Access strip takes swimmers to Tauwharenīkau River

In 2018, the Overseas Investment Office required Higgins Contractors to consult with Herenga ā Nuku to determine what public access could be provided over Higgins land acquired beside the then-named Tauherenikau River. Herenga ā Nuku recommended public walking access to the river, and that walkway now exists. We have recently registered it as an Access Strip Easement. The owners have built a small carpark, a stile and fences to help people get down to the river and erect a sign.

Interestingly, since we first opened this case, the river has changed its name to the correctly spelt Tauwharenīkau River. This follows the enactment of the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Claims Settlement Act 2022. Tauwharenīkau was the original name given by Haunui a Nanaia, who named many Wairarapa rivers and places. It translates to 'a house thatched with nīkau palm’.

We think this little sign guiding people down to the river may be the first official signage using the new correct name.

Our regional field advisor, David Barnes, says the first time he saw the sign, there were a bunch of people further down the walkway swimming in the river on a hot Wairarapa day. Tino pai tēnā. That’s exactly what the walkway is there for.