Summary
The caves at Waitomo and the 'Marble Mountain' and caves near Takaka are well known examples of landforms collectively referred to as 'karst'. Karst include a variety of distinctive and often spectacular surface and underground features, formed predominantly by the dissolving action of water, which are much prized by iwi and other local people and sought out by visitors and tourists.
Karst areas usually also include distinctive soils, micro-climates, flora, fauna and patterns
of hydrology.
Karst is widely distributed throughout New Zealand, often on public conservation
land managed by the Department of Conservation, but it is a very minor component of
the overall landscape-which makes what is there special. Karst areas or features are
often fragile, and require special management to minimise adverse effects.
These guidelines were developed to help to manage them, in order to conserve their unique character.
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