Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
P O Box 3341
WELLINGTON

Approved by National Trust Board of Directors on 9 November 1999.

CONTENTS

PART A: INTRODUCTION PAGE

1. Preface
2. Aims and Objectives

PART B: DESCRIPTION

3. Location
4. Legal Description and Tenure
5. Geology and Soils
6. History
7. Climate
8. Vegetation
9. Fauna
10. Structures
11. Adjacent Land Use

PART C: MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND POLICIES

12. Open Space Values
13. Administration
14. Native Vegetation
15. Weed and Animal Pests
16. Native Wildlife
17. Historic Sites and Artefacts
18. Grazing
19. Fencing
20. Structures and Developments
21. Public Access and Use
22. Fire
23. Waste Disposal
24. Residents

APPENDIX I - References
APPENDIX II - Location Map
APPENDIX III - Property Plan (with overlay showing historic sites & grazing areas)
APPENDIX IV - Vegetative Cover (with overlay showing geology)
APPENDIX V - Weed and Animal Pest Control Strategy
APPENDIX VI - Interested Parties

PART A: INTRODUCTION

1 PREFACE

1.1 The National Trust was established by the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust Act 1977 with the task of encouraging and promoting the provision, protection and enhancement of open space for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of New Zealand.

1.2 Section 2 of the Trust Act defines "open space" as:
"any area of land or body of water that serves to preserve or to facilitate the preservation of any landscape of aesthetic, cultural, recreational, scenic, scientific, or social interest or value."

1.3 The South Canterbury Conservation Trust (SCCT) owns a substantial area of land to the southwest of Geraldine, South Canterbury, which includes native forest, regenerating shrublands, wetlands, archaeological and historic sites, and interesting geological features. The whole property is protected by open space covenants.

1.4 This management statement describes the resources present on the whole SCCT property, identifies management issues, and outlines policies agreed between the landowners and the National Trust for its future management. The management statement is an integral component of the open space covenant agreements and, as such, amplifies the objectives incorporated in the covenant documents. If additional information indicates that an operative management policy or policies are no longer appropriate, then the management statement may need to be amended accordingly. The management statement will be periodically reviewed.

2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 The property is protected by two open space covenants. Two forest stands at the western side of the property were protected by an open space covenant (file 5/11/2A) in 1983. The balance of the property was protected by open space covenant (file 5/11/110) in 1997.

2.2 In summary, the broad objectives for management of the protected land, as specified in the covenant documents, are:
a) To protect and maintain the open space values of the land.
b) To protect native flora and fauna on the land.
c) To protect the geological, historical, cultural and landscape values of the land.
d) To facilitate the use of the land for recreational and educational purposes.

PART B: DESCRIPTION

3 LOCATION

3.1 A location map is at Appendix II. The property is located 16 km southwest of Geraldine, South Canterbury. The land lies on the southeastern flanks of Kakahu Hill, and extends onto the valley floor of Bush Stream. The eastern boundary of the land is Hall Road, which runs between State Highway 79 (to the north) and Winchester Hanging Rock Road (to the south). The altitude ranges from 120 to 300 metres above sea level.

3.2 To the north, the land is bounded by a paper road, and beyond this are the exotic plantations of Geraldine Forest. To the west, further areas of covenanted regenerating forest, shrubland and pasture are owned and administered by the Gama Foundation. To the southeast, in the vicinity of the lower Kakahu gorge, the property adjoins additional covenanted land owned by the Gama Foundation.

3.3 The historic lime kiln on Hall Road is separate from the SCCT property. It is an historic reserve owned and administered by the Timaru District Council. Adjacent to the kiln are bush areas in the Kakahu Gorge owned by the Gama Foundation, and areas of pasture which are part of a private smallholding.

4 LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND TENURE

4.1 The legal description of the whole property is: Part Rural Sections 2527 and 7012, Rural Sections 29023, 23890, 2525, 6839, 20333, 7295 and 36076, and Section 1 SO14257, Block XI, Opihi Survey District, being all of the land contained in Certificates of Title 31K/1126, 24B/913, 109/62 and 20A/1263 (Canterbury Land Registry), and having an area of 192.2882 hectares.

