38-849: The Croesus Track is a 22.1 km (13.7 mi) historic miners trail to the south of Paparoa National Park in the Grey District of South Island of New Zealand. The route crosses the Paparoa Range from Blackball in the Grey Valley to Barrytown on the Tasman Sea coast. The first section, starting from the Blackball end, is shared with the Paparoa Track which follows the route of the Croesus Track to top of
76-703: A community, regional and national basis. Forest & Bird has offices and staff located in Auckland , Christchurch , Wellington , Nelson and Dunedin . Forest & Bird publishes a quarterly magazine Forest & Bird , one of New Zealand's definitive natural history and conservation publications. Forest & Bird has published a comprehensive commentary book on environmental law in New Zealand . Forest & Bird are also actively engaged in advocating and lobbying for resource management law and practices to more consistently protect ecosystems. Forest & Bird
114-718: A discussion paper including a proposal to remove 7,058 hectares of land from Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act 1991 , including the Inangahua sector of Paparoa National Park. The area of the Inangahua sector included in this proposal was 3,315 hectares, or 8 per cent of the park. The proposed change would remove the prohibition on mining for the area concerned. On 26 March 2010, a spokesman for Gerry Brownlee said that opencast mining in Paparoa National Park could not be ruled out. On 20 July 2010, in
152-474: A forest conservation group already existed but it gradually died out. In 1935 Mackenzie and Sanderson renamed the society the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. Sanderson drove an expansion of the society's range of interests into such areas as soil erosion and use of native trees for soil stabilisation. He became the president in 1933 a position which he held until his death in 1945 aged 79. Until
190-645: A joint statement by Brownlee and Wilkinson, the Government announced that it had received 37,552 submissions on its discussion paper, and that it had decided not to remove any land from Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act for the purposes of further mineral exploration or extraction. Ms Wilkinson said the government had agreed to continue with its proposal to add 14 areas with a total of 12,400 hectares of land to Schedule 4, including 240 hectares of Paparoa National Park (the northwest addition). The park
228-414: A large stamper battery into the range. Insufficient gold was recovered to make the operation viable, and the company was dissolved two years later. The Croesus Track fell into disuse after mining ceased, but in the 1970s, a team led by Ces Clark, a Blackball resident and Forest Service ranger set about re-opening the track. A new hut on the bush edge is named in honour of Ces Clark. The first section of
266-414: A means of access to the park's karst interior. However, in many of the tributaries the gorges are narrow, steep and include waterfalls. Dry, mossy streambeds, karren, sinkholes (or dolines), blind valleys and basins where water emerges from caves or vanishes into sinks are all indicators of the complex subterranean system beneath. Intricate systems of shafts, passages and caverns have been slowly formed by
304-551: A result of the collapse of a scenic viewing platform. The Paparoa Track , one of New Zealand's Great Walks , runs through the park. The small settlement of Punakaiki , adjacent to the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes tourist attraction, lies on the edge of the park. The park is also located near the towns of Westport , Greymouth and Barrytown . In 1976, the Federated Mountain Clubs had identified
342-407: Is a popular location for tramping, walking, and viewing scenery and caves. The Truman Track , located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Punakaiki, provides access from State Highway 6 to a headland via a short walk through coastal forest of ferns, nīkau palms, podocarps and rātā, with flax nearer the coastline. The Paparoa Track is another popular route. A 55 km (34 mi) walkway,
380-785: Is located in the northern West Coast region of the South Island, between the Buller River (Kawatiri) and the Grey River (Māwheranui). It includes the western side of the Paparoa Range and some separate eastern sections along the Inangahua River . The park covers the catchment areas of the Punakaiki , Pororari and Fox (Potikohua) rivers and Bullock Creek (Punungairo) , and also the Metro / Te Ananui cave system and
418-487: The Paparoa Track from Blackball to Punakaiki and the Pike29 Memorial Track were constructed through the park as a memorial to the 29 miners lost in the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster . Most of the families of the victims approved, but there has been some criticism because Solid Energy decided in 2014 that it was too risky to re-enter the mine to recover any remains from the mine. The formation of
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#1732787317748456-477: The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand , is an environmental organisation specialising in the protection and conservation of New Zealand 's indigenous flora and fauna and unique wild places and natural ecosystems. Forest & Bird consists of 47 branches located in urban and rural centres throughout New Zealand. Branches are actively engaged in conservation projects and advocacy on
494-684: The 1970s, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society remained the only New Zealand environmental group. However, in October 1971 the New Zealand Government proposed to harvest large areas of native South Island lowland beech forest with half the cleared area to be converted to exotic Pinus radiata . Along with the Save Manapouri campaign , the native forest harvesting prompted more public awareness of conservation and
