The
Contents. Introducing the Giant
02.
Message from the Trust
03.
The Legend of Te Mata Peak
04.
About Te Mata Peak and the Chambers Family
06.
A Day on the Peak
09.
Plans of the Centre
10.
Those Among us who Support the Giant
16.
Tourism Facts and Figures
17.
Funding Opportunities
18.
The Giant Among Us. 01.
Introducing
Giant.
the
Te Mata Peak is a Giant Among Us. It stands proudly above Hawke’s Bay providing stunning views of the region and is used by a wide range of recreational users and tourists. From 399 metres high above Hawke’s Bay the panoramic views from Te Mata Peak stretch from Mahia in the north, across to the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges, Mt Ruapehu and out to southern Hawke’s Bay. The Peak’s popularity and stature continues to grow and we now have an opportunity to develop a world class visitor attraction and educational resource. An ‘evocative’ visitor and education centre on Te Mata Peak, designed by architect Christopher Kelly of Architecture Workshop, will benefit the entire region. Christopher designed the Waitomo Caves visitor centre which was named New Zealand’s top building in the 2011 NZIA Awards. For Te Mata Peak he has designed a visitor and education centre that “reflects and connects” with the top of the Peak. The centre, to be sited near the current main gates to the park, is aimed at complementing the trig station on the peak. The 435 square metre building includes an education centre and café along with car parking and a turning bay and drop off zone for visitors on buses, who will then be shuttled to the top. The building will be situated adjacent to the main entrance gates into the Park, offering a viewing platform looking across the Bay, but having minimal impact on the site. The main feature of the design is an open access circular platform, which will provide both views within the park and stretching right across the Bay. A recent traffic count and recreational use survey found that over 4600 cars and buses entered the park over a two week period and coupled with regular recreational users the numbers visiting the Peak on a busy day can exceed 2000. Annually it is estimated that over 200,000 visit and enjoy Te Mata Peak Park. The Trust’s aim is to enhance the experience of visitors to the Bay and the regular users of the Park.
02. The Giant Among Us.
Message from the
Trust.
A visitor and education centre for Te Mata Peak Park is long overdue. Te Mata Peak has special historical significance and the new building will be a much needed focus and information destination. The park is a Giant Among Us and its wide use by locals and tourists has proved its place at the top of the local natural attractions Hawke’s Bay offers. The growing number of visitors to the park is a motivating factor for establishing the new visitor/education centre and café, which will enhance all users’ experience of the park. The Trust has long had a concern about the large tourist buses driving up the windy road to the Peak coupled with the increase in recreational use. A second motivating factor is the opportunity to create a valuable environmental and cultural educational resource for visitors to the park. The centre will provide a much needed facility for the schools of Hawke’s Bay. Currently there is very limited information available within the park to explain its special ecological, geological, archaeological and historical features. In 2006, the Trust commissioned an Ecological Management Plan, which pointed out that there is a huge opportunity to explain the special features of the area to stimulate public interest in the protection and restoration of the park. The centre will be the place for visitors to orientate with the region and understand its history of Maori and Pakeha settlement. Te Mata Peak is a regional icon and is on the must visit list for every tourist visiting both Napier and Hastings. One only has to look at the increase in cruise ship visits and the number of buses going up Te Mata Peak to know that it brings in much needed tourism dollars. We look forward to the development of the Centre and your ongoing support – the Giant Among Us deserves to be looked after for many generations to come.
The Giant Among Us. 03.
The
Legend of Te Mata Peak.
It is sometimes said the legend of Te Mata Peak is that the hill is the body of the giant Rongokako. Although given to warfare, Rongokako was swayed from his plan to attack the Heretaunga people when he saw the beauty of the Heretaunga chief’s daughter. A series of difficult tasks were set for Rongokako to prove his worthiness. He completed all but the last, which was to eat his way through the hill. Looking towards the Peak from Hastings the huge bite that choked Rongokako can be seen. The outline of his body forms the skyline.
04. The Giant Among Us.
View from Te Mata Peak towards the Ruahine ranges (collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Napier).
The Giant Among Us. 05.
About
TePeak Mata and the
Chambers Family.
Te Mata Peak is part of the land associated with the ancestor Te Rehunga of Ngati Ngarengare, a sub-tribe of Ngati Kahungunu. The Park has a rich human history spanning several centuries and the upper parts in particular have a strong cultural importance to Maori. The land that makes up Te Mata Park was included in a block purchased in 1862 by early settler, John Chambers, who farmed in the area including what now encompasses the Te Mata Estate Winery and land along the Waimarama Road and Tuki Tuki River. As a memorial to their father in 1927 his sons, Bernard, John and Mason, gifted a 98 hectare reserve on the upper Havelock North hills, including Te Mata Peak, to the people of Hawke’s Bay.
John Chambers the original owner of Te Mata Peak and the father of Bernard, John and Mason who gifted Te Mata Peak to the people of Hawke’s Bay.
A charitable trust was set up for the benefit of all citizens of the provincial district of Hawke’s Bay and to be kept as a recreational reserve in perpetuity. The Trust Deed specifies that a male descendant of the original grantors must be a member of the Trust and to date the family representatives on the Trust have been T. Mason Chambers, (1927 - 1939), John Mason (Jack) Chambers (1952 - 1968), Mason Robert Chambers (1969 - 2000) and currently Brian John Mason (Bruno) Chambers (2000 - present). All have held the office of Chairman of the Trust. In the 1930s the first chairman, Mason Chambers, surveyed the road to the top of the Peak and oversaw the planting of the large stand of Redwoods.
06. The Giant Among Us.
These trees have become a noted landmark within the Park and a popular destination for walkers, as well as a venue for weddings. Tree planting was of immense importance to the first generation of Chambers, as were other environmentally sustainable activities. In 1954, memorial gates, designed by Eric Phillips, were erected at the entrance to the Park and in 1967 the Trust decided to build, high upon the slopes of the Park, a building to be known as Peak House Restaurant.
Te Mata Park Trust Board members.
View of Te Mata Peak (collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Napier).
Paragliding off Te Mata Peak.
View from Te Mata Peak (collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Napier).
The Land.
The Look-out.
Te Mata Peak is an integral feature of both the Maori and European history of the Hawke’s Bay region.
The look-out summit stands at 399 metres above sea level. Te Mata Peak is a “hog back” ridge of erosion resistant limestone dipping steeply to the West.
Enshrined in Ngati Kahungunu legend, it is also of great importance in the early settler history of Hawke’s Bay.
Across the Tuki Tuki valley immediately to the East is another limestone rock ridge. These sedimentary rocks, originally deposited in horizontal layers on the seabed, have been tilted and bowed upward by the geological forces of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates.
The Park is administered by the Te Mata Park Trust Board and is covenanted with the Q.E.II National Trust. Other support comes from the Royal Forest and Bird Society, service clubs, and the Hawke’s Bay community, with financial assistance from the Hastings District Council and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. The Trust is very appreciative of the support and ongoing partnership with the Regional Council.
Te Mata Peak gives a view of Napier to the North, Mahia Peninsula across Hawke Bay, softrock hill country to the South and East, and across the Heretaunga plains a view of the Ruahine, Kaweka and Maungaharuru ranges with the volcano Mount Ruapehu often visible behind them.
The Giant Among Us. 07.
08. The Giant Among Us.
A Day Peak. on the
We come up Te Mata Peak for exercise, the scenery and trails. We come here two or three times a week. Everyone is really friendly and says hello and it is also good exercise for the dog. The goat track (Peak Trail) has great scenery, plenty of tracks and heaps of trees and bush. GEMMA BAYLIS, HASTINGS
e come up here every W time we have visitors – we consider it a must. We brought some friends from Utah up once and they thought it was brilliant. DON BLAKE, NAPIER
I t’s a great view, the scenery is very grand. It is very impressive, there are few spots where you can see 360 degree views with city, mountains and the sea. In Korea everyone is always busy, here there is a good mix of nature and a modern lifestyle.
ery, very impressive V great views and it shows Hawke’s Bay at its best. I think this would have to be a great asset to the Bay in general. JOHN LUCKIN, TARANAKI
KIM SANGHYO, KOREA
The Giant Among Us. 09.
Plans of the
Centre. 10. The Giant Among Us.
1. Site plan of site showing car park. 2. AW generating idea - a datum to contrast with the natural topography.
1.
New Headquarters for Te Mata Park Te Mata Park is comprised of moderate to steep sloping limestone landform with several U-shaped valleys running west from Te Mata Peak toward the Heretaunga Plains. The Park contains a range of exotic and native ecological character types and is a significant recreational space for local residents and a regional orientation point for international tourists. Te Mata Park Trust Board is proposing a new ‘Headquarters’ facility to be located on the northern extent of Te Mata Park near the entrance gates. Christopher Kelly of Architecture Workshop has developed a design concept that complements the trig station on the peak. “Though the park gateway is not the top, we wanted to use this idea of a ‘datum’ to link with the peak conceptually and make a different sort of infrastructure at the entrance.” A landscape master plan has been prepared to tie all the previous areas of work together. This approach stresses the importance of the whole park and its future operation. A network of walking trails cover the peak joining enclosed valleys with exposed ridge tops. The park’s steep topography provides a range of contrasting outdoor environments and offers a wide variety of recreation activities. The proposed ‘Headquarters’ site has a line of mature Cedar trees and a mature stand of Eucalyptus marks the southern and south-western extent of the proposed site. A 5-10 minute loop track is proposed within the landscaped site; sweeping through the circular platform, this will guide the user through the various ecological conditions.
2.
The Giant Among Us. 11.
Improved access to the Park
1.
2.
The proposal includes the reconfiguration of the current parking onsite. The car park will be re-graded to match the grade of Te Mata Peak road. Disabled parking is accommodated at the northern (lower) end of the car park adjacent to the entry path. The car park area will include 46 car parks, 13 coach/bus parks and a bus turning bay, disabled parking and a separate service path. Increasing bus numbers need to be accommodated, mainly due to the rising number of cruise ships docking at Napier and instead of buses going to the top, smaller shuttle buses will be used to ferry people to the summit. Visitors will still be permitted to access the Peak in their vehicles. Access to the building from the car park is via a paved trench, removing the visitor from the vista. Planting reinforces this idea of holding back the view so it can be celebrated once you enter the building.
