Winding its way through dense forest laced with hidden waterfalls, the Whanganui River is the largest navigable river in Aotearoa, the Māori word for New Zealand. With the passage of the Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Bill in March, the river became the first water system in the world to be recognized as a rights-bearing entity, holding legal “personhood” status. One implication of the agreement is that the...

A memorial plaque for Waikaremoana whānau who do not know where their ancestors are buried will be unveiled on Easter...

A country pub strategically located at the gateway to one of New Zealand's most remote ecotourist attractions is for sale. The Frasertown Tavern is half an hour drive to the stunning Lake Waikaremoana which plays host to a raft of walks, mountain biking tracks, caving, fishing and aquatic...

Department of Conservation turned 30 on April 1 and Malcolm Smith, a community ranger based in Wairoa, reflected on the past three decades. DoC was formed by merging conservation aspects of the Forest Service, Department of Lands and Survey and the Wildlife Service in...

All Te Urewera catchments received significant amounts of rainfall from Ex-Cyclone Debbie resulting in many rivers exceeding historic peak flood levels. Road closures has meant access being cut off to some areas in Te Urewera. Visit Whakatane (www.whakatane@govt.nz) and Wairoa District Council (www.wairoadc@govt.nz) websites for updates on the roads into Te Urewera. Manuhiri looking to spend time in Te Urewera need to take extreme care while...

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