Before a Special Tribunal

Under the Resource Management Act 1991

In the matter of an application for a Water Conservation Order for the Ngaruroro River and Clive River

Statement of Evidence of Michael Birch on behalf of New Zealand Fish and Game Council, Hawke's Bay Fish and Game Council, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, Jet Boating New Zealand, Whitewater NZ Incorporated and Ngāti Hori ki Kohupatiki

17 October 2017

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Introduction

1 My name is Michael Birch. I am 57 years old and reside on a hill country farm

near Masterton. I have a degree in agricultural engineering from Lincoln

University. I work from home as a freelance web designer and developer.

2 I worked in the adventure tourism industry from 1985 until 2001. I worked in

Oregon, USA for two summers (1986, 1987) as a whitewater rafting guide and

Utah for two winters (1985/86 and 1986/87) in the ski industry. I resided in Taupo

from 1988 to 2008 and I owned and operated my business, “Rapid Sensations” in

Taupo, from 1988 until 2000. Rapid Sensations offered whitewater rafting, mostly

on the Tongariro River, and combinations of rafting and fly fishing on various

central north island rivers including the Tongariro, Whakapapa, Mohaka and

Ngaruroro rivers. I held the NZ Senior National Raft Guide Award (grade 4 & 5)

and was a registered Workplace Assessor for rafting qualifications from 1999 to

2003. I worked on the Arkansas River, Colorado, USA for the summer of 2001, as

a rafting guide, safety kayaker, and fly fishing guide.

3 I am an expert whitewater kayaker and have run rivers of a range of difficulty from

Grade I to Grade V. I have been rafting and kayaking since 1985 and I have run

rivers extensively in New Zealand (see Appendix 1) and for the 20 years I was in

Taupo I explored a lot of rivers around the central plateau. I have also kayaked

and rafted rivers in Costa Rica, USA and Nepal. I have experienced some of the

world’s premier whitewater multi-day journeys including the Grand Canyon of the

Colorado River, the wild and scenic section of the Rogue River and Nepal’s Sun

Kosi River. I am an expert oar boater and paddle raft guide1.

4 I am an avid fly fisherman and have been fishing for 50 years on New Zealand

rivers and in the USA. For the period that I lived in Taupo, I worked as a raft-

fishing guide, usually on the Tongariro River, but also on other central North

Island rivers including the Ngaruroro River. I specialised in combining rafting and

fly fishing using rafts and inflatable kayaks for access to remote rivers. Most of

these trips were for fishing lodges or fishing guides and their clients. I worked in

the capacity of a rafting guide and the party would include a fishing guide and one

or two clients. For the time I was in Taupo, I worked with about 20 fishing guides,

who all had different techniques and skills for guiding their clients. As an

observer, I had the opportunity to learn a great deal about fly fishing and my own

fly fishing skills improved considerably. Occasionally, I would take my own clients

and work as both the rafting guide and fishing guide, which I have done twice on

the upper Ngaruroro River.

1 An oar boat is a raft controlled by a guide who uses two oars attached to a metal frame; a paddle raft is

powered and guided by people using single blade paddles.

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5 In the last 3 years, I have combined fishing up rivers in the Tararua ranges with

returning downstream via packraft. I purchased a packraft in August 2014 and

have used it for 3 summers for exploring rivers in the Tararua ranges including

the Ruamahanga, Waingawa and Waiohine rivers. I have used it for fishing

sections of these rivers that require a long walk in. The rivers are usually at low,

summer flows. Packrafting back downstream is usually faster and easier than

walking even if the rivers are low.

6 I have advocated for recreational rafting and kayaking on New Zealand rivers for

many years. I made a submission to the resource consent hearing for the renewal

of consents for the Tongariro Power Scheme in 2001 and was a member of the

TPD consultative group that was formed by the Electricity Corporation of New

Zealand (ECNZ) from 1993 until 2000. I represented the NZ Recreational

Canoeing Association at the hearing for the consent renewals on the Waikato

River in Taupo on 26 November 2001 and was involved in subsequent

negotiations with Mighty River Power during 2003.

7 I currently represent Whitewater NZ on the Stakeholder Advisory Group for Water

Wairarapa, which proposes to build large water storage dam(s) in the

Ruamahanga catchment.

8 I am currently a member of the Ruamahanga Whaitua committee, which was

established by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) in December 2013

to provide recommendations for provisions for the Ruamahanga Whaitua section

of GWRC’s Natural Resources Plan, and for work programmes for the integrated

management of land and water resources within the catchment.

9 I have held the following volunteer positions:

(a) Executive Officer, Whitewater NZ, 2009-2012;

(b) President, Whitewater NZ (formerly NZRCA), 2006-2008;

(c) Vice President, NZ Recreational Canoeing Association (NZRCA), 2002-

2005;

(d) President, Huka Falls Kayak Club, 2001-2003;

(e) Event organiser, Niamh Tomkins Memorial Kayak Rodeo Taupo, 2001-

2004;

(f) President, NZ River Guides Association (Rafting), 1992-1993;

(g) Secretary, Tourism Lake Taupo, 1993-1994; and

(h) President, Huka Falls Canoe Club (Taupo), 1990-1991.

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10 While this is not a hearing before the Environment Court, I confirm that I have

read the code of conduct for expert witnesses contained in the Environment Court

Consolidated Practice Note (2014). I have complied with it when preparing my

written statement of evidence and I agree to comply with it when presenting

evidence. I confirm that the evidence and the opinions I have expressed in my

evidence are within my area of expertise. I have not omitted to consider material

facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions that I express.

Scope of evidence

11 My evidence will address:

(a) My experience of rafting and kayaking the Ngaruroro River;

(b) Description of upper river sections (Boyd Hut to Kuripapango);

(c) Advances in the technology of rafts and kayaks and how this has increased

accessibility of the upper river;

(d) Pack rafting trip reports and television episode;

(e) Commercial rafting/fishing trips on the Ngaruroro River from Boyd Hut to

Kuripapango; and

(f) A comparison with other multi-day river journeys and what makes the

upper river nationally significant.

My experience of rafting and kayaking the Ngaruroro River.

12 My first visit to the river was on a four day rafting trip during Easter 1987. Our

party of 4 friends flew in to the Boyd airstrip in a fixed wing plane from Napier

Airport. On the way in the pilot remarked that it looked a bit “scratchy”. When we

launched the raft I realised that I had failed to do my homework and that the low

river level was going to make river travel very difficult. When we launched the raft,

the river was no more than ankle deep. We had a heavily laden 3.7m bucket

boat2, which meant progress was slow. The raft would become stuck on rocks

and we would have to get out and drag it downstream. It took about 8 hours on

the water per day for 4 days to reach Kuripapango.

2 Bucket boats require bailing out to get rid of the water that comes into the raft. Modern self-bailing rafts have

less draft and inflated floors which are less likely to catch on rocks. They can navigate small rocky rivers more

easily. Inflatable kayaks and pack rafts are even better for ease of running the river at low water levels.

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Rafting the Ngaruroro River, Easter 1987

13 We had two nights camping in tents and two nights in huts (Kiwi Mouth and

Cameron Huts).

14 We had intended to do some fly fishing and hunting, but with shorter autumn days

and slow progress we didn’t find much time for this. We did see numerous trout in

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the deep, clear pools and all of us were amazed by the water clarity. On other

rivers like the Mohaka River it’s not as easy to spot fish from a raft.

15 Despite the low river levels we had a fantastic experience. We only saw two other

people, who were making faster progress in a “Freemantle” raft. The strong

sense of remoteness and the wild, untouched nature of the landscape made for a

powerful experience.

16 During the summer of 1990/1991 I did a trip in inflatable kayaks. There were

three of us, including Mark Aspinall (a Taupo based fishing guide) and Bevan

Thomas, who wasn’t a fisherman or kayaker, but came for the wilderness

experience. We caught several fish and saw several very large fish in the area

around the Panoko stream confluence.

