New hut for Matemateaonga Track

Date:  12 February 2010

Construction began recently on a new hut going into the Matemateaonga Track. The new ‘Ngapurua Hut’ will be built in the Ngapurua shelter area between Pouri and Puketotara huts.

The Matemateaonga track is one of the two major track networks available in the Whanganui National Park. The mostly ridgeline walk follows the original Wakaihuwaka road built in 1911 and traverses an expanse of impressive bush from Taranaki through to the Whanganui River.

With mostly easy gradients, the track is extensively used throughout the year and is an excellent introduction to the backcountry for less experienced trampers. A number of operators offer transport to and from the ends of the track. Trampers have the opportunity to experience remote bush, hear kiwi and take in the stunning scenery of the Whanganui National Park.

A tramper relaxes on a hammock at
Pouri Hut on the Matemateaonga Track

The walk between Pouri and Puketotara huts takes around 8 hours or longer depending on conditions. Adding a new hut on this stretch of track will make this leg of the track easier reducing the time between huts to about 4hours. This should make the track more attractive to a wider range of users.

DOC is pleased to have been able to work with local iwi around locating a suitable site for the hut. Kaumatua from Ngati Kurawhatia and Tamahaki visited the site by helicopter last year and were comfortable with the chosen area.

DOC programme manager George Taylor said “The Whanganui National Park contains numerous sites of immense cultural significance to tangata whenua. The opportunity to work closely with iwi means that DOC can avoid disturbing any of these tapu areas. Such collaboration is critical to the future of the national park.”

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