TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK NEWS

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 23, 6 November 1984, Page 13

TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK NEWS

The summer programme for Tongariro National Park this year comes under the name of "Parks, Forests and Farms — Land in Use." Chief Ranger Mr Bruce Jeffries says the programme aims to integrate all the recreation opportunities available in the Kaimanawa Forest Park, the Tongariro State Forest and adjacent farmblocks, and in the National Park itself. Copies of the day-to-day programme will soon be available from ranger stations and will be posted out on request. Renovations and rebuilding of the lodge in the Whakapapa camping ground have been completed. The lodge can now cater for 32 people, with cabins used as overflow. All the internal walls of the lodge had to be ripped out and the renovations cost in the vicinity of $75,000. People were employed for the rebuilding last summer under a Lands and Survey special employment scheme. Although primarily used by school and youth groups, it is available to anyone, family groups included. Senior ranger Mr Dave Mazey says there is quite a demand for this sort of accommodation in Whakapapa and bookings are fairly solid until Christmas. Park Headquarters is employing an historian to record an oral history of the park. Record ed conversations with old identities, both local and nationwide, will be made and compiled into a library of oral history. The people may be old-time users of the park, pioneer skiers and such. Other people with a general historical perspective will also be included. A bill is presently before the House concerning the electrification and realignment of the main trunk line between Ohakune and Horopito. Railways want to upgrade the line in terms of electrification and this would mean parts of the track would leave the railways-owned corridor and cut through the park. In effect, it is proposed that some land would be taken from the park and railways land added to it.

If the bill is passed work will begin in late 1984 or early 1985 and, according to Chief Ranger Mr Bruce Jefferies, could take up to four years. Mr Jefferies says there is close consultation between Railways and the Department of Lands and Survey over the matter and he is impressed with the liaison between the two groups. "It has all the makings of a positive project," he says. Chief Ranger in Ohakune Mr Lisle Irwin will oversee the day to day co-ordination of the project if it goes ahead. A landscape technician/ architect will also be employed. Mr Jefferies says there are naturally reservations over the effect the railway would have on a small part of virgin forest at the North end by Horopito but he believes Railways have thoroughly investigated the matter and have limited options. He says all work will be undertaken with a high regard to protecting the native forest. Margaret Baker