Mark Aspinall in an inflatable kayak on the Upper Ngaruroro River upstream from Ngaawapurua Hut

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Mark Aspinall, fly fishing guide, upper Ngaruroro River

17 In 1995 I did a rafting trip with Mark Collins (a former fishing guide from Taupo).

We took a paddle raft and flew by helicopter to Omarukokere bivouac and rafted

to Kuripapango. We were interested in the fishing as well as the whitewater. The

raft was a means of easily accessing many kilometres of fishing and added a very

enjoyable dimension to the experience.

Mark Collins, fishing guide, upper Ngaruroro River

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18 On 31 October 1996 I did a trip from Kuripapango to Whanawhana. Two of us

were in a paddle raft and one night was spent camping on the river.

19 In 1997 I completed a rafting/fishing trip from Rocks Ahead Hut to Kuripapango

with two Australian male clients, who were both novice fishermen. They had been

with me on the Tongariro River and wanted a remote wilderness experience that

combined adventure and fishing. We took a paddle raft and an inflatable kayak.

20 In March 1999 I undertook a rafting/fishing trip with two clients, an American

couple. This took four days from Rocks Ahead Hut to Kuripapango. They had

been with me before on the upper Mohaka River and wanted a similar experience

of an interesting rafting trip on a remote river with sight fishing for large trout. The

Ngaruroro River offered fantastic fishing for rainbow trout. They caught about two

fish per day of about 2.2 to 2.7kg and commented on the beauty of the river and

landscape. The size and condition of the fish impressed them too.

21 I completed three trips in 2001 as a rafting guide for Tongariro Lodge (see

Appendix 2). These trips were fly-in and fly-out trips. Starting points included

Boyd, Ngaawapurua and Rocks Ahead Huts. We would have one night on the

river and fly out from Rocks Ahead or Kiwi Mouth Huts. There would be three of

us: one client, a fishing guide and myself. We used a self-bailing 3.8m raft with an

oar frame to allow me to control the raft on my own.

22 The purpose of using the raft was to allow clients, who had trouble walking,

easier access to the river. We would stop at the rapid above a suitable pool and

the client and guide would walk down to the pool to fish it. When they were ready

the guide would signal me to row the raft down and pick them up. This method

allowed us to easily navigate the river even at low flows. We camped in tents to

allow access to good fishing in the evening and early morning. Every trip was a

success with the clients remarking on the excellent fly fishing for well-conditioned

rainbow trout, the exceptional water clarity, ease of access by helicopter and raft,

and the high wilderness values of the river.

23 On 11 to 14 January 2002, I completed a descent from Boyd to Kuripapango with

Richard Coghlan, using inflatable kayaks. Notes from this trip are included in

Appendix 2. We enjoyed some fantastic fishing and apart from seeing

Mark Aspinall (fishing guide) and his client early on the first day, we didn’t see

any other people for the four days we were on the river.

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Description of Upper River sections (Boyd Hut to Kuripapango)

24 The overall distance on the river from Boyd Hut to Kuripapango is 61km.

25 Boyd Airstrip to Panoko Stream (Gold Creek)

Distance: 5.9 km.

The landscape at Boyd Hut is an open terraced valley with alpine shrub lands and

tussock. There is an overnight option to stay at Boyd Hut. There is public land for

camping on river left (Kaweka Forest Park) for all of the Ngaruroro River from

Boyd Hut to Kuripapango3. A private hut is available for hunting parties at Gold

Creek Hut.4 In this section, the river can be too low for rafts and kayaks at very

low flow.

26 Panoko Stream (Gold Creek) to Ngaawapurua Hut

Distance: 11.2km.

The landscape changes in this section, transitioning from an open valley with

alpine shrub lands and tussock to a tighter gorge and beech forest. There is an

overnight option at Ngaawapurua Hut. The rapids are tighter and steeper rapids

in the gorge at end of this section.