A circular jetty offering theatres of ‘close and far looking’ The complex will be a circular form offering both ‘a theatre of far looking’ and ‘a theatre of close looking’. The theatre of far looking takes in Napier Hill and the Ruapehu ranges ridge line while the theatre of close looking will take in the views within the park and its close surroundings.
12. The Giant Among Us.
1. A circular jetty. 2. Access ramp from the carpark to new visitor centre. 3. View to Ruapehu and a wide panorama from upper level.
3.
Christopher Kelly (far left) the architect with Bruno Chambers (centre) and Mason Chambers with a model of the proposed ‘Centre’.
The Giant Among Us. 13.
14. The Giant Among Us.
1.
Structure The “Datum” structure will have gravitas and longevity (much like an old ruin) as it is a heavyweight structure that spans the topography with minimal support. The asymmetric pre-cast concrete platform will be supported with a precast belly section. Both layers are then post-tensioned together.
2.
To make the structure economically viable, the geometry has been refined to make all the top pieces from one formwork jig and the curved belly sections from one mold as well. It is envisaged that this concrete structure will become a showcase for the skills of the region.
Visitor centre amenities • A café seating 40 inside and up to 60 people outside. • An education/interpretation area that can be used by local schools. • A small theatre that can be blacked out allows multi use and seating for 40 people on moveable benches. • Office space for an administrator • 6 unisex WC are provided (+1 staff WC) to allow busloads to process more quickly.
1. Inspiration from the Palazzetto delio Sport, Roma, Pier Luigi Nervi 1956. 2. Dunning Thorton Consultants layout of precast concrete slabs on roof. Opposite Page: A view of ‘Centre’ from carpark.
The Giant Among Us. 15.
Those
Among us who
Support the
Giant.
The building of a visitor centre at Te Mata Peak is a long overdue component of Hawke’s Bay’s most significant landscape feature. I am completely behind the efforts of the Te Mata Park Trust Board and believe this project will add significant value for locals and tourists alike. We all love the Peak, and it is time to give something back to it. Lawrence Yule Hastings District Mayor
Residents and tourists use the stunning Te Mata Park as a starting point to view the fabulous Hawke’s Bay from its heights. It is then easy to be seduced by the landscapes at your feet. The visitor centre, nestled into this landscape, will enhance any visitor’s experience and make Te Mata’s beauty accessible to all. Barbara Arnott Napier City Mayor
The proposed new development of a showcase and education centre at Te Mata Park is a great opportunity for Hawke’s Bay to demonstrate an affinity with the iconic Te Mata Peak. It is an exciting project that will ultimately touch all who live in and many who visit Hawke’s Bay. Fenton Wilson Chairman of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
16. The Giant Among Us.
Tourism
Facts and
Figures.
46 Cruise ships visited the Port of Napier over summer 2010/2011. The majority of passengers take sightseeing tours to the top of Te Mata Peak.
70 The predicted number of cruise ships visiting over the 2011/2012 summer.
249 Coaches took 12,500 cruise ship tourists to Te Mata Peak during 2010/2011.
4,600 Or more cars and buses entered the park over two weeks in February 2011 with an average number of 2.8 persons per car.
2,000 Regular recreation users and tourists can visit Te Mata Peak on a busy day.
101 Must Do’s – Te Mata Peak is one of the 101 Must Do’s in New Zealand according to recent AA Travel survey. It ranks at number 68 in 2010.
200,000 The park is used by over 200,000 recreational users and tourists a year.
The Giant Among Us. 17.
Funding
Opportunities. To make the vision of a $4m development come to life we will need contributions from individuals, families and companies, alongside funding support from local and central government. There are many ways to support the project from community-focused fundraising opportunities to sponsorship packages offering a full suite of benefits. Contributions are being sought from a range of external sources including Central Government funding and private, community and gaming trusts. Local government will also have a significant role to play in the development, with approaches being made to the Hastings District Council, Napier City Council and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Corporate sponsorship will form a substantial part of the fundraising endeavours. A range of options exist for organisations and contributors from the business sector. These packages can be tailor-made to suit the particular needs and requirements of the organisations involved. Te Mata Peak epitomises the spirit and generosity of people in Hawke’s Bay. It is run by a charitable trust with limited outside funding and relies heavily on voluntary unpaid labour and commitment from locals and the Trustees to make it what it is today – a fantastic asset for Hawke’s Bay. To discuss how you can participate, contact Jenni Giblin or Christine Ennis at Giblin Group, principal fundraisers for the project, by telephone 06 878 5052 or by email info@giblin.co.nz
18. The Giant Among Us.
For more information please contact: Bruno Chambers (06) 874 7858 or 0274 762 635
Jenni Giblin (06) 878 5052 or 0276 304 392 www.tematapark.co.nz