This general area has high spiritual values and is reputed to be the abode of ancestral beings, some of whom have been seen in modern times by local Maori; thus perpetuating historical references from the 1800s and earlier. Little is known or understood of these beings, other than the perception that they are regarded as Kaitiaki or guardians. It would be wise to respect the area by not eating or drinking on Maori Peak or around the immediate base.
– Notes by Brian Allingham. Archaeologist. January, 2010.
Erosion has removed much of the evidence of former habitations along the beach. These were probably unfortified settlements that could rely on the defended ground at the pa if need be and would keep such a place on standby. One such place is Te Pa Hawea the “Yellow Bluff” about which little is known. It is attributed to the Hawea people who were connected to and gave name to Lake Hawea. This ancient connection lives on today through whanau who whakapapa back to these people.
The smaller settlements along the beach date from a relatively early period, and probably supported one or several whanau thriving off relatively local resources. It is know from later records that coastal groups of people would gather at a locality on the coast before heading inland on seasonal hunting expeditions, when large amounts of eel and weka flesh were taken and preserved. Connections were also maintained with related inland populations, thereby sharing resources.
– Taken from Karitane … Split Rock … Seacliff Coastal Walk. Notes by Brian Allingham, Archaeologist, January 2010.
17/2/2010. Suddaby Farm, from Wallace Ford Road. (At the end of Mount Gowrie Road). Leaders: Ria, Hazel.
Well, although the tramp was called ‘Deep Stream Pipeline from George King Memorial Drive’, we never went near the George King Drive at all, except to pass by both ends of it on the way to our destination.
We [all 5 of us] parked the car on Wallace Ford Rd. outside Carters farmhouse, & made our way across some very dry & parched land to Withers farm, after having morning tea in a large farm shed.
3. 20/1/2010. Hikers. Overbridge, Coalstage Road, McMasters Road, Old Brighton Road, Fairfield Park, Morris Road, Overbridge. Leaders: Bev and Chris.
The Rudd Road walk you do when you are not actually doing the Rudd Road walk!!
Our esteemed leaders Bev and Chris decided that views from Rudd Road were unlikely in the misty conditions set to prevail, and that the 12 of us should walk from Saddle Hill to Fairfield and back instead. The intention was to go from Coal Stage Rd up Chain Hills Rd and do a loop, but the general wisdom was to follow Coal Stage. When we got to Saddle Hill Rd, the Left-leaning leaders wanted to turn that way while the majority of Tories voted to turn Right (which was actually less conservative), and so proceed up Saddle Hill Rd to McMasters Rd, where in fact we had a morning tea stop with a view.
It was a warm, still morning here and there was a calming feel about the quiet gravel
road with views out onto the Kaikorai Estuary and Stony Hill, etc.
McMasters Rd towards Stony. (Bob pic and caption)
A bunch of fence sitters – Old Brighton Rd. (Bob pic and caption)
Lunch was at the Fairfield park ( Chris led a long detour in order to use a pedestrian crossing), in the sun. Delicious – especially Fred’s shared chocolates.
Another bunch of fence sitters – Main Rd, Fairfield. (Bob pic and caption)
And so back to the cars at the overbridge via Main Rd and Morris Rd. A very pleasant 10km on a nice day. We even passed a display of hand milking near the ostriches on Morris Rd. And the clouds were still hanging around Flagstaff, so we felt it had been a good choice. – Bob.
The club now has two state-of-the-art GME Accusat MT410G EPIRB GPS-equipped emergency personal locator beacons, courtesy Elaine Day’s family for one, and Bendigo Valley Foundation for the other.
It all happened after Elaine announced her family’s offer at the mid-winter dinner on Wednesday (24/6), to be followed in a very timely manner the next day with Bendigo Valley Foundation’s letter, accepting our grant application, having already deposited the grant in our bank account.
Each of our beacons are EPIRB – Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, and the 406 MHz GPS-equipped model. Designed for marine operation also, they are waterproof, float the right way up, have larger batteries for more transmit power, and can even be water activated. The 406 beacon transmits quick bursts of digital data. This data identifies the transmission as legitimate and has a coded identification enabling rescue authorities who decode the digital message to identify the owner of the beacon.
The Rescue Beacons are very simple to operate. One just flicks open the aerial, it springs up, and 60 seconds later, begins transmitting.
The signal is received at RCCNZ (Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand) by two methods:
1. To get a rapid response, and to maximise the signal, one must be in clear air and high enough to see a clear horizon in the East-north-easterly direction. It will then be received by GEOS-11, a geostationary satellite stationed above the equator in the mid-Pacific.
2. If the beacon signal cannot be received by the GEO satellite, it will be relayed by the first LEO (low earth orbiting) satellite. In this case, a wait of over two hours is not unusual.
The rescue beacon is a full Mayday or distress alarm, and will be acted on as such. So if the activation is accidental, or the situation improves and is no longer a Mayday, we must do more than just turn the beacon off (done by reloading the aerial) – we must also contact the authorities and withdraw the Mayday by contacting RCCNZ (0508) 472 269. ASAP. (Put this number in your mobile.)
– Information culled and adapted from a website Ken referred me to. Thanks, Ken. – Ian
First tramp for 2009 was a combined one and 17 members, keen to get out tramping/hiking again after Christmas/NewYear break, met at Ocean Beach Church for what proved to be a very pleasant, easy beach walk. Day was warm and sunny, with no wind. We wandered along to Ocean Beach to the Estuary, stopping for morning tea on the way. An added bonus was seeing several horses, either being ridden or with sulkies, training along the edge of the water. They certainly make a great sight.
Horses being exercised on Ocean View beach
It was then back along beach nearly to the Big Rock and off the beach into a very pleasant picnic area for our lunch. Because this was very close to where the cars were parked it was an early finish to our day. However, we had a happy day out and it was good catching up with our tramping friends again. Bev. H
4. 6/12/2006. Both. Kaikorai Estuary. Beach Walk. (Low Tide: 11.21am) Leaders: Hazel, Dot B, Bob & Nadia, Chris
Onto beach. Selection: Dot .. Bob, Peter, Doug M, Les W, Lex
Ocean View Beach. Bob, Who?, Pat, Bill, Tom, Arthur
It was an cold Autumn day but we were dressed for the beach walk. However when we reached Brighton Beach the persistent rain drove us into the only shelter available – the beach changing rooms, in which unsalubrious but dry surroundings we ate our lunch. – Ian
Two club members, Ken and Ian attended from our club. We were the only tramping club there. Scion had invited all community forest-user groups around Dunedin, but only 20 had registered but only 8 had turned up, possibly because of the inclement weather. There were also several hunters and some mountain-bikers. Continue reading “Scion Workshop”