27 Ngaawapurua Hut to Omarukokere Bivouac

Distance: 6.7km

The landscape continues to be regenerating manuka and kanuka and beech

forest. “At lower altitudes, in the river valleys, there are pockets of podocarp

forest (rimu, miro, matai) and varied broadleaved species such as lacebark, five

finger and kohuhu”5. There are multiple camping options on public land (Kaweka

Forest Park) on river left all the way from here to Kuripapango. An overnight

option is at Omarukokere bivouac where there is a helipad. The river becomes

easier below Omarukokere confluence at low flows.

28 Omarukokere Bivouac to Rocks Ahead Hut

Distance: 5.1km

There is a helipad next to Rocks Ahead Hut. Public land is available for camping

on both sides of the river downstream to about the Kiwi Stream confluence.

3 New Zealand Walking Access Commission map of huts and DOC land: https://www.wams.org.nz/ Search

for “Kaweka Forest Park”

4 http://www.helisika.co.nz/hunting-blocks/gold-creek/

5 http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/history-

and-nature/

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29 Rocks Ahead Hut to Kiwi Mouth Hut

Distance: 9.8km

Rocks Ahead is an accurate description; there are many boulder garden rapids in

this reach. There is a helipad and an overnight option at Kiwi Mouth Hut and also

a private hut for hunting parties at Jack’s Camp.6

30 Kiwi Mouth Hut to Cameron Hut

Distance: 10.4km

The gorges widen in this section allowing views to the tops of the ranges. There

is a helipad and an overnight option at Cameron Hut.

31 Cameron Hut to Kuripapango

Distance: 12.0km

The rapids in this section are easier. The final part of the journey, the Oxbow, can

take longer than it looks. Approaching Kuripapango, the landscape changes with

more evidence of human interaction and pine forest and clearings come into

view.

Advances in the technology of rafts and kayaks and how this has increased

accessibility of the upper river

32 Advances in technology have allowed easier river running on the upper river at a

wider range of flows.

6 http://www.helisika.co.nz/hunting-blocks/jacks-camp/

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Bruce Webber (right) at Boyd airstrip

33 Bruce Webber is a kayak instructor from Rotorua, who has been instructing

kayaking since the mid 1980s. He remembers a four day trip in about 1985. The

party flew in to the Boyd in a Cessna aircraft which only just had room for their

4m+ long fibreglass kayaks. They had home-made clothing and carried fibreglass

repair kits in case they broke their kayaks. Despite cold weather (it snowed) he

remembers a “complete wilderness experience in a steep, remote place” and

“unbelievably clear water with an abundance of huge trout”.

34 The Ngaruroro River was probably first navigated by rafters using tubes or basic

tyre tube rafts. John Mackay described how to build a tube raft with two truck

tubes and timber. [1]

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35 In the 1980s Freemantle Canvas in Napier produced rafts made from truck tubes

and canvas lashed to the tubes. These rafts were particularly suitable for the

upper Ngaruroro River. They could be packed into a fixed wing aircraft, could

carry two people and their gear and good for navigating the narrow, shallow

passages at low and medium flows.

Freemantle raft – a bucket boat with truck tube and lashed PVC construction

36 Plastic kayaks also became popular in the 1980s, which meant that people could

run the river at lower flows without risking damage to their kayaks.

37 Self-bailing rafts were introduced in the 1980s. These rafts have an inflated floor

and drain holes between the main tubes and floor. This means that they have

less draft and are less likely to catch on rocks.

38 Inflatable kayaks also became available in the 1980s with the same construction

and these would prove ideal for low flows on the Ngaruroro River.

39 In the 1990s there were many changes in plastic kayak design including making

them a lot shorter – 2 to 2.5m long instead of 3.5 to 4m long. This made air

transport a lot easier. Kayaks could fit inside fixed wing aircraft or be strapped to

helicopter skids.

