The Waioeka Journey brochure - Department of Conservation

WHITE ISLAND
OPOTIKI
MAHIA
GISBORNE
EAST CAPE
• AUCKLAND
• WELLINGTON
• CHRISTCHURCH
The Waioeka Journey – Te Awa a Tamatea is situated on
State State State State State State Highway Highway Highway Highway Highway Highway 2 2 2 2 2 between between between between between between Opotiki Opotiki Opotiki Opotiki Opotiki Opotiki and and and and and and Gisborne. Gisborne. Gisborne. Gisborne. Gisborne. Gisborne. The The The The The The highway highway highway highway highway highway
follows follows follows follows follows follows follows follows follows follows follows follows a a a a a a a a a a a route route route route route route route route route route route route carved carved carved carved carved carved carved carved carved carved carved carved by by by by by by by by by by by by rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers rivers through through through through through through through through through through through through the the the the the the the the the the the the steep steep steep steep steep steep steep steep steep steep steep steep forested forested forested forested forested forested forested forested forested forested forested forested hills hills hills hills hills hills hills hills hills hills hills hills
of of of of the the the the the Waioeka Waioeka Waioeka Waioeka Waioeka Gorge Gorge Gorge Gorge Gorge Scenic Scenic Scenic Scenic Scenic Reserve. Reserve. Reserve. Reserve. Reserve.
This beautiful area has challenged people since
early Maori travelled and lived in the gorge.
In recent years the challenge of travelling in
the gorge has resulted in high numbers of
road accidents.
‘The Waioeka Journey – Te Awa a Tamatea’,
is a multi-agency project aimed at increasing
road safety, providing rest stops where drivers
can take a break and discover some of the
stories of the gorge. The two main agencies
involved have been the NZ Transport Agency
and the Department of Conservation.
They have worked in conjunction with NZ
Police, Environment Bay of Plenty, Accident
Compensation Corporation, Opotiki and
Gisborne District Councils, NZ Fire Service
and local iwi, Ngati Ira o Waioweka and Te
Aitanga a Mahaki.
Since 2004, a combination of engineering
improvements, signage upgrades, enhanced
police enforcement and education initiatives,
including ‘Drive Reviver’ campaigns, have
been instigated to improve driver safety.
www.doc.govt.nz
Seven Seven rest rest areas areas have have been been established established
at at sites sites sites through through through the the the gorge gorge gorge to to encourage encourage encourage
travellers travellers travellers travellers to to to stop, stop, stop, stop, rest rest rest rest and and and and reduce reduce reduce reduce driver driver driver driver
fatigue, fatigue, a signifi signifi cant cant contributor contributor to Waioeka Waioeka
vehicle vehicle vehicle accidents. accidents. accidents. Information Information Information panels panels panels at at each each each
site site tell tell of the the history, history, culture, culture, geology, geology,
and and ecology ecology of the the gorge. gorge.
In this this booklet booklet you you will will fi nd nd edited edited versions versions
of the the 18 18 information information panels panels in ‘The ‘The Waioeka Waioeka
Journey Journey – Te Awa a Tamatea’. Stories of this
area area show show it is not not a place place to be taken taken for for
granted, granted, but but has has hidden hidden depths depths that that
will will delight delight and and challenge challenge people people for for
generations generations to come. come.