The most significant damage is to the flat above the river. Normally covered in grass it is now a mud patch. Elsewhere, tracks have been gouged down to the mud, fence posts knocked over and rubbish strewn around the bush.
SIMON O CONNOR/Stuff
Gates, fences and padlocks have been destroyed by the vandals. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimated it spent “several thousands of dollars” every year repairing damage at the park. Blakelock, whose dairy farm borders the reserve, works in partnership with DOC to care for the land and is in charge of unlocking and locking the reserve gates every day.
Jacinda the wētā discovered living on maunga Taranaki
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Jacinda the wētā discovered living on Taranaki Maunga
stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A section of the new boardwalk in Te Papakura o Taranaki / Egmont National Park.
Photo: Supplied / DOC
Part of the $19 million Taranaki Crossing project, the work includes building 720m of 1.2m wide boardwalk from the Pouakai Hut down to the Pouakai Tarns, and 650m of 1.2m wide boardwalks across the Ahukawakawa wetland.
Department of Conservation strategic project manager Carl Whittleston said the boardwalks would replace existing track which deteriorated. Previously we ve had timber rafts in there and what s happened over time is that some of those have sunk into the wet areas and people then start to walk around them and onto the fragile vegetation and eco-system.