4.2 The land is held in freehold title in the name of South Canterbury Conservation Trust (SCCT).

4.3 SCCT was incorporated as a charitable trust on 7 March 1996. Its purpose is "to preserve and protect natural and historic resources in South Canterbury and elsewhere in New Zealand for the purpose of maintaining their intrinsic values, providing for their appreciation and recreational enjoyment by the public and safeguarding the options of future generations."

4.4 The SCCT property was purchased with considerable financial assistance from the Lottery Environment and Heritage Committee of the NZ Lottery Grants Board to "protect its conservation, heritage and landscape values in perpetuity". Significant financial assistance was also provided by the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury, the Hally Trust, South Canterbury Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Arowhenua Runanga, South Canterbury Branch of Historic Places Trust, Geraldine Tramping Club, and a number of individuals.

5 GEOLOGY AND SOILS

5.1 The geology of the property is of particular interest and value, and some aspects are unique. Based on landform, the area can be divided into two distinct geological zones - the flanks of Kakahu Hill, consisting of steep ridges and gullies, make up one zone; the flats adjacent to Hall Road make up the other. (See overlay of Appendix IV).

5.2 The first zone covers the majority of the covenanted land, and correlates with outcropping Torlesse Group rocks. The Torlesse Group covers about a quarter of the South Island, and was deposited during the Permian-Jurassic period (280-140 million years ago). In the South Canterbury region, the Torlesse Group consists of a great thickness of indurated marine clastic sediments, with thin but important interbeds of submarine lava and associated tuffaceous sediments, limestone, and chert. These rocks have undergone some metamorphosis due to compression, and grade into "semi-schist" - the least metamorphosed rocks of the Haast Schist Group.

5.3 Within the covenanted land, the Torlesse Group rocks comprise mainly metasiltstone, but also include a belt of metamorphosed volcanics that occurs in sequence with a thick marble and chert. Chert is a hard and dense siliceous rock which was used in pre-European times for tools and weapons as it can be chipped to form sharp cutting edges. A notable outcrop (about 500m long) of brownish-red chert, known as jaspillite, occurs within the property. An interesting feature at the western end of this outcrop is the presence of "balancing rocks" - large boulders perched on a rock base.

5.4 In the south, a 30m-thick seam of Kakahu Marble outcrops in the covenant area. The seam extends eastwards onto the neighbouring Omya property, where it has been quarried. Generally, fossils in Torlesse rocks are uncommon, but this marble has yielded a fauna of conodonts (microscopic, toothlike objects which appear after the marble is dissolved in acid), which have been identified as being of upper Carboniferous age (over 280 million years old). These are the only fossils of this age found so far in New Zealand, and the marble is the oldest known Torlesse rock in New Zealand.

5.5 In the second zone, on the southern and eastern fringes of the property, the Torlesse rocks are overlain by Tertiary and Quaternary sediments. In this zone, adjacent to Bush Stream, examples of leaf fossils and sulphurous seepages are found. Within the covenant area, the surface geology of the flats comprises Quaternary alluvium. This is made up of glacial tills and loess-covered weathered gravels on terraces.

5.6 There are several interesting Tertiary formations just beyond the boundaries of the property. To the south of the Kakahu River, especially at workings adjacent to Winchester Hanging Rock Road, are exposures of a white kaolin clay. The clay is up to 6m thick, and is the result of deep weathering of the underlying greywacke and schist. The clay bears leaf fossils in places. It has been used for pottery and electrical insulators since around 1900, and clay pits are still being worked. The clay is part of the oldest Tertiary formation in the locality, the Colliers Coal Measures (Palaeocene-Eocene), which is predominantly quartz sand and quartz-pebble conglomerate. Low-rank coal is widespread but rarely workable.

5.7 Above the coal measures is a sequence of Bortonian age marine sediments (Middle Eocene). Bush Stream is a type locality for warm-water marine fossils of this age.

