59-557: Te Wāhipounamu ( Māori for "the place of greenstone ") is a World Heritage Site in the south west corner of the South Island of New Zealand . Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1990 and covering 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi), the site incorporates four national parks : It is thought to contain some of the best modern representations of the original flora and fauna of Gondwana , one of
118-664: A creation myth explaining the origin of the world and the Māori people (though there are many different versions). In some South Island dialects, Rangi is called Raki or Rakinui . Ranginui first married Poharua Te Po where they bore 3 offspring including Aorangi (or Aoraki as given in South Island). He later married Papatūānuku together becoming the primordial sky father and earth mother bearing over 500 children of male and female including Tāwhirimātea , Tāne and Tangaroa . Both Ranginui and Papatūānuku lie locked together in
177-959: A former owner in memory of their position and authority. The most prized taonga are those with known histories going back many generations: these are believed to have their own mana and were often given as gifts to seal important agreements. Pounamu taonga include tools such as toki ( adzes ), whao ( chisels ), whao whakakōka (gouges), ripi pounamu (knives), scrapers, awls, hammer stones, and drill points. Hunting tools include matau ( fishing hooks ) and lures, spear points, and kākā poria (leg rings for fastening captive birds); weapons such as mere ; and ornaments such as pendants ( hei tiki , hei matau and pekapeka ), ear pendants ( kuru and kapeu ), and cloak pins. Functional pounamu tools were widely worn for both practical and ornamental reasons, and continued to be worn as purely ornamental pendants ( hei kakī ) even after they were no longer used as tools. Pounamu
236-602: A potential hazard of the region. Even with the low density of settlements and transport corridors, there is the potential occurrence of landslides in the vicinity of tourist infrastructure in the Southern Alps. The entire region of Te Wahipounamu is of deep significance to Māori , in particular the Ngāi Tahu iwi , whose rohe (traditional area of control) covers the majority of the South Island. The legend as to
295-661: A result of governmental beliefs and World Heritage designation, they are not a result of the tool of ecotourism. So many people may refer to ecotourism in Te Wahipounamu but whether it truly deserves that title is open to interpretation. The area is a destination for large cruise ships which do not dock and smaller cruise ships that run local itineraries. Within Te Wahipounamu there are four wilderness areas . These areas are Hooker-Landsborough, which covers 41,000 ha, Olivine (80,000 ha), Pembroke (18,000 ha) and Glaisnock (125,000 ha). Together these wilderness areas make up 10% of
354-552: A result of tectonic movements over the last five million years. Glaciers are also a major feature of the area. Their basic pattern was set during the Pleistocene glaciations although there have been substantial post-glacial changes. These changes are greater in the Southern Alps than in the Fiordlands. Typical changes include intense gullying, serrated ridges, and major and minor rockfalls. Landslides, although not frequent, are
413-764: A stranger to them in the sky above while Papatūānuku will remain below to nurture them. The others put their plans into action— Rongo , the god of cultivated food, tries to push his parents apart, then Tangaroa , the god of the sea, and his sibling Haumia-tiketike , the god of wild food, join him. In spite of their joint efforts Rangi and Papa remain close together in their loving embrace. After many attempts Tāne, god of forests and birds, forces his parents apart. Instead of standing upright and pushing with his hands as his brothers have done, he lies on his back and pushes with his strong legs. Stretching every sinew Tāne pushes and pushes until, with cries of grief and surprise, Ranginui and Papatūānuku were pried apart. Traditions of
472-413: A tight embrace, and their sons forced to live in the cramped darkness between them. These children grow and discuss among themselves what it would be like to live in the light. Tūmatauenga , the fiercest of the children, proposes that the best solution to their predicament is to kill their parents. But his brother Tāne disagrees, suggesting that it is better to push them apart, to let Ranginui be as