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Tihoi Venture School trip in winter 2012. Loading the helicopter at Kuripapango to fly to Boyd Hut [3]

Tihoi Venture School group of aspiring young kayakers, Ngaruroro River, winter 2012 [3]

40 Packrafts7 were first developed in the 1980s but in the early 2000s Alpacka

revolutionised the design to create rafts that were lighter and more durable and

7 “Packraft and trail boat are colloquial terms for a small, portable inflatable boats designed for use in all

bodies of water, including technical whitewater and ocean bays and fjords. A packraft is designed to be light

enough to be carried for extended distances … Most weigh less than nine pounds (4 kg) and usually carry a

single passenger.” (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packraft)

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able to handle hard whitewater.8 This has opened up a range of experiences that

combine tramping with running the river in a packraft. Without the cost of flying in

to the river by helicopter or fixed wing plane, the experience is available to a

wider section of the population although a level of tramping fitness is required.

Pack rafting trip reports and television episode

41 The upper Ngaruroro River would be very suitable for trips that combine

tramping, fly fishing and packrafting. I have used inflatable kayaks on fishing trips

on the upper Ngaruroro River at low flows. Packrafts also make navigation

possible at very low flows, but have the advantage of being light enough to carry

while tramping.

42 My comments are echoed by those of others on various packrafting websites.

The website: www.packraftingtrips.nz records:

The Ngaruroro is one of the great wild rivers in the north island, suitable for long, relatively easy packraft trips through fantastic scenery… Kayakers normally allow two to three days of paddling for this section. Packrafters would probably want to allow more time, especially to enjoy the great huts and side tracks available in this area.

9

43 Stuart Bilby did the trip in the summer of 2011/2012. He wrote: “Packrafting the

Ngaruroro River. Walk in to Kiwi Mouth Hut, raft out. Wild… The flow was 6.3

m³/s at Kuripapango. We did the trip again down from Cameron in February this

year when the flow was very low <4 m³/s and though it looked too low it was still a

lot of fun and no real problem at all for eager beginners.”10

44 Tim Lusk from Dunedin wrote about a trip he did in January 2012:

We completed a 6 day trip including 3 days of tramping followed by 3 days packrafting. We walked in from the Te Puia hot springs road end, up the track beside the Mohaka River (another great trip possibility in itself), up the ridge to Makino hut, South East to Mangaturutu hut, Tira hut and down to Rocks Ahead hut, beside the Ngaruroro river. A longer trip could involve tramping across to Boyd hut instead, giving an extra 2 days on the river… I'd definitely recommend this trip as a remote wilderness experience (as far as NZ can provide!), where you will hardly see another person, except the occasional hunter.

11

8 http://winterbear.com/packrafting/packraft-makers/

9 http://www.packraftingtrips.nz/ngaruroro-river-ii-boyd-hut-to-kuripapango/

10 https://plus.google.com/+StuartBilby/posts/2hXCSZHqtVM

11 http://packrafting.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1817

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45 Chris Coutts from Auckland wrote about a trip in early 2014:

Thoroughly recommend the trip for packraft novices on a safe river, or anyone wanting a remote multiday adventure. No tricky gorge sections, so options to portage any rapids you want. Not long days, so you can take your time and enjoy it all.

12

46 A television programme which included packrafting the Ngaruroro River was

screened on Choice TV at 9.30 pm, 16 March 2016: NZ Hunter Adventures

Season 1, Episode 6.13

Chris Coutts’ packrafting trip in early 2014

12 http://packrafting.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3326 and

https://get.google.com/albumarchive/107597262778409403491/album/AF1QipPFbrHqrK3DCRYWPJm6AI-

l6Kh0nMx_e7tQlhbi

13 https://www.facebook.com/NZHunterMagazine/videos/1037601856296544/

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Chris Coutts’ packrafting trip in 2014

Chris Coutts’ packrafting trip in 2014

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Commercial rafting/fishing trips on the upper Ngaruroro River

47 Jack MacKenzie of Rangitikei Anglers pioneered rafting/fishing trips on the

Rangitikei and Ngaruroro Rivers in 1984. He experimented with fly-fishing from

the raft as is often done on western rivers in the USA. However, trout densities

are much greater on those rivers and the water was not so clear. On NZ rivers

the trout often see the raft before you see them. He used the raft to access the

wilderness sections of these rivers and to make it easier for elderly and/or less

mobile clients to experience these outstanding rivers. The Rangitikei River

received a lot of attention from anglers after getting a lot of publicity in the 80s.