5.8 There are creamy white limestone outcrops to the east of Hall Road. The limestone was laid down in shallow seas during the Oligocene (37.5 - 22.5 million years ago) when most of New Zealand was submerged. It is up to 80m thick and now forms flat-topped bluffs which are found extensively around the district. The limestone has been used as building stone and fertiliser, and early Maori drew on the curved outcrop surfaces with red earth and charcoal.

5.9 Soils are derived from loess overlying Tertiary sedimentary rocks and Quaternary gravels. The soils are yellow grey earths of the Opuha and Kakahu series. The vegetation on these soils in European times was characterised by tussocks and patches of bush in gullies. The soils have developed in association with broadleaved-podocarp forests.

6 HISTORY

6.1 The presence of rock drawings, bones and other archaeological artifacts in the Kakahu district shows that humans have had a long-term association with the locality, possibly dating back some 900 years. See overlay of Property Plan (Appendix III) for locations.

6.2 Pre-European history of the area is fragmented and uncertain, but it is known that early Polynesian settlers were regular visitors to the Kakahu region. For most of the year, these early Polynesians stayed in coastal camps, but in the summer months they would venture inland, especially to South Canterbury and North Otago. They camped in the natural shelters under limestone bluffs, collected stones for tool-making, and hunted and feasted on moa and other birds. Although the motivation and significance is unknown, these people also learnt to use charcoal and red pigment to draw on the smooth rock walls. The limestone bluffs on the eastern side of Hall Road are marked with such drawings.

6.3 The Maori continued these occasional visits for some three or four hundred years, until, by the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, they began to enter a time of troubles. A combination of human impact, climate change, forest fires, and introduced predators resulted in the disappearance of most of the bush and birds. The rock drawing era came to an end in the fifteenth century.

6.4 From about 1500 AD, conflict became part of Maori life in the South Island. Partly this was due to tribal squabbles as food-gathering zones expanded and overlapped, but mainly stemmed from the desire to control the sources, supply trails and trade in pounamu. The Ngai Tahu tribe finally achieved dominance, and their lands extended from Kahurangi and Cape Campbell southwards. As with the early Polynesians, the regular food supply for Ngai Tahu came from food-gathering and fishing. Expeditions were carried out over considerable distances to collect special plants, birds and shellfish.

6.5 The Arowhenua Runanga of Ngai Tahu records that the Kakahu district was historically an important mahinga kai (area where food is gathered or cultivated), used for provisioning for trips to the lakes. It remains an area of special significance for them. Within the property, evidence of Maori use includes the widespread occurrence of Pomaderris apetala (see Section 8.6) and remains of umu ti (very large earth ovens for cooking cabbage tree roots). The cabbage tree roots were cooked into a sugary food, which was an important item for gift exchange in the South Canterbury - North Otago area.

6.6 In 1848, in a transaction known as "Kemp's Purchase", Ngai Tahu signed away a large part of their territory, extending from Kaiapoi to the Otago Peninsula, to the British Government. This opened up South Canterbury for development by Europeans, and settlers soon arrived in the Kakahu region. Timber milling was the initial activity, and by the 1870s, the Kakahu district was a busy centre of sawmills, quarrying, coal mining and limeburning enterprises.

6.7 When milling was at its height, up to six sawmills operated in the district. A steam-powered mill operated in the vicinity of Bush Cottage, adjacent to Hall Road. The local population included timber fellers, sawmillers, and bullock team handlers, as well as early pastoralists. Evidence of these activities remain within the protected land: stumps and logging tracks are widespread, and sawpits and hut sites are also present.

6.8 A marble quarry was established in the locality (see 5.4), and lime kilns were built in the 1880s to burn the marble and younger limestone for fertiliser. Of the original five kilns, two have survived, of which the kiln adjacent to Hall Road is the best-preserved example. Several tons of coal were taken from shallow mines on the eastern side of Hall Road to fuel the kilns. The coal is exposed at the surface due to uplift along a fault line.

