4 | Department of Conservation: Rakau Rangatira Phase 2 T TVirginia Wright Protecting a vulnerable taonga The 51.5m giant kauri Tāne Mahuta is thought to be over 2000 years old. “A Te Roroa representative is stationed on that platform, interacting with the public every day, and able to share knowledge about Tāne Mahuta and Kauri Dieback from a te ao Māori perspective.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Home to New Zealand’s oldest and most sacred living trees, Waipoua Forest is part of the largest remaining tract of ancient kauri in the world. Not surprisingly, it is a tourism hotspot, with more than 150,000 visitors a year taking the five-minute walk off State Highway 12 to visit Tāne Mahuta (Lord of the Forest). Thought to be over 2000 years old and standing at 51.5 metres tall, Tāne Mahuta towers over the next-largest kauri, Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest), a giant in his own right at 29.9 metres. The forest and these kauri giants are at risk from Kauri Dieback Disease, which has been found within 60 metres of Tāne Mahuta. Their protection is at the heart of Rākau Rangatira, a partnership project between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and local mana when‑ ua, Te Iwi o Te Roroa. Now in its second phase, the project is designed to simultaneously protect the health and biodiversity of Waipoua’s kauri ecosystem, while upgrading both visitor infrastructure and the visitor experience. “We’re looking to find that balance where tourism is enabled, but safely enabled, so we’re working to promote the health of the forest while creating an experience that is more engaging for visitors, recognises Te Ro‑ roa’s mana, and improves visitor safety at the same time,” says DOC programme manager, Phil Goulter. This second phase of the Rākau Rangati‑ ra Project involves replacing approximately 30-year-old visitor infrastructure that predates much of their awareness of Kauri Dieback, including knowledge about soil movement and how best to mitigate the risks it poses. As Te Roroa representative, Piripi Moore, says, however, the project is about more than just new infrastructure. “For Te Roroa, this is an expression of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) responsibilities in action. We are proud that our kaimahi will be actively involved throughout construction, visibly upholding our role as mana whenua and our intergenerational commitment to safeguard this taonga for ngā uri whakatipu (future generations), while helping shape a world-class visitor experience grounded in re‑ spect, conservation, and kotahitanga (unity).” Phase 1 of the Rākau Rangatira Project focused on the walking track to Tāne Mahuta, introducing a specially designed raised board‑ walk, bridge, and viewing platform to ensure safer access, while minimising environmental impact. “There’s an ambassador programme being delivered by Te Roroa, which is one of the ear‑ ly protection measures put in place,” says Phil. “A Te Roroa representative is stationed on that platform, interacting with the public every day, and able to share knowledge about Tāne Mahuta and Kauri Dieback from a te ao Māori perspective.” That first 100 metres of raised boardwalk served as a pilot for phase 2, which includes more than 1.5 km of boardwalk under construction through the southern sections of the forest. To minimise environmental impact, innovations have been introduced by DOC and Te Roroa, in collaboration with main contractor Keir Projects, including the use of up to 3.5-metre steel screw pile technology. Unlike traditional piles, these do not require diggers on the ground, therefore significantly reducing the risk of soil movement through the forest. For the boardwalk surface, a durable fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) product supplied from Tauranga is being used. This immensely strong, non-slip grid allows water, light, and forest debris to pass through, reducing infra‑ structure impacts on the ecosystem. Throughout phase 2 construction, the team is adhering to strict Kauri Dieback hygiene protocols with kauri protection at the fore‑ front of all decisions and actions. Phase 3 is yet to come, with the aspiration to further en‑ hance educational and immersive opportuni‑ ties, for what is likely to be an ever-increasing number of visitors, without putting the forest at risk. Once completed all visitor infrastruc‑ ture in Waipoua Forest will be off the ground. “It’s about having the best and closest expe‑ rience possible with this special forest, feeling immersed in it while being safely elevated above the ground,” Phil says. With phase 2 scheduled for completion later this year, and phase 3 set to follow, it is expected that this carefully protected taonga will encourage visitors to stay longer in the region as they take full advantage of this rare, world-class opportunity to immerse them‑ selves in an ancient forest. The project is designed to simultaneously protect the health and biodiversity of Waipoua’s kauri ecosystem, while upgrading both visitor infrastructure and the visitor experience. 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