531-499: A type of serpentine , known as tangiwai . The collective term pounamu is preferred, as the other names in common use are misleading, such as New Zealand jade (not all pounamu is jade) and greenstone (a generic term used for unrelated stone from many countries). Pounamu is only found in New Zealand, whereas much of the carved "greenstone" sold in souvenir shops is jade sourced overseas. The Māori classification of pounamu
590-406: Is affecting this experience though. There are perceptions of crowding on several of the backcountry tramping tracks. This effects and minimizes the desired experience of wilderness and solitude. There are a variety of issues throughout Te Wahipounamu that still need resolution. They include the following: The environmental threat of a Haast-Hollyford road , a proposal that has been suggested since
649-414: Is also home to hundreds of the world's most active glaciers, but the main two are Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier . It is the largest and least modified area of New Zealand's natural ecosystem. And as such, the flora and fauna of the area is the world's best modern representation of the ancient biota of Gondwanaland. The vegetation in Te Wahipounamu is diverse and in essentially pristine condition. On
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#1732773235065708-479: Is by colour and appearance; the shade of green is matched against a colour found in nature, and some hues contain flecks of red or brown. Jade is formed from two different stones: jadeite and nephrite . Jadeite (sodium aluminium silicate) has interlocking granular crystals, while nephrite (calcium magnesium silicate) has crystals that are interwoven and fibrous. Jadeite is mostly found in Myanmar , while nephrite
767-549: Is found along the eastern and northern edge of Fiordland. The Anita Bay Dunite near Milford Sound is a small but highly prized source of pounamu. In the Southern Alps, the Pounamu Ultramafic Belt in the Haast Schist occurs as isolated pods which are eroded and found on West Coast rivers and beaches. One source of īnanga pounamu at the head of Lake Wakatipu is possibly the only jade mining site in
826-549: Is found in Europe , British Columbia , Australia , and New Zealand . New Zealand nephrite contains varying amounts of iron, which account for its range of shades, richness of green, and translucency. Pounamu is generally found in rivers in specific parts of the South Island as nondescript boulders and stones. Pounamu has been formed in New Zealand in four main locations; the West Coast , Fiordland , western Southland and
885-573: Is found only in the South Island of New Zealand, known in Māori as Te Wai Pounamu ('The [land of] Greenstone Water') or Te Wahi Pounamu ('The Place of Greenstone'). In 1997 the Crown handed back the ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu to the South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu (or Kai Tahu), as part of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement . Pounamu was of such value to Māori that peace
944-551: Is home to many indigenous animals and contains the largest and most significant population of forest birds in the country. The total wild population of the takahē , which is only about 170 birds, is found in a few mountain valleys in Fiordland. Along the south-west coast, most of New Zealand's Fur Seals are found. Also found in this region are Southern Brown Kiwi , Great Spotted Kiwi , Yellow-crowned parakeet , Fiordland Penguin , New Zealand Falcon , and Brown teal . The kākāpō ,
1003-415: Is illegal, while nephrite jade can be sourced legally and freely from Marlborough and Nelson. In 2009 David Anthony Saxton and his son Morgan David Saxton were sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for stealing greenstone, with a helicopter, from the southern West Coast. Papat%C5%AB%C4%81nuku In Māori mythology the primal couple Rangi and Papa (or Ranginui and Papatūānuku ) appear in
1062-564: Is legislation. New Zealand does not have any legislation specific to the World Heritage Site and therefore Te Wahipounamu is managed under the previously mentioned legislation (National Parks Act, Conservation Act, Reserves Act). The second entity is visitor strategy. The Department of Conservation manages all sites within Te Wahipounamu under the Visitor Strategy. This strategy divides visitors into seven groups based on
1121-701: Is management plans. Management plans are created for specific sites within Te Wahipounamu. Each National Park has its own management plan. The main tourist attractions within Te Wahipounamu are Milford Sound / Piopiotahi and the Milford Track , Lake Te Anau and the Kepler Track , the Routeburn Track and Mount Aspiring / Tititea , Aoraki / Mount Cook and the Haupapa / Tasman , Franz Josef , and Fox Glaciers . There are only two main roads in
