News
42 Traverse open for Summer
The Department of Conservation (DoC) have confirmed that as from Monday 2 December 2019 the 42 Traverse opened to 4x4's for the Summer season. Users are reminded that the usual volunteer vegetation trimming was not done this Spring, so some sections may be 'scratchy'. While there are a number of branch tracks leading off the 42 Traverse, only the main track is to be driven. Other tracks are used by DoC to manage the Kiwi program only.
Please avoid damaging the 42 Traverse, as it is vital for its future as a 4x4 vehicle recreation route that it is seen to be respected by all users.
Cut Back for 2019 cancelled
Due to the low number of available volunteers this year, a decision was made to cancell the planned cut back over 23/24 November. Permission from DOC for the work and vehicle use was appreciated and it is hoped that possibly that permission may againg be granted for a weekend in May 2020.
Thank you to all those who had made contact and volunteered and please get the word out that this year's event is cancelled
DoC approval for a 2019 cut back has been received.
The dates for 2019 are the 23/24 November.
The usual plan is to work the Saturday and if conditions allow, the Sunday morning before heading home.
As in past years, the plan is to meet for a briefing about 9.30am on the Saturday morning 23 November, form into working groups and head into the track for the day. Although the route is closed to 4x4’s from 30 April until 1 December, an exception for the weekend has been granted to those involved in the work effort.
Some people are happy to stay overnight in National Park and if conditions allow, we often go back in to continue trimming until around noon, before heading home. We are able to again get the use of a ski lodge in town. Use of the Downhill Ski Club lodge is available at $23 per person per night and to book directly...
http://www.skiclub.org.nz/bookings/nonmemberbooking For the Saturday evening dinner, a shared BBQ is suggested
A condition of the clearing effort is that we don’t use chainsaws for Health and Safety reasons. Other power tools are allowed on the basis that suitable safety equipment (Personal Protection Equipment/ PPE) is used by the operators (That includes petrol powered 'polesaws')
The meeting place for the 9.30am Saturday briefing will be the 'pumice pit' at the end of Kapoors Road. There will be more detail ahead of the weekend.
To register your interest in helping, please email Peter Vahry
Earthworks on damaged culvert completed
15-2-2019
The Department of Conservation (DOC) confirmed on 15 February that work to repair the culvert damaged in last year's winter storms has been completed and access right through is available to 4WD vehicles.
While very dry conditions currently exist, DOC advise that the route remains open, but care must be taken to avoid starting any fire.
Volunteers make a difference again on 42 Traverse
More than twenty volunteers converged on Owhango on Saturday morning, 17 November, to head into the 42 Traverse with the aim of cutting back encroaching vegetation. Armed with hand saws, brush cutters and pole saws, the teams managed to clear slightly more than six kilometres of track... a great effort! The recorded travel was more, as the group also did a preview of conditions further towards the Waione Stream. Considerable areas of Blackberry were found and a spray programme may be needed to control that weed.
Wet conditions on the Sunday morning resulted in the cancellation of further work on the cutting back.
At this date it is not possible to drive right through the 42 Traverse, as a significant culvert collapse is preventing 4WD travel at about a mid point on the route. The photo does not fully show the extent of the damage but this short bit of video does!
Cut back of 42 Traverse planned
The annual volunteer effort to cut back vegetation along the 42 Traverse route is planned for the weekend of 17 / 18 November 2018.
These events provide an opportunity to contribute to the maintenance of this unique vehicle route and a chance to meet other enthusiasts.
It is a long track and to make a realistic impression on the continually growing vegetation we need plenty of volunteers. Not everyone has to wield cutting tools... just as important are the teams clearing cut material off the track.
Due to DOC health and safety requirements, unless you can meet their set standards, chainsaws will not be allowed to be used. In brief, the DOC requirements are the holding of Unit Standards 6916 and 6917, a current First Aid certificate, a safety plan in place and having completed an external competency assessment! If chainsaw work is needed it is the aim to have DOC staff available.
The plan is to utilise scrub-bars/ brush-cutters for most work and it is allowable to use 'pole saws' as their cutting chains are well away from the operator. For the guidelines around scrub-bars etc
Normally the route is closed in November to 4x4's, but DoC have allowed it over that weekend for those working on the cut back.
The plan is to work through Saturday from about 9.30am and continue on Sunday until about noon. Not everyone will want to do both days and help either day is most welcome. Those wanting accommodation in National Park can book at
http://www.skiclub.org.nz/bookings/nonmemberbooking Rate is $23 per night.
