Ahuriri Conservation Park

44°20′S 169°40′E / 44.333°S 169.667°E / -44.333; 169.667Area49 hectares (120 acres)Established2004Governing bodyDepartment of Conservation

Ahuriri Conservation Park is a protected area of 49,000 hectares including tussock grasslands, forest, and river habitat, located in Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, and centred around the headwaters of the Ahuriri River.^[1][2]

The park includes trails and huts.^[3][4][5] The mountains, forests, tussock lands and river valleys are used for tramping, fishing kayaking, horse riding and hunting.^[6]

Both the park and neighbouring Ben Avon Station are located near the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, a dark-sky reserve, and are used for astronomy.^[7]

The town is serviced by the tourist town of Omarama.^[8][9]

History

The park was established in 2005, and includes the Birchwood Station leasehold farm the New Zealand Government bought back for NZ$10 million in 2004. It contained extensive wetlands that had remained largely undeveloped.^[10] Birchwood Station continued normal farming operations until the end of the leasehold in 2010.^[11]

The road to the former Birchwood Station homestead stopped being regularly maintained by Waitaki District Council in 2011.^[12]

In 2014, ecologist Peter Espie reported a decrease in native plant species in the park, and suggested introducing grazing management.^[13]

Parts of the 2020 Disney film Mulan were filmed in Ahuriri Valley near the conservation park, including the training camp scenes and some battle scenes.^[14]

See also

• Conservation parks of New Zealand

References