1180-541: Is nature-based, ‘green’ tourism. There is a combination of nature and adventure tourism. There are some strictly nature based tourism activities such as walking in the Natural Parks, whale-watching, and boat tours in the Fiordland Sounds. Then there are activities such as tramping or trekking, which contain adventure components like crossing rivers or mountain passes while enjoying the natural scenery. Even
1239-705: Is no air access for recreational or commercial purposes. Visitors enter these areas “on nature's terms”. The wilderness areas perpetuate ideas of purity and nature that have long existed. John Muir and Aldo Leopold advocated for the protection of the American wilderness and wilderness ideas were one of the foundations for the environmental movement in the United States. The New Zealand Wilderness Policy mirrors these ideas with criteria about having this protected land for enjoyment but keeping it virtually untouched by humans. The continuing rise in tourism to New Zealand
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#17327732350651298-537: Is the main land use. Sheep and cattle grazing is permitted under license or lease, although designation of Te Wahipounamu as a World Heritage site has limited the lands available for these practices. Te Wahipounamu is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. It lies across the boundary of two plates, the Pacific Plate and the Indo-Australian Plate . The mountains in the area are
1357-558: Is used for making Maori tools, weapons, and jewelry. Te Wahipounamu was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. The Westland and Mount Cook National Park and the Fiordland National Park were previously inscribed on the list, but are now considered under Te Wahipounamu, which covers all of these areas. To be inscribed on this list, Te Wahipounamu met several criteria. It contains many of
1416-683: The Nelson district. It is typically recovered from rivers and beaches where it has been transported to after being eroded from the mountains. The group of rocks where pounamu comes from are called ophiolites . Ophiolites are slices of the deep ocean crust and part of the mantle . When these deep mantle rocks ( serpentinite ) and crustal rock ( mafic igneous rocks ) are heated up ( metamorphosed ) together, pounamu can be formed at their contact. The Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt has been metamorphosed in western Southland and pounamu from this belt
1475-497: The South Island of New Zealand. They are highly valued in New Zealand, and carvings made from pounamu play an important role in Māori culture . The Māori word pounamu , also used in New Zealand English , refers to two main types of green stone valued for carving: nephrite jade , classified by Māori as kawakawa , kahurangi , īnanga , and other names depending on colour; and translucent bowenite ,
1534-483: The 1870s. There is a further need to forge a working partnership with the Ngāi Tahu iwi. In principle there is a framework for this partnership but it is a persistent issue to realise the theoretical framework and implement a true partnership. Due to tourism there is an increase in tourist aircraft. The noise pollution from these aircraft disrupts the “natural quiet” of this region, which many wish to preserve. Currently
1593-457: The 2016 animated movie Moana the central premise is to return the stolen heart of Te Fiti which is manifest in a pounamu stone amulet. Fossicking for Pounamu is a cultural activity in New Zealand and allowed on designated areas of the West Coast of the South Island ( Te Tai o Poutini ) and is limited to what can be carried unaided; fossicking elsewhere in the Kai Tahu tribal area
1652-428: The Ngāi Tahu an opportunity to engage in and contribute to the operational management of the property. The treaty was not always honoured though, but a settlement was made around the time Te Wahipounamu was declared a World Heritage Area. The implications of this settlement were threefold. First Mount Cook became Aoraki / Mount Cook and 88 other topographic features were agreed to have dual Māori/English names. Secondly,
1711-723: The Taranaki region, however, assign this separating role to Tangaroa, god of the sea. And so the children of Ranginui and Papatūanuku see light and have space to move for the first time. While the other children have agreed to the separation, Tāwhirimātea , the god of storms and winds, is angered that the parents have been torn apart. He cannot bear to hear the cries of his parents nor see the tears of Ranginui as they are parted, he promises his siblings that from henceforth they will have to deal with his anger. He flies off to join Rangi and there carefully fosters his own many offspring who include
1770-640: The United States, Barack Obama with a wahaika (a type of Māori weapon) created from pounamu carved by New Zealand artist Aden Hoglund . An exhibition curated by Te Papa in 2007 called Kura Pounamu showcased 200 pounamu items from their collections and linked New Zealand and China through both the geographical location of nephrite and also the high level of artistry achieved in ancient China and then thousands of years later amongst Māori. The exhibition marked 40 years of diplomatic relations between countries when it toured to five venues in China in 2013. In
1829-497: The World Heritage Area does not include a marine component. There is a perceived need for better protection of the coastal wilderness. One of the larger issues the region faces are populations of invasive species . Invasive species have the biggest impact on the region. Population increases of red deer, and other browsing mammals such as wapiti, goat, and fallow deer, have caused severe damage and particularly threaten
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1888-457: The adventure activities like glacier walks, rafting, and climbing take place in the natural environment. According to Charnley, this type of nature tourism may not qualify as ecotourism. In her definition of ecotourism, it must have genuine social benefits and serve as a tool for sustainable community development. This requires meeting three conditions. Economic benefits must be structured in a culturally appropriate way that makes them accessible to
1947-458: The anger of the gods subsided and peace prevailed. Tū thought about the actions of Tāne in separating their parents and made snares to catch the birds, the children of Tāne who could no longer fly free. He then made nets from forest plants and casts them in the sea so that the children of Tangaroa soon lie in heaps on the shore. He made hoes to dig the ground, capturing his brothers Rongo and Haumia-tiketike where they have hidden from Tāwhirimātea in
2006-399: The arrival of Ngāi Tahu in the South Island in the middle of the 18th century, the production of pounamu increased. Pounamu crafting and trade was important to the economy of Ngāi Tahu. Pounamu taonga increase in mana (spiritual power or prestige) as they pass from one generation to another. Pounamu is believed to absorb the mana of its past owners, and some heirloom pieces are named after
2065-405: The attack and fall to the ground, food for decay and for insects. Then Tāwhirimātea attacks the oceans and huge waves rise, whirlpools form, and Tangaroa, the god of the sea, flees in panic. Punga , a son of Tangaroa, has two children, Ikatere father of fish , and Tū-te-wehiwehi (or Tu-te-wanawana) the ancestor of reptiles . Terrified by Tāwhirimātea's onslaught the fish seek shelter in
2124-439: The bosom of the earth mother and, recognising them by their long hair that remains above the surface of the earth, he drags them forth and heaps them into baskets to be eaten. So Tūmatauenga eats all of his brothers to repay them for their cowardice; the only brother that Tūmatauenga does not subdue is Tāwhirimātea, whose storms and hurricanes attack humankind to this day. There was one more child of Ranginui and Papatūānuku who
2183-494: The brothers was Aoraki and he is now Aoraki Mt. Cook while his brothers and the other crewmembers form the rest of the Southern Alps. The Māori also have a legend for the formation of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. This legend begins with Hinehukatere who loved climbing in the mountains. One day she persuaded her lover, Tawe, to join her. An avalanche killed Tawe and he came to rest in Fox Glacier. The traditional Māori name for
2242-446: The economic benefits are prevalent, but in most cases there lacks a further cultural or conservational component. Although there are some more historically and culturally based tourism activities and tours available. There is cultural integration among visitors and locals due to the small scale of the facilities but there is less often a link to traditional Maori culture. Conservational efforts are in place in this entire region but they are
2301-618: The formation of this region and the South Island is as follows. Te Wahipounamu was formed when the four sons of Rakinui, the Sky Father, descended from the heavens and set out on a voyage around Papatūānuku , the Earth Mother. During this voyage their canoe hit a reef and the brothers found themselves stranded. An icy wind from the Tasman Sea froze them into stone and their canoe became the South Island of New Zealand. The tallest of
