Whinray Scenic Reserve

Introduction

Whinray Scenic Reserve is a 429 hectare area of native forest running down to a spectacular set of waterfalls on the wild and scenic Motu River.

North Island weka release group,
Whinray Scenic Reserve

The reserve contains some grand old miro, rata, rimu, matai and kahikatea trees. Bird life is abundant with fantail, grey warbler, kereru, tui, kaka, cuckoo, kiwi, kingfisher and North Island weka and robins.

A five kilometre track runs through the reserve.

Features

History of the area

The upper reaches of the Motu River Valley were covered with mature forest until the 1890's when settlers began to clear the land. James Whinray, a cabinet maker and Gisborne Borough Councillor, persuaded the government to withhold some land for a bush reserve, now named after him.

In February 1900, construction began on a project to link Gisborne with Rotorua via Opotiki by rail. The railway construction and development was significant in the history of European settlement of the district.

Townships based around the construction camps were created and then abandoned as the railway advanced. the rail link reached Moutohora near Motu in 1917 but because of the economic pressure of World War I and engineering difficulties further northwards, the line was never extended.

The Moutohora line opened up the hinterland, allowing large areas of land to be cleared, and logs and other goods to be railed out to Gisborne, as well as providing a popular passenger service.

By the 1940's however, most timber stands had been worked out, and increasingly efficient road transport steadily eroded use of the railway. The Moutohora Branch was closed in 1959.

The route that the track through the reserve follows is believed to have originally been used as a trail by Maori. It became a bridle path in European times and was upgraded to a dray track around 1913. It was used to drive sheep and cattle from Gisborne to the Bay of Plenty. When the Motu Coach Road was opened, use of the Whinray track declined.

The first bridge was built in 1885 and was replaced by a single span totara structure in 1913. This was largely demolished in 1955 and the abutments were swept away in the 1988 Cyclone Bola.

A magnificent 42 m suspension bridge now crosses the Motu River just down stream from the falls. The bridge was opened in 1994 after a huge fundraising effort by the local community.

Conservation project

North Island weka which were numerous in the Gisborne District until the 1980's are now found in significant numbers only in the Motu region. Whinray Scenic Reserve now features in a conservation project to enhance the local population to a self-sustainable level.

The Department of Conservation is intensively managing the reserve to protect remaining weka. Department staff are monitoring weka and trapping known predators of chicks and eggs, such as ferrets, stoats and hedgehogs. The predator control work also benefits other native species in the reserve.

As part of the project, adult weka have been fitted with location transmitters to assist with nest location and enable monitoring of egg production and chick survival. Visitors should note signs placed at the entrance to the walking track advising of the presence of traps set under tunnels. Visitors are asked to please not disturb the traps which are essential to the predator control programme.

The North Island weka in the Motu and nearby Whitikau and Toatoa Valleys comprise the last major population of these fascinating and cheeky birds left in the wild. Protection of weka in the Whinray Scenic Reserve will be a major factor in ensuring the survival of the species.

Motu Scenic Reserve

Motu Scenic Reserve is a kahikatea wetland forest which is home to bush and wetland birds and is a valuable game bird breeding habitat. It contains a picturesque lake which can be viewed by walking a few metres off the road.

The reserve is located just past Motu township. At the township keep left, cross the bridge over the Motu River and the entrance to the reserve is located on the corner of Motu road and Phillips Road.