Tawharanui

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Tawharanui is an ARC (Auckland Regional Council), Regional park approximately 30 minutes east of Warkworth, New Zealand. Tawharanui has an area of 588 hectares and is one of Auckland's most beautiful white sand beaches. The name Tawharanui refers to "the abundant bracts of the kiekie vine". The park recently became an open snactuary, where native plants and animals can breed without the constant hassle of predators.

[edit] History

Maori lived in the area for approximately 800 years. Up until the 1870's the park was occupied by a small hapu (sub-tribe) of the Te Kawerau people called Ngati Raupo. Tawharanui provided a large variety of marine and forest resources. This symbolised the saying: "He wha tawhara ki uta; he kiko tamure ki tai" - "The flowering bracts of the kiekie on the land, the flesh of the snapper in the sea." Waikokowai (Anchor Bay) provided a valued source of kokowai or red ochre, which was used for decorative or ceremonial purposes. The people mainly lived around the catchment of the Mangatawhiri Stream. Near the entrance to the park was a significant pa known as "oponui" and above the stream outlet is "Pa-hi" or "lofty fortified settlement. After 1870, Tawharanui was developed as a farm by the Martin, Jones and Young families. Kauri timber was milled and shingle was extracted from the park, creating the so-called Jones Bay Lagoon. The ARC purchased the park from the Georgetti family in 1973.

[edit] Wildlife and Native Bush

There are sixteen species of native alnd birds and 15 species of native coastal birds recored for the park. Most notably amongst these species is the Biettern, Spotless Crake, and Fernbird from the wetlands. Coastal birds include the New Zealand Dotterel, Blue Reef Heron and variable oystercatcher. The park is mostly grazed pasture with Manuka scattered throughout. The park was extensivley milled for Kauri and then cleared for Manuka firewood in the late 19th Century, patches of coastal forest only occur in isolated gullies.