Tōtara Reserve is the Manawatū-Whanganui Region’s only regional park. Situated on the Pohangina River 30km north of Ashhurst, its 340 hectares is the largest remaining remnant of the lowland forest that once covered the Horizons Region, and encompasses seven of the region’s most rare and endangered ecosystem types. Recreational facilities in the park include a number of short to medium length walking tracks through the forest, picnic spots, and two campgrounds located beside the river.

Long before pākehā arrived and settled in the area, Tōtara Reserve had a long history of use by Māori. Rangitāne o Manawatū and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui-a-Rua are recognised as valued partners and guardians of the values of the reserve. We are committed to ensuring a mātauranga Māori strategy is developed for the reserve and embedded throughout our management of this special place.

The Reserves Act 1977 requires that all scenic reserves have a management plan developed, with input from the public, to govern the protection, recreational use, management, and development of the reserve.

It has been ten years since the previous reserve management plan was produced for Tōtara Reserve in 2014. Since then a lot of work has been done to improve forest health and maintain the walking tracks. The campgrounds and one of the walking tracks have also been subjected to two significant flood events. A regular review of the reserve management plan is a requirement of the Reserves Act 1977, so we are taking the opportunity to assess our current management and set a course for the next 10 years with a revised management plan.

As part of this review we sought initial public feedback in July-August and this was used to help inform the draft Tōtara Reserve Management Plan that you are invited to comment on now.This draft has also been informed by: the 2014 Tōtara Reserve Regional Park Asset Management Plan; rules and regulations set out in relevant legislation; the recommendations from a spatial analysis and planning report commissioned for Tōtara Reserve in 2022; a forest health assessment conducted for Tōtara Reserve in 2023; and a 2024 flood resilience investigation; along with feedback from the Tōtara Reserve Advisory Group of key stakeholder representatives; Iwi; and Horizons staff responsible for the reserve.


Key issues that are addressed by the draft plan include:

  • The 10km track network has been reduced by 15% due to closure of the Gilchrist Track. Lower sections of it were washed away during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023.
  • Kahikatea Campground is facing closure following the next flood which causes significant damage to it. The camping footprint will reduce by 35% when this happens.
  • The remaining Kererū Campground is vulnerable to future flooding and damage.
  • The growing feral deer population is having an increasing impact on the forest’s ability to regenerate.

How you think these issues should be addressed is important to us and we urge you to read the relevant policies and proposed activities set out in the draft plan so that you can provide feedback on them.

You can provide your feedback via the online submission form.

If you wish to do so, you will also have the opportunity to speak to your submission in a public hearing in late February 2025. Please indicate this at the end of the submission form.

The structure of the draft Tōtara Reserve Management Plan is set out as follows:

  • Introduction - encompasses all the regulatory requirements and background information.
  • Vision – this is the overarching vision for Tōtara Reserve Regional Park.
  • Objectives, Policies and Implementation – this chapter is organised into management areas listed below.

The management areas are:

  • Administration
  • Mātauranga Māori
  • Forest Health and River Management
  • Tracks and Trails
  • Campground and Visitor Facilities
  • Community Engagement

Visions and objective(s) for each area have been set out, along with policies that govern the proposed activities.

The intended outcomes from these should work towards the long term aspirations identified for that management area.

Appendices include information on land tenure, list of assets, and the terms of reference for the Tōtara Reserve Advisory Board.

Have your say!

On the draft Management Plan