Abel Tasman Foreshore Scenic Reserve Draft Management Plan

4.1.2 European history
In 1841, the Astrolabe Roadstead/Whenuakura/Te Karetu was the initial anchorage
of the three New Zealand Company ships seeking a suitable site for the Nelson
settlement. However, it was the early to mid 1850s before land was purchased by
European settlers on the Abel Tasman coast.
The early European settlers felled the lowland forests for timber and cleared the land
for farming in several bays, particularly along the northern parts of the coast around
Totaranui, Awaroa, Whariwharangi and Wainui. They relied on coastal shipping for
communication and supplies, with goods, stock and passengers being ferried ashore
in small boats and lighters. Wharves weren’t usually built due to the exposed nature
of the shorelines.
Other industries included shipbuilding (at Awaroa and Torrent Bay/Rakauroa), barkstripping
for tanning (at Bark Bay/Wairinga) and quarrying at Tonga Bay. The
Cawthron steps in front of Nelson Cathedral and the Wellington Post Office were
built using granite blocks from Tonga Quarry. Several small settlements were
established, including Torrent Bay/Rakauroa and Awaroa. These settlements remain
today as privately-owned land adjoined by Abel Tasman National Park and the
reserve.
There are also the remains of the historic ship, the Venture, in the eastern arm of the
Awaroa Inlet, near the mouth of Venture Creek. This wooden ketch was the last of the
vessels built by William Hadfield at Awaroa from local kahikatea, rata and beech. She
was launched in 1906 and used for local shipping for many years before being left to
rot in the inlet. Parts of the hull can still be seen at low tide. Piles of rock ballast that
was discharged from loading scows are also visible at low tide in Awaroa Inlet.
4.1.3 Recent history
From the 1920s the Abel Tasman coast became popular with holidaymakers who
gradually established baches in many of the sandy bays. Later, some of these
occupied areas became part of the national park. From as early as the 1890s people
considered protecting the Abel Tasman coast. The first firm proposals were made in
the 1930’s. In 1936, Perrine Moncrieff set aside her property near the Astrolabe
Roadstead/Whenuakura/Te Karetu as a private reserve and began a concerted
campaign to set aside the whole area as a national park. The tercentenary of Abel
Tasman's 1642 visit provided the final impetus to her efforts and the Abel Tasman
National Park was created in 1942, as a permanent memorial to his visit. Sixty-five
years later, the adjacent foreshore became a scenic reserve in 2007.
4.2 Management of historical and cultural heritage
4.2.1 Protection of historic places
Sections 3(1)(a)(v) and 19(2)(d) of the Reserves Act 1977 seek to preserve and
manage historic, cultural and archaeological features or values on the reserve.
Section 94(1)(m) makes it an offence to damage the historic features in the reserve,
without written authorisation from the Administration Committee.
In accordance with the Historic Places Act 1993, the Administration Committee
wishes to prevent the accidental destruction of any historic place, including
archaeological sites, and will obtain an authority from the New Zealand Historic
4. Historical and cultural heritage 33