Wenderholm Regional Park

Wenderholm Regional Park is a regional park north of Auckland in New Zealand's North Island. It is situated between the estuaries of the Puhoi River and the Waiwera River, on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island and features a homestead known as Couldrey House, and a carved pouwhenua.[3]

Wenderholm Regional Park
Wenderholm beach to north
LocationRodney, Auckland, New Zealand
Nearest townWaiwera
Coordinates36.537°S 174.71°E / -36.537; 174.71[1]
Established1965

The park also features the 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) 'Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi' walking track, starting at the carved pouwhenua near the Couldrey House. The track features scenic views and birdlife.[4][5]

Wenderholm Regional Park was the first regional park established in the Auckland region, and is owned and managed by Auckland Council. Part of the park is sectioned off for ecological restoration.[6]

Geography
North Island robin, recently reintroduced at the park

A 60 hectares (150 acres) section of the park has been set aside since 1965 for an ecological experiment, stopping livestock from grazing and repopulating the forests. This allowed native species of birds which were no longer in the area to be re-introduced in 1999. One of the first species released into the area, Petroica australis longipes (North Island robins), has a generally high rate of survival and procreated a good number of young, unfortunately not high enough to compensate for the loss of the adult population.[7]

Whales such as southern right whales may appear to rest and calve along the coasts. Dolphins may be visible from the shores as well.[6]

The native bush of the park is the Pohutukawa, with the blaze of red in the summer, on the slopes facing north is the Kowhai bush which are covered with yellow blooms in the spring, and the low-laying sandspit.[3][8]

History

For approximately 1000 years Maori lived in the area now encompassed by the park because it featured several natural resources. The Auckland politician and entrepreneur Sir Robert Graham protected many of the ancient trees in the area from felling to be used for timber for ships.[9] He went on to build a homestead in the park (now known as the Couldrey House). Many of the historic trees in the park were given as gifts to Robert Graham from George Grey.[3]

In 2008, Nic Moon was appointed the park's resident artist. Her role was to create works specifically for the site, including some that involve the trees themselves.[9]

References
  1. "Wenderholm Map" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  2. "Wenderholm Map" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  3. "Wenderholm". Auckland Council. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  4. Auckland Regional Park about Maungatauhoro
  5. Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi at scoopnews
  6. "Council profile". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
  7. Lovegrove, TG; Zeiler,CH; Green,BS; Green,BW; Gaastra,R and MacArthur,AD (2002). "Alien plant and animal control and aspects of ecological restoration in a small 'mainland island':Wenderholm Regional Park, New Zealand". Turning the Tide: The Eradication of Invasive Species : Proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives: 155–163. ISBN 2-8317-0682-3.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "Hauraki Gulf Review". Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  9. Gregory, Angela (3 May 2008). "Moon shines in regional park". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
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