48 Rangitikei Anglers started offering raft/fishing trips on the Ngaruroro as well as

the Rangitikei but tried to keep it quiet, in order to avoid the attention that the

Rangitikei had attracted. During the period from 1987 until 2002 they ran

approximately 6 trips per annum to the upper Ngaruroro River, flying in by

helicopter. Most trips were to the river below Omarukokere bivouac because of

the difficulty in navigating the river at low flows above this point. Rangitikei

Anglers closed for business in 2007.

49 Other commercial raft/fishing trips have been run over the years by fishing lodges

and local rafting companies including Tongariro Lodge and Rapid Sensations and

more recently by Mohaka Rafting and River Valley.

A comparison with other multi-day river journeys and what makes the upper river

nationally significant

50 Graham Charles writes “From Boyd Hut to Kuripapango is class II+ and takes

two-three days through the bush clad valley with five huts and numerous

campsites. This is a fabulous and rare14

beginner/ intermediate self-support trip”

[2].

51 Laura Clayton writes “Heli-kayaking on the Ngaruroro River is a multiday trip that

every passionate kayaker should add to their bucket list! Combine crystal clear

waters, world class wilderness kayaking, great fishing, hut access, consistent

Grade Two - Three rapids for over 30 km and the fact that you helicopter in...

makes it a trip of a lifetime!” [3]

52 I agree with both of these views.

53 Similar multi-day wilderness river journeys in New Zealand are possible on the

following rivers:

North Island: upper Mohaka, upper Rangitikei, Manganui-a-te-ao.

14 Author’s emphasis

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South Island: Clarence, Upper Grey.

54 All these rivers have Water Conservation Orders (WCOs), with the exception of

the Clarence River and the Upper Grey.

55 However, although all of the rivers mentioned in paragraph 54 do have highly

valued multi-day white water runs on them of differing Grades (the upper Mohaka

is Grade 2-3, the upper Rangitikei Grade 4, the Manganui-a-te-ao Grade 2 to 4-

(although there are easier Grade 2 runs), the Clarence is Grade 2-3, and the

upper Grey is Grade 3), these white water recreation values are not recognised in

any of the WCOs. The WCOs only recognise fishing and other natural values,

including blue duck habitat in one.

56 The reasons for these white water values not being included in the WCOs are

probably lost in the mists of time. However, I am aware, from conversations with

Dr Rankin, that when some of these WCO applications were heard (e.g., the Grey

and Ahaura) the Hearing Tribunals were not convinced of the outstanding

recreation values on the basis of the evidence presented to them. With regards to

some of the other runs I suspect the worth and recreational value of the runs was

not appreciated at the time of the Hearings, and so no evidence on such matters

was presented for the Hearing Tribunals to consider. Needless to say, these

values are all recognised by myself, and the kayaking and rafting communities,

as witnessed by their descriptions in current guidebooks [2, 4].

57 The following elements combine to make the upper Ngaruroro River nationally

outstanding and comparable to other rivers with WCOs which recognise

outstanding white-water recreation values.

(a) Ease of access. Access is not easy because the river is in a remote area,

but there is a range of options including tramping and flying in by helicopter

and/or fixed wing plane. There is a choice of five landing sites for

helicopters, which allows for different put-in and take-out locations and

different sections of the river to be used. The upper Rangitikei and upper

Mohaka Rivers both have air access, but not as many options as the upper

Ngaruroro River. The Manganui-a-te-ao and upper Grey both have vehicle

access to their put-in points.

(b) Many options for overnight stays. Camping on public land is possible for all

of the left bank and for some of the right bank. There are six DOC huts and

bivouacs and two private huts. The upper Mohaka River has one DOC hut

and the Clarence River has five DOC huts.

