Hereweka climb offers place for contemplation

Published date06 November 2021
Publication titleMix, The
This walk takes you back to the past, but starts off in the future.

It all begins at harbour level, at the end of Bacon St, just past Turnbulls Bay.

First of all you’re greeted by an intriguing hand-made sign pointing down a pixie pathway to a ‘‘Future Forest Walk’’. These days the forest is in its babyhood, 9000 native trees planted through a gully and up the hillside beyond.

Most heartwarmingly, it’s a conservation project of the community group, Save the Otago Peninsula (STOP), soon celebrating 40 years. All are welcome to join tree planting days, on Tuesdays and Sundays from 9.30am. You’re also free to wander through and admire this exciting investment in the future. As is your doggie, within the fenced area.

Loop back to the yellow-tipped marker poles passing the mature results of STOP’s restoration of Smith’s Creek. These days there must be generations of happy native whitebait and eels spending part of their life in there.

Outside the lambing season of September 1 until November 1 you are free to continue on the full route across farmland, up to the cone. Naturally, Rover and friends are prohibited.

There’s a daunting view up the side of the cone to be climbed. Cross the road, fully warmed up and ready to give it some grunt. The going gets tough, but that’s when the tough get going.

Sticking up like a witch’s hat, Hereweka is visible for miles and is the photogenic model for some famous art.

Hereweka and its weka were part of the healing of a very early peninsula inhabitant. Tarewai was the nephew of the first known Kai Tahu ancestor to arrive in Otago. He lived during a tumultuous time as recent immigrants and previous waves mixed and mingled.

Tarewai had been invited by another people, Kati Mamoe, to today’s Pyramids at Okia Reserve, to help build a house for the hosts. In the evening there were playful wrestling games which suddenly turned nasty when Tarewai was held down and had his stomach cut open. Amazingly, he escaped, leaving behind his mere (weapon) in the rush. Hereweka became his hideout as he rested and recuperated, healing his wounds with weka fat.

He recovered but needed his weapon back. So he quietly returned to the Kati Mamoe village where one night people were sitting around the...

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