6.9 About 1900, a Dr Hay proposed building a sanatorium for TB patients in the Kakahu River valley at the southeastern end of the covenant area. He lived in the original, now derelict, homestead which was built at that end of the property in the 1890s. Many English trees were planted in anticipation of the development, and these are now mature. Daffodils are also still to be found in that area. The sanatorium development, however, did not eventuate.

6.10 Pastoralism took the place of timber milling in the region during the early twentieth century, and in more recent times, this has given way to exotic forestry on large tracts of land.

6.11 Members of the Morrison family have lived and farmed in the district since the 1950s, and maintain an interest and concern for the wide range of natural and historic values found there. Comparatively little bush or gorse clearance was undertaken on the Morrisons' property, and, as a result, the most significant areas of second-growth forest remaining in the Kakahu district are now found on the land which was managed by them. In the early 1960s, they gifted the Hall Road kiln site to the Timaru District Council and it was designated a historic reserve. A large, steep, bush-clad valley on the west of the Morrison property was passed into Crown ownership for its long-term protection as part of the Geraldine State Forest. The family has always welcomed visitors who share their interest in the values of the land, and there is a long history of public use.

6.12 Until 1996, the SCCT land formed part of a sheep and cattle grazing property, part-owned and farmed by Mr Ian James Morrison. Mr Morrison's farm covered some 440 hectares, including podocarp/hardwood forest, regenerating bush and, on the eastern side of Hall Road, a wetland and limestone scarp. In 1983, Mr Morrison protected 87 hectares of the forest with an open space covenant, and, in 1992, the wetland and limestone outcrop to the east of Hall Road was similarly protected.

6.13 Further areas of regenerating forest and shrubland on the farm were also approved for protection, but the covenanting process was not completed prior to Mr Morrison selling most of the property in 1996/97. He retained a small area of pasture around his house.

6.14 In 1996, Mr Morrison sought to sell his land into conservation-sensitive hands so it would be managed for conservation purposes in perpetuity. The land was divided between two purchasers: the Gama Foundation bought the western part of the farm, plus the covenanted limestone outcrop area and a forested strip of land adjacent to it, while the SCCT bought the remainder. The covenanted forest areas were split between the two purchasers, the northern stand falling mainly in the SCCT portion, with the southern stand being fairly evenly divided between the two. The SCCT land therefore includes some 45 hectares of the forest stands covenanted by Mr Morrison.

7 CLIMATE

7.1 The district has cool winters with periodic snow falls, and mild dry summers. Average annual rainfall is 700-800 mm. Strong northwesterly winds occasionally reach gale strength. Within the property, the Bush Stream valley floor is subjected to severe winter frosts, but some north-facing hill slopes experience relatively mild conditions.

8 VEGETATION

8.1 The property lies within the Geraldine Ecological District, which is characterised by small areas of podocarp forest and mixed hardwood forest interspersed by pastoral land and exotic forests. In common with most of eastern Canterbury, the vegetation and natural ecosystems present on the land have been extensively modified since pre-human times. Originally, the land in the district would have all been forested, but by the early 1800s was mostly lowland short tussock grassland with some forest remnants. European settlers milled most of those remnants in the nineteenth century and the land used for farming.

8.2 Within the now covenanted areas, the topography and lower fertility made it marginal for farming, so a few of the original trees and significant areas of second-growth forest remain. The interconnected patches and gullies of forest in the Kakahu district make up the largest concentration of native forest in the Ecological District. The mature and regenerating native vegetation on the property therefore form a vital link in the regional network of indigenous ecosystems.

8.3 The forest stands (covering about 45 ha) covenanted in 1983 contain cut-over forest with many original species, including kahikatea, matai, totara, rata, kaikomako, broadleaf and many smaller trees, plus a good range of climbers and vines. There is also a rich flora of ferns, mosses and lichens. The forests have excellent regeneration potential, with both totara and matai regenerating strongly. A rare and endangered species, Australina pusilla (a small member of the nettle family), has been noted in the forest.