(c) High wilderness values and a variety of essentially pristine, untouched

landscape. The upper Rangitikei and the upper Mohaka are similar. The

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Upper Grey and Manganui-a-te-ao rivers have roads and farmland which

diminish the wilderness values.

(d) Options to combine river running in a variety of craft with other outdoor

experiences including tramping, hunting and fishing. The only New Zealand

river with similar options and quality of experience is the upper Rangitikei

River.

(e) Exceptional water quality and clarity. Of all the rivers I have run, only one

other river, the upper Rangitikei River, matches the water clarity of the

upper Ngaruroro River.

(f) Overall distance for a multi-day journey. The upper Ngaruroro river is

61km. The Ngaruroro gorge is 39km. A multi day journey on the combined

100km allows for a 4 to 8 day trip (depending on flows and time needed for

other activities). This is longer than any comparable river journey in New

Zealand with similar white water and wilderness values.

(g) Easy to moderate whitewater that is accessible to a wide range of river

users from novices to experts. There are a lot more beginner and

intermediate kayakers, rafters and packrafters than advanced paddlers in

the whitewater paddling community. This means that the upper Ngaruroro

River is suitable and more accessible for more people than harder multi-

day runs like the Motu, Karamea, Waiototo or Landsborough Rivers.

58 In my opinion, the upper Ngaruroro River would rate as the best run of its type in

New Zealand for:

(a) Water clarity;

(b) Overnight options (huts and campsites) and multi-day trip options; and

(c) Options to combine river running with other outdoor experiences.

Michael Birch

17 October 2017

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References

1. John Mackay, Wild Rivers – Rafting and Canoeing Adventures in New Zealand,

Hodder and Stoughton, 1978

2. Graham Charles, Whitewater New Zealand - 125 Great Kayaking Runs, Craig

Potton Publishing, Revised Edition, 2006 (4th Edition).

3. Laura Clayton, Mid-winter Heli-Boating in the Kawekas, New Zealand Kayak

Magazine, Canoe & Kayak Ltd, Issue 66, Winter 2012.

http://www.kayaknz.co.nz/site/kayakmagazine/files/Articles/Issue%2066//Mid%2

0Winter%20Heli-

boating%20in%20the%20Kawekas%20Issue%2066%20Pg%2030-32.pdf

4. Graham Charles, New Zealand Whitewater 5 - 180 Great Kayaking Runs,

Published by Graham Charles, Revised Edition, 2013 (5th Edition).

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Appendix 1

River runs, Michael Birch.