532-528: The Government released the "Schedule 4 stocktake" proposal to open up 7058 hectares of protected conservation land for mining. Parts of the Coromandel Peninsula, Great Barrier Island, and parts of Paparoa National Park were proposed for removal from Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act 1991 , which otherwise prevents mining. Journalist John Armstrong commented that "Forest and Bird knocked the Government sideways with leaked information revealing
570-575: The National Museum succeeded in having a core area of great ecological significance – the forests of the lowland karst syncline – gazetted as the Pororari Ecological Area in 1979. The initial proposal for a large park incorporating the wilderness area was rejected, but after seven rounds of submissions and help from other environment groups including the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society , an area of 30,327 hectares
608-531: The Paparoa Range. This section is shared-use between hiking and mountain biking . From around 1864, there was a gold rush in the Paparoa foothills, leading to the establishment of the town of Blackball. Miners first developed a rough track up Blackball Creek to access prospecting sites. This track was gradually improved into the pack track now known as the Croesus Track between 1881 and 1899, and reached
646-848: The Paparoa Ranges. Several species such as tūī , bellbird, kākā , kererū (New Zealand pigeon) and parakeets migrate from winter habitat in the lower forests to summer habitat in the upland forests. A significant feature of the coast is the colony of the rare seabird, the Westland petrel (tāiko), that is located on densely forested terraces just south of Punakaiki river. The Westland petrel breeding site at Punakaiki has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International . Large colonies of New Zealand fur seals have been established adjacent areas around Westport such as at Cape Foulwind . Rare southern elephant seals and leopard seals also visit. Hector's dolphins (some of
684-673: The Paparoa Track has been a catalyst for the emerging adventure sports community on the West Coast with events such as The Paparoa which features trail running and mountain biking over the track. The event is based around the regions mining history and also celebrates the number of exceptional female adventure athletes the region has produced such as Casey Brown, Ruth Croft and Emily Miazga. Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Forest & Bird ( Māori : Te Reo o te Taiao ), also known by its formal name as
722-476: The Paparoa Track, starting from the Blackball end, follows the Croesus Track to top of the Paparoa Range . [REDACTED] Media related to Croesus Track at Wikimedia Commons Paparoa National Park Paparoa National Park is on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand . The park was established in 1987 and encompasses 430 km (170 sq mi). The park ranges from or near
760-556: The Paparoa tops. The gold was found in quartz reefs, requiring ore-crushing machinery for extraction. Following the discovery of a reef high in the mountains above Blackball, the Croesus Gold Mining Company was formed in 1896, to attract the investment necessary to pay for the machinery and the development of a mine. In 1901, the Garden Gully Company took over the operation and in 1904 they moved
798-447: The coastline to the peaks of the Paparoa Range . A separate section of the park lies to the north and is centred at Ananui Creek. The park protects a limestone karst area. The park contains several caves , of which Metro Cave / Te Ananui Cave is a commercial tourist attraction. The majority of the park is forested with a wide variety of vegetation. The park was the site of the 1995 Cave Creek disaster where fourteen people died as
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#1732787317748836-551: The continual effects of water through the soluble limestone. The forest ensures that this process continues by supplying decaying vegetation to add to the acidity in the flowing water. The largest single feature in the karst region is the Barrytown syncline. Limestone is exposed on both flanks of the syncline with more recent gravels and mudstones occupying the low-lying area in between. These more easily erodible rocks overlie interstratal karst. The majority of known cave systems are in
874-575: The formation of new environmental groups such as the Beech Forest Action Committee . In response to the native forest harvesting, on 4 July 1975 Forest & Bird and Beech Forest Action Committee started the Maruia Declaration as a public petition demanding an end to native forest logging and legal recognition of native forests. The Maruia Declaration was submitted to the New Zealand Government in 1977. From 2005
912-551: The group warned that a yet unreleased government report proposed to allow mining in 7000ha of high-value conservation land in Paparoa National Park , Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula . Key also labelled news coverage quoting Forest & Bird's revelations of the Government's intentions for mining conservation land as "hysterical". A week later, as predicted by Forest & Bird,
950-531: The highest population densities in the nation) and some other dolphins including killer whales can be observed close to shores as well. For whales, their number is still very small, but various species have been observed. Although Paparoa National Park is protected from mining by Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, there have been proposals to allow some mining within the park's borders. On 22 March 2010, Gerry Brownlee (Minister of Energy and Resources) and Kate Wilkinson (Minister of Conservation) released
