The Tuia Mātauranga Pōkai Whenua GeoTour follows the footsteps of early explorers of Aotearoa New Zealand taking you to places where leaders of the past searched for food, resources and ways to adapt and survive in this new land.
Use the Pōkai Whenua GeoTour as your classroom to you explore the stories of the past, in the present, to preserve what is unique in Aotearoa New Zealand for the future.
Collect the codewords to get the Geocoin puzzle pieces
To be able to complete this GeoTour and receive your special Geocoin collectable, remember to take a note of the codeword placed in the cache. This will need to be recorded in your passport which can be downloaded here.
The Cache
The cache is placed under a stand of pine trees north east of the campsite. It is best to access the cache by walking along the beach then heading up the dunes and into the trees using one of the obvious access trails. There is a path/trail under the trees probably used by campers so watch out for muggles. The cache is hidden at ground level at the base of a large pine. The cache is a sistema plastic container. Please ensure you cover it well with natural camo when you have finished.
About Te Angiangi Marine Reserve
The reserve was established in August 1997 and is managed by the Department of Conservation. It takes in the coast between the settlements of Aramoana and Blackhead in southern Hawkes Bay, with camping grounds at both ends of the reserve. There is also plenty of nearby bach accommodation. It is the only Marine Reserve in Hawke's Bay and covers an area of 446 hectares and extends 1 nautical mile offshore.
The name of the reserve was chosen by Ngāti Kere to honour local history. When Ngāti Kahungunu settled the region, central Hawke's Bay was divided between Te Aomatarahi and Taraia. Te Aomatarahi was given the lands east of Tukituki River and mana whenua passed to his descendents - Tu Mapuhiarangi and Te Angiangi. The area covered by the mana of Te Angiangi included what is now the Marine Reserve.
Marine reserves are specially protected areas to provide examples of what the natural character of the coastline looks like without any take of fish, shellfish, seaweed or shells. Every plant and animal and their physical habitat within the reserve is fully protected. It’s a natural laboratory where visitors can walk the beaches, swim, snorkel or scuba dive and observe sea life unmolested by humans. This educational experience allows us to understand the impacts of humans on the coastal environment and provides a reservoir of marine life that can disperse into nearby areas where harvesting still takes place. The most striking thing you will first encounter is a beach covered in shells washed ashore from the reserve. Snorkling or walking the reefs at low tide will reveal the myriad of intertidal life that can flourish in a no-take area of the coastline. Please remind other visitors if you see them taking things from the reserve that this is a no-take area and they are breaking the law. Community support for marine reserves makes a difference.
For the more adventurous visitors the most spectacular underwater scenery is found in depths of 9-15 metres south of Aramoana. Dense Ecklonia kelp forest covers most of the reef, which is broken in places by long sandy guts. Common reef animals include pāua, opal shells and reef fish such as red and blue moki, butterfish, banded wrasse, marblefish and sweep. Crayfish (kōura) are also an important part of the reef community. Colourful nudibranchs (sea slugs) and large schools of butterfly perch and tarakihi are found at depths of 24-36 metres.
The reserve’s marine life is influenced by the warm East Cape current spreading southwards in spring and summer, and by the cooler Southland current coming northwards in late autumn and winter.
Getting there
Turn off State Highway 2 at Waipawa or Waipukurau. The drive will take approximately 30 minutes from either town. From Waipawa follow Pourerere and Gibraltar roads to Aramoana. From Waipukurau follow Farm, Motere, and Long Range roads to Blackhead.