* numbers are approximate

River Reach Runs/visits *

Wairoa McLaren Falls to Powerstation 20

Kaituna Okere Falls 30

Rangitaikī Jeff's Joy 100

Rangitaikī Aniwhenua 3

Mōkau Totoro Gorge 1

Waipakihi Waipakihi Road to Rangipo dam 3

Tongariro Rangipo Dam to Tree Trunk Gorge 12

Tongariro Tree Trunk Gorge to Waikato Falls 6

Tongariro Poutu Intake to Blue Pool 1500

Tongariro Blue Pool to Turangi 200

Tongariro Turangi to Lake Taupo 5

Waikato Control Gate to Reids Farm 40

Waikato Huka Falls 2

Waikato Ngāwapurua 300

Whakapapanui SH 47 to Whakapapa Intake 1

Papamanuka Papamanuka 1

Whakapapa Whakapapa Intake to Owhango 5

Whakapapa Owhango to Wanganui? 2

Makatote SH 4 to Upper Manganui Valley bridge 1

Manganui-a-te-Ao Top Gorge 2

Mangaore Mangahao National White Water Centre 2

Rangitikei Upper 2

Rangitikei Matawhero Bridge to River Valley Lodge 20

Rangitikei River Valley Lodge to Mangaweka 1

Rangitikei Utiku to Mangaweka 4

Mohaka Poronui to SH 5 12

Mohaka SH 5 to Glenfalls 5

Mohaka Te Hoe 5

Mohaka Willow Flat 1

Ripia Lochinver Station to Mohaka River 1

Waipunga Lower 1

Ngaruroro Boyd Hut to Kuripapango 3

Ngaruroro Boyd Hut to Ngaawapurua Hut 1

Ngaruroro Omarukokere bivouac to Kuripapango 1

Ngaruroro Rock’s Ahead Hut to Kiwi Mouth Hut 2

Ngaruroro Rock’s Ahead Hut to Kuripapango 2

Ngaruroro Kuripapango to Whanawhana 1

Mangahao Gorge 10

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Hutt Gorge 10

Mangareia Mangareia 1

Ruamahanga Tararua Forest Park to Mt Bruce 3

Ruamahanga Mt Bruce 2

Waingawa Mitre Flats to Kaituna 2

Waingawa Kaituna to Atiwhakatu confluence 30

Waiohine Makaka confluence to Waiohine Gorge Road 1

Waiohine Walls Whare to Waiohine Gorge Road 20

Gowan Lake Rotoroa to Buller River 1

Buller Granity 1

Buller Doctor’s Creek 2

Buller O'Sullivan's to Ariki 4

Buller Earthquake 2

Mangles Blackwater Creek to Buller 1

Mātakitaki Upper 1

Mātakitaki Middle 2

Mātakitaki Lower 10

Clarence Acheron to SH1 1

Hurunui Māori Gully 5

Rangitata Gorge 2

Tekapō SH8 to Tekapō A powerstation 1

Tekapō Tekapō Whitewater Course 4

Pukaki Below SH8 3

Arahura Gorges 2

Arahura Milltown Gorge 6

Grey Gentle Annie Gorge 1

Hokitika Kakariki Canyon 2

Kākāpōtahi Mid Gorge to SH6 2

Perth Five Finger Stream to old SH6 bridge site 2

Styx Tyndall Stream to Styx bridge 2

Taipo Julia Creek Hut to Road bridge 1

Toaroha Lower Toaroha 1

Kawarau Dogleg 2

Shotover Skippers Bridge to Deep Creek 2

Shotover Deep Creek to Edith Cavell Bridge 1

Hollyford Falls Creek to Marian Creek 1

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Appendix 2

Trip notes

3 Jan 2001

Access by fixed wing plane from Taupo to Boyd airstrip.

Party: 2 clients, Tim McCarthy fishing guide, Michael Birch

River flooded 5 days earlier on 28 – 29 Dec. Approx 15 cumecs at Kuripapango.

Steep rapids in gorge leading to Ngaawapurua confluence. Gradient eases and easy

rapids from Ngaawapurua to Omarukokere bivouac. Good fishing.

3 Feb 2001

Party: 1 client, Tim McCarthy fishing guide, Michael Birch

Very good weather. River low, but in excellent order with lots of fish, many feeding on

top. Landed 6 (3 each day) up to eight pounds. Several fish lost including two or three

very large (possibly double figure) fish. Rafted 1 – 1.5 hours on the first day, 3 – 4 hours

on day two. 4 cumecs at Kuripapango on 5 Feb 2001.

14 Feb 2001

Party: 1 client, Tim McCarthy fishing guide, Michael Birch

4 cumecs at Kuripapango. Similar to previous trip.

11 – 14 Jan 2002

Access by fixed wing plane from Taupo to Boyd airstrip.

Party: Richard Coghlan and Michael Birch

11 January

9:00am Flew to Boyd.

11:30am Started kayaking.

5:00pm Arrived at Ngaawapurua and stayed in the hut.

Saw good numbers of fish from just above Panoko Creek down to the bush line.

12 January

Spent 3.5 hours kayaking to Rocks Ahead.

Caught 2 fish in the hut pool.

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Good numbers of fish in first section below Ngaawapurua, but very few fish seen

between Omarukokere bivouac and Rocks Ahead.

Camped below Rocks Ahead Hut.

13 January

1.5 hours on river to Kiwi Mouth

Caught 4 fish (2 each).

Stayed at Cameron Hut.

14 January

Out to Kuripapango.