To register your interest in helping please email info@friendsof42traverse.nz
Ferrets are killing Kiwi in Tongariro Forest
DOC biodiversity rangers are in hot pursuit of ferrets which are hunting North Island brown kiwi in Tongariro Forest.
At least 10 kiwi have been killed by ferrets since early March, and DOC has put extra resources into catching these predators.
Disappointingly, a recent routine daily check of a key ferret trapping site showed a number of traps had been stolen, damaged or thrown over bank.
Tongariro Operations Manager Bhrent Guy says DOC needs people to help catch these ferrets, and the best way to do that is to leave the traps in their strategic locations. He said rangers were shocked and dismayed when they found the traps broken and tossed. “It is a real shame, as one ferret trap can make such a difference,” he said.
The Tongariro kiwi team have had some success in catching a large male ferret they believe has been hunting kiwi within its territory, however, the challenge continues as ferrets are still targeting kiwi. Owhango Alive (external site link), an active community group, continues to help save the kiwi and has put out over 30 new DOC 200 traps that were given to them by the rangers. Also, one farmer has caught 11 ferrets in the last nine months.
If you are keen to help save the kiwi in Tongariro Forest, please email sfaire@doc.govt.nz
For media enquiries contact:
Stacey Faire, Supervisor/Senior Community Ranger
Mobile: +64 27 542 8219
Email: sfaire@doc.govt.nz
Media link
Ruapehu Bulletin report on the 42 Traverse cut back of 11/12 November
Volunteers make a difference
Thank you to all the volunteers who gave their time and energy to help cut back some of the vegetation along the 42 Traverse. There were just over forty people involved over the 11/12 November and despite some logistics constraints with moving vehicles on a single lane track, the teams achieved more than expected... and without any injuries to participants.
Over the two days, around 10 kilometres of the track was trimmed back on the Kapoors Road end. There is still some significant overgrowth along the overall track that will need to be addressed before too long and may need to be dealt with by some type of mechanical cutter.
While it is ok for users to assist with trimming overhanging vegetation, it must only be with hand tools as it is illegal to even have a chainsaw in a vehicle without specific permission, while on DoC administered land!
42 Traverse cut back planned for November 11/12
The Department of Conservation (DoC) has given permission for vehicle access over the weekend of 11/12 November for a cut back and agreed to allow 4x4's onto the 42 Traverse before Dec 1, for that weekend only.
The plan is to try to get a really good number of people to tackle the vegetation along the stretch of track from the 'Lookout' down to the Waione Stream. We would start from the pumice pit on Kapoors Rd.
The start time on the Saturday is 9.30 am. to allow people to drive from surrounding regions if they wish. There are plans of staying overnight on the Sat, in National Park, with the aim of doing a few more hours on Sunday before heading away in the early afternoon. Any assistance is welcomed on either or both days. For information on the National Park accommodation info@friendsof42Traverse.nz
DoC will do a health and safety briefing on the Saturday morning and a check on the competency of the operators of chainsaws. Personal protection gear will be needed, to comply with DoC H&S
Past projects have shown that teams made up of a chainsaw, a brushcutter and people clearing the cut material can be effective. Petrol hedgecutters are useful on Toi Toi etc. The use of slashers and machete's is not recommended, as they can be dangerous to use and create sharp points on cut branches that pose a risk of impaling people and tyres.
Put together a team and come and give a hand.
If you're able to assist, please email info@friendsof42Traverse.nz so that we have an idea of numbers.
Winter damage revealed by a quad bike visit to the 42 Traverse during June '17
A quick survey of the 42 Traverse by a Friends of 42 Traverse supporter during late June identified that there has been significant water damage to old culverts, In some cases the water has scoured out the entire track while in others the track edges have collapsed. Wider vehicles like 4WD's will be unable to drive the route until remedial earthworks are done.
It looks like money will be needed to ensure future 4WD use and to keep the route open for all users. A fund raising proposal is on www.friendsof42traverse.nz/donations.html
42 Traverse closed early in 2017 to 4x4 vehicles
The Department of Conservation advise that..." After the heavy rain over the past week some subsidence has occurred on the 42 Traverse. It looks like potentially an old log culvert that has collapsed or rotted away. The track is no longer passable by larger 4WD vehicle, but still passable by walkers/cyclists/quad bikes. The track drops away down a steep bank on the other side so re-routing the track isn’t an option, this issue wont be fixed in the remaining 2 weeks of the 4WD season."
Friends of 42 Traverse welcome the joint signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Conservation.
On 7 January 2017, a group of four wheelers documented some of their trip through the 42 Traverse from the Kapoors road end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-fCUVnWNyY
It is obvious that some sections of the route are in need of the cutting back of the vegetation and to accomplish that we will need your help with funding.