What animals live in the Waitakere Ranges?
Fauna. The area is home to kauri snails, glowworms and native long-tailed bats. Long-tailed and short-tailed bats are New Zealand’s only native land-based mammals.
What type of forest is arataki?
subtropical rainforest
A world apart from city life, the Arataki Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges. This lush green subtropical rainforest is just a 30-minute drive from Auckland’s city centre.
What type of forest is Waitakere Ranges?
Sacred native rainforest, rugged coastline and windswept, black-sand beaches. The Waitakere Ranges region is one of our natural treasures, rich in native flora and fauna, and home to the giants of the forest, the mighty kauri tree.
Are there Kiwis in the Waitakere Ranges?
Kiwi were last introduced to the Waitakere Ranges between 1979 and 1980 but because of the lack of pest control knowledge they were wiped out within three years. Kiwi comeback: The kiwi may soon be calling the Waitakere Ranges home again.
Are dogs allowed in Waitākere Ranges?
Dogs are allowed in regional parks only as stated in the dog walking section of the park’s information and in the Regional Parks Management Plan.
What native trees do possums eat NZ?
Possums will eat more than 70 types of native tree species, but their clear favourites are often tall canopy trees like tawa, rātā, kohekohe, kāmahi and tōtara.
How big is arataki?
39,500 acres
16,000 hectares (39,500 acres) of native rainforest.
What is another name for West Auckland?
Formerly known as Waitakere City, and is also a former New Zealand parliamentary electorate on the western outskirts of Auckland. There is a slight divide of identity in West Auckland with such a diverse culture, however, residents of West Auckland are most commonly known or associated as ‘westies’.
What is the meaning of Waitakere?
A literal meaning of Waitakere is Wai, water; takue, deep. Another meaning is cascading waters. It is thought that the name may possibly be a corruption of Waitekauri, a stream where the kauri grows, but it is almost certain that it was named after a chief who was murdered at the mouth of the stream.
Are the Waitākere Ranges volcanic?
The modern Waitakere Ranges are the uplifted and greatly eroded remnants of just the eastern slopes of the huge Waitakere Volcano. About 16 million years ago, as volcanic activity was drawing to a close, the Waitakere volcano was pushed up out of the sea by enormous forces deep in the earth.
Are the Waitākere Ranges closed?
The Tree Council, Waitakere Ranges Protection Society, Forest & Bird and the Friends of Regional Parks are delighted that Auckland Council has worked constructively and in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki to agree the final shape of the closure of the Waitākere Ranges.
What to do in the Arataki Visitor Centre?
Inside Arataki we found several Maori carvings and what seemed to be unlimited information about the Waitakere Ranges (often called the Arataki forest), including interactive displays. There are Park Rangers on staff to offer guidance to the over 250km of walking trails. Inside Arataki Visitors Centre.
Are there Park Rangers at Arataki National Park?
There are Park Rangers on staff to offer guidance to the over 250km of walking trails. Inside Arataki Visitors Centre. One of several Maori ancestral carvings in Arataki Visitor Centre.
Why is Arataki the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges?
It is carved from kauri by Te Kawerau a Maki, the local kaitaki or guardians of the land. The ranges are the tribe’s spiritual home and they have traditional ownership rights to the area. A world apart from city life, the Arataki Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges.
How tall is the Pou at the Arataki Visitor Centre?
Greeted by an eleven-meter tall Maori pou (post) at the entrance to the Arataki Visitor Centre, we are reminded of the importance of the natural world and the relationship we all have with it. It is carved by Te Kawerau a Maki, the local guardians of the land.