8.4 The balance of the SCCT property is about 1/3 pasture, 1/3 reverted pasture, and 1/3 kanuka-dominant shrubland. The sown pasture is of varying quality. Inferior grasses are dominating much of this, with no fertiliser in recent years. The reverted pasture is now almost covered in gorse, bracken and blackberry, and in some places there are smaller amounts of kanuka, mahoe and fuchsia.

8.5 The older, kanuka-dominant shrubland is progressing rapidly towards hardwood forest. In addition to mahoe, wineberry, matipo and tarata, some young podocarps are present, notably totara.

8.6 A feature of the property is the widespread occurrence of Pomaderris apetala; a small tree that only occurs naturally in the Kawhia - Mokau district in the North Island. The presence of this species on the property is therefore of historical significance, as Maori would have distributed it here.

8.7 Remnants of wetland vegetation, including Carex species and toe toe, are found within the property on the Hall Road flats.

8.8 Exotic species include sycamore, hawthorn, elder, wilding pines, gooseberry, banana passionfruit, burdock, ragwort, wild currant, gorse, broom and blackberry.

9 FAUNA

9.1 The considerable bird population that inhabits the property includes bellbird, fantails, waxeye, tomtits, wood pigeon, kingfisher, grey warbler and brown creeper.

9.2 Other native fauna present includes reptiles such as skinks and geckos. The native long-tailed bat, considered a threatened species, has been recorded over a number of years in the Kakahu district, and individuals have been noted within the property. Although not extensively studied, a wide range of invertebrates is known to be present, including tree wetas, native slugs, and worms. Numerous species of native land snail have been identified on the limestone escarpment to the east of Hall Road.

10 STRUCTURES

10.1 The old homestead is single-storeyed and modest in size, but the garden was once a great show-piece. The house was added to and altered over the years, but has been uninhabited for over 20 years and is in a very poor state.

10.2 There are derelict wooden sheds and sheep yards in vicinity of the homestead. These include an old woolshed, sheepyards, storage sheds, hen and pig houses. A concrete milking shed in the vicinity of the homestead is reasonably sound. There are cattle yards and two concrete dip sumps in Hall Road. The sumps have been filled with shingle so that they pose no hazard to property visitors. The landholders and neighbours use the cattle yards for loading and unloading of grazing animals.

10.3 Bush Cottage and associated sheds are left in the care and management of Mrs Morrison, as provided for in the sale and purchase contract for the land. Mrs Morrison and her son, Barry, are resident in the cottage.

10.4 There are many fences on the property.

11 ADJACENT LAND USE

11.1 Property boundaries, adjoining landholders and land uses are shown at Appendix III.

11.2 The land to the west of the property is owned by the Gama Foundation, and is protected by open space covenants.

11.3 On the private, uncovenanted land beyond Hall Road, to the east, some areas are grazed and others are established exotic forest plantations managed on a commercial basis. There is a small area of indigenous vegetation adjacent to Bush Stream where it loops across the road in the vicinity of Bush Cottage.

11.4 Neighbouring land to the southeast and south is owned and farmed by members of the Morrison family.

11.5 The marble quarry property on the southern side of the covenant area is owned by Omya New Zealand Ltd. Omya is not currently quarrying the property, but there is potential for this activity to be resumed in the future.

PART C: MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND POLICIES

12 OPEN SPACE VALUES

12.1 The property is a significant area of open space because it includes outstanding natural features of the landscape; is an integral part of the landscape; is a recreational, scientific, and educational resource; has cultural, archaeological and historic values; and is a vital link in the regional network of indigenous ecosystems.

12.2 Policy - The property will be managed so as to enhance and protect its open space values, with the primary focus being the protection and restoration of natural values.

13 ADMINISTRATION

13.1 The property is owned and managed by the South Canterbury Conservation Trust.

13.2 Many groups and individuals have an interest in the land and its values, and have contributed to its protection. In particular, the Morrison family has a special interest in the historical and ecological values of the property, and the land is of cultural significance to the Arowhenua runanga who hold manawhenua (traditional Maori authority of the land) over the area. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust also has a statutory interest in historic sites. A full list of interested parties is included at Appendix VI.