988-504: The limestone syncline, creating subterranean waterways and extensive cave systems that are one of the features of the park. The main rivers are the Fox , Pororari and Punakaiki . Another of the rivers is Cave Creek, site of the 1995 Cave Creek disaster . Cave Creek is fed by a complex cave system. Upstream of the Xanadu and Taurus Major sinkholes , on Bullock Creek (the most northerly on
1026-430: The main range has deep glaciated valleys that run north and south, with towering bluffs and cirques , hanging valleys, and truncated spurs . The western coastline is known for its spectacular and varied scenery and its accessibility. The Paparoa mountains were uplifted during the late Pliocene or early Quaternary periods. Mt Lodge, the highest mountain in the park at 1,447 metres (4,747 ft), has rocks that are
1064-402: The mainland when New Zealand was uplifted quite recently in its geological history. The most well known feature of the coastal region is the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Dolomite Point, near Punakaiki, where evenly layered stacks of platey limestone have been eroded in places to form surge pools and blowholes . Bird habitats within the park range from on or near the coastline to the peak of
1102-656: The northern part of the Paparoa Ranges as a potential wilderness area. In 1979, the Native Forest Action Council proposed a 130,000 hectare national park, including the northern Paparoa Ranges and land to the north and east. This eventually led to the National Parks and Reserves Authority identifying the western Paparoa Range as a prospective national park. Meanwhile, a joint proposal by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and
1140-644: The oldest in New Zealand. Over the last 10 million years, the movement of the Alpine Fault has separated the predominantly granite and gneiss rocks of the Paparoas from their original neighbours, so that they now more closely resemble the rocks in Fiordland , far to the southwest, than to the relatively nearby main range of the Southern Alps . Rivers flowing from the Paparoa Ranges pass through
1178-677: The society has held an annual poll Bird of the Year , voted on by the public. Winners to date include the kākāpō , the tūī and the New Zealand long-tailed bat . In 2021, all proceeds from Lorde's Te Ao Mārama EP went to Forest & Bird as well as the Te Hua Kawariki Charitable Trust. In April 2022, Nicola Toki took over from Kevin Hague as Chief Executive of Forest & Bird. The first 100 years of
Croesus Track - Misplaced Pages Continue
1216-472: The society is detailed in Force of nature: te aumangea o te ao tūroa : a conservation history of Forest & Bird 1923-2023. Perceptions of Forest & Bird are varied. While the group is one of the most well-known mainstream environmental groups of the country, it has also come under criticism, such as in 2010 when Prime Minister John Key accused them of engaging in "predictable scaremongering " when
1254-719: The southern side of the Tiropahi River catchment. The park has unusually diverse geology with a wide variety of coastal, lowland and mountain landforms. The major geological structures that form the park are the Barrytown syncline , the Punakaiki anticline , the Paparoa Tectonic Zone, the Cape Foulwind fault and the Hawera fault. Most of the land area of the park is mountainous. The eastern side of
1292-530: The west coast, others being near Ross and Fox Glacier ), a polje of up to about 1 km (0.62 mi) square and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) deep can form after heavy rain. Bush felling and drainage took place in the polje from the 1870s, but the wetland ecology has been undergoing restoration since 1986. The other large polje in this country is at Lake Disappear in Waikato. The river gorges, confined by high, forest-crowned limestone cliffs, provide
1330-463: The western side of the limestone syncline where underground drainage patterns are concentrated mainly along horizontal lines of weakness in the bedding planes . The Paparoa coastline is characterised by high cliffs cut away by waves from the Tasman Sea , with indented coves and sandy beaches. There are small islands offshore and rock pillars. These terraces were once islands, which became part of
1368-703: Was founded as the Native Bird Protection Society in 1923. Later renamed as the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, it has consistently advocated conservation issues, particularly for forested land. Val Sanderson is acknowledged as the founder of Forest & Bird. In 1921, after his return from the First World War, the then Captain Val Sanderson was angered that the Kapiti Island wildlife reserve
1406-527: Was gazetted as Paparoa National Park on 23 November 1987. Following the liquidation of Pike River Coal , Solid Energy purchased the assets of the company. The government then purchased the 3,580 hectares (8,800 acres) of land around the Pike River Mine. The environment minister, Nick Smith , announced on 15 November 2015 that the 3,580 ha of land was to be added to the Park. Paparoa National Park
1444-508: Was unfenced and extensively damaged by cattle, sheep and goats. Sanderson campaigned for better management of Kapiti Island and succeeded in having it re-dedicated as a Wildlife Reserve. After this success, Sanderson held a public meeting in March 1923 which established the Native Bird Protection Society with Sir Thomas Mackenzie as the Society's first President. The New Zealand Forestry League,
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