2360-401: The glacier is Te Moeke o Tauwe, which means the bed of Tauwe. After Tauwe's death, Hinehukatere was heartbroken and cried so many tears. These tears froze to form Franz Josef Glacier. The Maori name for Franz Josef Glacier is Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere which means the tears of Hinehukatere. The area was, and continues to be, an important source of pounamu greenstone or jade. This precious stone
2419-434: The gods of cultivated and uncultivated foods. Rongo and Haumia are in great fear of Tāwhirimātea but, as he attacks them, Papatūānuku determines to keep these for her other children and hides them so well that Tāwhirimātea cannot find them. So Tāwhirimātea turns on his brother Tūmatauenga. He uses all his strength but Tūmatauenga stands fast and Tāwhirimatea cannot prevail against him. Tū (or human kind) stands fast and, at last,
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2478-491: The integrity of the forest and alpine ecosystems. Commercial hunting has been used as a means of reducing these populations to ecologically acceptable levels. The Department of Conservation has control programs and the National Parks policy is to eradicate new invasions and eradicate or reduce the range of existing invasive species Pounamu Pounamu is a term for several types of hard and durable stone found in
2537-752: The land in Te Wahipounamu is owned by the Crown (government and the people of New Zealand) and administered by the Department of Conservation . The most important regulations are the National Parks Act 1980 , the Conservation Act 1987 , and Reserves Act 1977 , which were not made specifically for Te Wahipounamu but apply as they are for all of New Zealand. There is a legislative mandate for the preservation and protection of natural and historic resources to maintain their intrinsic value, provide for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by
2596-403: The length of their stay and the type of activities they seek. It then provides quality recreational opportunities for these groups and facilities when appropriate. The third entity is conservation management strategies. These are documents stating regional conservation and they outline strategic priorities and key sites for biodiversity conservation and visitor recreation. The final planning entity
2655-438: The mountains there is a rich alpine vegetation of shrubs, tussocks and herbs. The warmer and lower altitude rainforests are dominated by tall podocarps . There are more rainforests and wetlands in the west, and the most extensive and least modified natural freshwater wetlands in New Zealand are found in this area. The Westland coastal plain is characterised by its high-fertility swamps and low-fertility peat bogs. Te Wahipounamu
2714-451: The natural features that contribute to New Zealand's reputation as a place with exceptional landscapes. It is considered the best modern example of the biota of Gondwanaland and is therefore of global significance. There is a high degree of geodiversity and biodiversity and the habitats are largely unmodified. And finally, there is an extensive range of New Zealand's unusual flora and fauna, which demonstrate its evolutionary isolation. Most of
2773-434: The public, and safeguard options of future generations. The Treaty of Waitangi grants the Ngāi Tahu people prestige and authority over the land. The Department of Conservation is obligated to oblige to the principles of this treaty. This implies a partnership agreement with the Ngāi Tahu people. This partnership involves an annual business planning process with the Ngāi Tahu iwi (the overarching tribal authority), which gives
2832-501: The reasons for its listing as a World Heritage site. Te Wahipounamu stretches 450 kilometres (280 mi) along the western coastline of the South Island of New Zealand. The elevation of this land area ranges from sea level to 3,724 metres (12,218 ft) at Aoraki / Mount Cook . In some places it extends inland as far as 90 kilometres (56 mi). Within Te Wahipounamu there is a multitude of natural features including snow-capped peaks, sapphire lakes, waterfalls, fiords, and valleys. It
2891-502: The region, the Haast Highway and Milford Highway. Along these highways, which are referred to as the “Heritage Highway” corridors, is a network of ten visitor centres and a multitude of nature walks. A main attraction to Te Wahipounamu, and New Zealand in general, is the natural landscape. A study found that key motivating factors for visitors to Te Wahipounamu are the scenery and recreational activities. Tourism within Te Wahipounamu
