried out a 1080 dropping programme in 2013 to reduce pest species. A trailbiker was seriously injured in the park in July 2017. A dirt-biker was rescued from the forest in February 2021. Between December 2017 and August 2018, a 1.7 kilometre zig-zag track that is part of the Cannon Point Walkway was closed to the public due to a disagreement between Upper Hutt City Council and a private landowner over land access. In early 2021,

Forest and Bird Forest & Bird (), also known by its formal name as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, is an environmental organisation specialising in the protection and conservation biology, conservation of New Zealand's indigenous F ...

campaigned for Upper Hutt City Council to keep a 35-hectare block as a wildlife corridor and reserve, connecting Akatawa Forest with

Wainuiomata Wainuiomata () is a large Commuter town, dormitory suburb of Lower Hutt, in the Wellington#Wellington metropolitan area, Wellington metropolitan area in New Zealand. Its population was estimated as being as of with a density of 1,600 people ...

. In July 2021, a further 1080 operation was carried out in 2021 to combat a resurgence in possum numbers.

References

{{Wellington Regional Council * Forests of New Zealand Forestry in New Zealand Regional parks of the Wellington Region Upper Hutt