13.3 Policy - Day-to-day management of the property will be the responsibility of the landowners who will consult with other interested parties as appropriate.

14 NATIVE VEGETATION

14.1 The property lies within a district that has suffered a great loss of native forest. Continued land development, grazing of stock, and exotic forestry is further diminishing the open space values in the district. The indigenous vegetation present is of considerable ecological value, both in itself and as it buffers and links other areas of indigenous vegetation.

14.2 Current knowledge of the flora is somewhat general. It is intended to undertake a botanical survey of the property to improve detailed knowledge and thus assist in day-to-day management decision making.

14.3 Over the majority of the property, it is intended that the existing vegetation be encouraged to naturally modify to re-establish indigenous flora. Some areas are already regenerating strongly and supplementary planting can advance this process. Any revegetation project will be designed to enhance the property as a wildlife habitat and improve its scenic value. Indigenous stock, preferably from within the Ecological District, will be used for any plantings. Indigenous plant materials such as seeds, berries, leaves or cuttings may be collected within the property for the purposes of propagation, provided this does not significantly damage the natural life cycle of the ecosystem. There is the potential to restore wetland plant communities adjacent to the hill-slope forest.

14.4 Policies -
i) A botanical survey of the property will be commissioned or undertaken by the SCCT.
ii) The protection and restoration of native vegetative cover will be a prime focus of management.
iii) Pasture will generally be allowed to revert to woody vegetation.
iv) Any threatened species will be protected and actively managed in co-operation with the Department of Conservation.
v) Only seedlings grown from appropriately sourced seeds will be used for revegetation plantings.

15 WEED AND ANIMAL PESTS

15.1 A number of the exotic plant species on the property are considered detrimental to the protection and enhancement of indigenous cover and are therefore unwanted.

15.2 Animals such as possums, wallabies, pigs and goats cause damage to the native plant habitat. Other pests, particularly mustelids, rodents and cats, are a direct threat to the birdlife. Wasps are a nuisance to humans and compete with native birds for food. Magpies compete with native birds for territory and food.

15.3 In terms of the Biosecurity Act 1993 and pest management strategies adopted under that legislation, there are legal obligations on the landholder to control and, where possible, eradicate all plant and animal species designated "pest". For weeds and animal pests which pose a serious threat to the open space values of the property, greater control than that required by the pest management strategies may be necessary.

15.4 The presence of some exotic plant species within the property is of historical importance. The mature trees around the site of the proposed "Sanatorium", elms near sawmill sites, gums near section boundaries, and Pomaderris apetala are all examples. Pomaderris apetala appears to thrive in open canopy, but it is not known if it suppresses growth of natives, or will in time be superseded by them. These exotic trees will be retained unless they pose unacceptable threats to other open space values.

15.5 Willows occur along Bush Stream, and are probably currently contained through grazing. It is likely they will need to be controlled as stream sides and wetlands are secured from stock. However, thick infestations of willow may in time provide cover for establishment of natives.

15.6 Feral animals such as goats, pigs, possums and wallabies on the land may need to be controlled from time to time. The property is intended as a place of passive recreation, therefore the casual or unauthorised use of firearms and hunting dogs on the land would have a serious detrimental impact on the values protected and create a hazard for passive recreational users.

15.7 A Weed And Animal Pest Control Strategy has been prepared for the property. The strategy will be reviewed annually and appropriate adjustments made. The current Weed and Animal Pest Control Strategy is at Appendix V.

15.8 Walking tracks provide corridors for seed dispersal via clothing, especially footwear, and the bare ground and higher light levels promotes colonisation by adventive plants. Tracks should be monitored for arrival and spread of unwanted plants. It is recommended that regular mowing with a mulching type rotary mower be used to control gorse on tracks.

15.9 In addressing the need for weed control, it is necessary to prioritise efforts and to link action to revegetation planting activity. In particular, prompt revegetation of open areas cleared of weeds will be necessary to prevent re-infestation.