2950-445: The sea and the reptiles in the forests. Ever since Tangaroa has been angry with Tāne for giving refuge to his runaway children. So it is that Tāne supplies the descendants of Tūmatauenga with canoes, fishhooks and nets to catch the descendants of Tangaroa. Tangaroa retaliates by swamping canoes and sweeping away houses, land and trees that are washed out to sea in floods. Tāwhirimātea next attacks his brothers Rongo and Haumia-tiketike,
3009-420: The target population. For communities to benefit, they need secure land tenure over the area as well as the ability to make land use decisions. And the tourism benefits have to be more than economic, they must promote deeper social and political justice goals. The communities in Te Wahipounamu survive mainly through tourism. Most residents of the region are there because of the tourism employment opportunities. Thus
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#17327732350653068-611: The title for Aoraki was returned to the Ngāi Tahu Tribe who then in turn gifted it to the people of New Zealand. And finally the Tribe was given rights of access and temporary occupancy for the gathering of traditional foods and materials. There are four main planning entities for developing the management framework for the wilderness resources of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. The first entity
3127-551: The total area of Te Wahipounamu. They are managed strictly in terms of the New Zealand Wilderness Policy. This policy defines wilderness areas as “wildlands that appear to have been affected only by the forces of nature, with any imprint of human interference substantially unnoticeable. Designated wilderness areas are managed to perpetuate their natural condition.” There are no visitor facilities in these areas. No roads, huts, bridges, or even tracks. And there
3186-609: The tracks in summer, particularly via Harper Pass . Jewellery and other decorative items made from gold and pounamu were particularly fashionable in New Zealand in the Victorian and Edwardian years in the late 19th and early 20th century. It continues to be popular among New Zealanders and is often given as gifts. In 2011, the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key presented the President of
3245-414: The winds, one of whom is sent to each quarter of the compass. To fight his brothers, Tāwhirimātea gathers an army of his children —winds and clouds of different kinds, including fierce squalls, whirlwinds, gloomy thick clouds, fiery clouds, hurricane clouds and thunderstorm clouds, and rain, mists and fog. As these winds show their might the dust flies and the great forest trees of Tāne are smashed under
3304-531: The world with Government protection. Pounamu plays a very important role in Māori culture and is a taonga (treasure). It is and has been an important part of trade between the South Island iwi (tribe) Ngāi Tahu and other iwi. Adze blades made from pounamu were desired for carving of wood, and even with the arrival of metal tools pounamu tools were used. These were often reworked into hei tiki (stylised human figures worn as pendants) and other taonga when they were no longer useful for carving wood. After
3363-497: The world's rarest and heaviest parrot, was found in this region until the early 1980s. It is now believed that it is extinct on the mainland. The Te Wahipounamu area is the least populated part of New Zealand. Most residents work in tourism related jobs but there are other land use occupations. On the coast residents engage in fishing, grazing, and small-scale mining. In the eastern part of the World Heritage area pastoralism
3422-434: Was cemented by the exchange of valuable carved heirlooms, creating what was figuratively called a tautau pounamu (door of greenstone), as in the saying Me tautau pounamu, kia kore ai e pakaru, ake, ake (Let conclude a peace treaty that may never be broken, for ever and ever). There were a dozen major pounamu trails used in the trading of pounamu and many more minor routes. Parties of 6 to 12 are thought to have used
3481-666: Was never born and still lives inside Papatūanuku. Whenever this child is kicking the earth shakes and it causes an earthquake. Rūaumoko is his name and he is the god of earthquakes and volcanoes. Tāne searched for heavenly bodies as lights so that his father would be appropriately dressed. He obtained the stars and threw them up, along with the moon and the sun. At last Ranginui looked handsome. Ranginui and Papatūanuku continue to grieve for each other to this day. Ranginui's tears fall towards Papatūanuku to show how much he loves her. Sometimes Papatūanuku heaves and strains and almost breaks herself apart to reach her beloved partner again but it
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