Papaitonga is a dune lake in the Horowhenua coastal plain. It is surrounded by a very rare remnant of coastal north island forest. Just south of Levin, the 135 hectare Papaitonga Scenic Reserve is a little known but ecologically and historically remarkable place [click here to view map].
The reserve contains the only intact sequence from wetland to mature dry terrace forest in Wellington and Horowhenua. It is an important refuge for birds that depend on wetlands or lowland forests for their survival. Papaitonga is home to waterfowl and wading birds as well as forest species on the lake’s margins. However, like many remnant wetland forests, the health of this wetland forest is threatened by a receding water table. The reserve is surrounded by farmland which draws on large volumes of water for irrigation. (more…)
July 7, 2011
Farm landscape in the Horowhenua
Posted by envirohistorynz under commentary | Tags: 1886, deforestation, farm, Horowhenua, Kilsby, Levin, lowland forest, nikau, Nikaunui, Papaitonga, Paul Knight, private reserves, Stirling University Research Centre for Environmental History and Policy, Wellington-Manawatu Railway Line |Leave a Comment
The photo is taken by veteran photographer, Paul Knight, of a farm just north of the Horowhenua town of Levin [click here to view location]. The farm, called Nikaunui, meaning “many (or big) nikau palms” in Maori, is a large sheep and beef farm, owned by the Kilsby family,* a family with a long history in the district. (more…)
Share this:
Like this: