Te Wharangi (Wellington) EarthCache

The Skyline Walkway follows a defined ridgeline known to earlier Maori as Te Wharangi which varies from between 300 and 350 metres above mean sea level

GEOLOGY & LANDFORM

The Skyline Walkway reaches its highest point of 445 metres at the summit of Mt Kaukau. The flanks of the ridgeline are dissected by a series of gullies.

The basement rock of marine origin emerges as dramatic outcrops. MT Kaukau was originally uplifted land surface that formerly existed over much of Wellington and has since being eroded.

HISTORICAL

During the last glaciation conditions were progressively warm and reached a climate optimum, then 2500 years ago conditions became drier and cooler. Maori have lived in Wellington for about 700 years and local pre European vegetation was described as broad-leafed forest. European pastoralism and saw milling started an the late 1830 totally removed the forest and introduced exotic trees, shrubs, grasses and invasive weeds. Farm access tracks were formed and fences built and Bell track provided access from Ngaio to the farming settlements in the Ohariu Valley.

VEGETATION

The predominant mosaic of gorse, tauhinu and rough pasture is a typical foundation for the first stage of native forest regeneration especially if an area has being fenced off. In the absence of grazing, the gullies support a more advance, dense and diverse range of indigenous species with the vegetation slowly spreading and colonising the more exposed flanks and spurs. The exposed ridgeline support only sparse woody vegetation and even gorse and tauhinu are stunted. Indigenous niche vegetation grows in the crevices and clings to the rock outcrops.

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