Bryan Vickery Media Taranaki

23/01/2024

TOP TARANAKI TREATS CHOSEN FOR WOMAD

The tastiest tucker in Taranaki has been found with gourmet crackers, infused honey, delectable
pancakes and award-winning drinks among the treats set to take centre stage at Womad.

Twelve Taranaki producers will be spending the next two months getting ready to showcase their creations at the festival, after being selected in a region-wide search that kicked off in October.
Led by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki the hunt uncovered a line-up that includes everything from herbal tea blends to connoisseur honey, speciality condiments, superfood cereals, organic coffee and flavour-bomb seasonings.

Brylee Flutey, the General Manager of Destination at Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki says the region is fast becoming known for its vibrant food scene and the Taste of Taranaki Pop-up at Womad willshowcase that.

“These diverse and passionate producers demonstrate the richness of our region’s food sector and we
look forward to showcasing their exceptional products and providing festival goers and the many out-of-towners with the chance to experience an unforgettable taste of our region’s flourishing food story,” she says.

Following on from the inaugural Taste of Taranaki Pop-up in Eltham in the summer of 2021/22, the Womad pop-up not only celebrates what the region has to offer, it also supports the acceleration and growth of the local food businesses and connects producers with new audiences.

TAFT Chief Executive Suzanne Porter says presenting Taranaki’s top producers at the festival is a great way to harness the pull Womad has on out-of-town visitors, with around 70 per cent of festival-goers coming from outside of the region.

“Womad brings thousands of people to Taranaki every year, shining a spotlight on our fantastic region.
It’s great to be able to use that platform to empower and elevate our local producers. It’s also an excellent chance to offer our audience yet another awesome experience,” she says.

Festival goers will be able to check out the pop-up alongside sensational Womad artists, with reggae icon Ziggy Marley, Brazilian bossa nova legend Gilberto Gil and the atmospheric Morcheeba among the artists set to ring out over the iconic Bowl of Brooklands and picturesque Brooklands Park in March.

The line-up for the Taste of Taranaki Pop-up at Womad is: award-winning sparkling Yerba Mate from Planta, Blue Petal herbal elixirs and connoisseur honey, zesty fresh limes and artisan mixes from Fine Lime Company, organic specialty coffee from IncaFé, Magic T’s herbal tea blends, Treasured Morning’s
superfood breakfast cereals, delectable pancakes, crepes and blinis from Marcel’s Pancakes, condiments and treats from Theory Food, organic feijoa and apple juice from Kahu Glen, liquid gold goodness from Egmont Honey, gourmet crackers from Mister K, and the flavourful seasonings of MK Spice.

THE DETAILS
WOMAD NZ 2024: Friday March 15 to Sunday March 17, at Brooklands Park and the Bowl of Brooklands
in Ngāmotu / New Plymouth. Tickets are on sale now from www.womad.co.nz

23/01/2024

Estimated 175,000 flock to TSB Festival of Lights over summer

NPDC’s TSB Festival of Lights 2023/2024 summer season ended on Sunday once again proving a hit with up to 175,000 visitors turning out – 20 per cent more than last summer’s festival.

The lights went out at the weekend, marking the end of the five-week festival in New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park which featured almost 90 events and 14 light installations.

NPDC’s Events Lead, Lisa Ekdahl was delighted with the turnout, continuing the consistent growth the festival has experienced in recent years, particularly after being crowned New Zealand’s Favourite Event for 2021.

“Observing both locals and out-of-town visitors enjoying the lights and music experience we offer every season is incredibly rewarding. The dedication put into organising this free event becomes truly meaningful when met with such overwhelming support.”

Lisa says that the great weather played a big role in the event’s success, with only a handful of event changes needed.

“This event has a huge team behind it with council staff, sponsors, contractors, and volunteers putting in the mahi to support the running of this event. We are thankful to all of those involved.”

She says a more detailed report on the economic impact of the festival and visitor numbers is expected in the next few months.

If you visited TSB Festival of Lights throughout the summer, we’d love to hear your feedback and invite people to take this survey, which is open until 31 January.

Fast Facts:

The 2023/2024 TSB Festival of Lights ran from 16 December 2023 to 21 January 2024.
Up to 140,000 people have visited the TSB Festival of Lights in New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park in recent years.

The 2022/2023 festival season post analysis study by Business and Economic Research Ltd (BERL) showed it pumped more than $8m into the local economy with 28 per cent of total visits from out of region.
Last year’s festival also had a 92% visitor satisfaction rating and 100% from event performers and entertainers.
In 2022 the TSB Festival of Lights won two New Zealand Event Association Awards from their last season, including Best Government Event 2023 and New Zealand’s Favourite Event 2021 (as voted by the public).
Up to 10,000 people attend the festival’s free New Year’s Eve event.
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This year’s TSB Festival of Lights attracted around 175,000 visitors. Photo Charlotte Curd.

23/01/2024

This video celebrates the awesome people who look after the magnificent Egmont Show Grounds. And those people who organise and run the successful (Hawera) Egmont A and P Show.

The theme of this year's show (24-24 February) is "No 8 Wire." Recently I attended two Hawera Show committees, and caught up with some of the stalwarts.

Thanks goes to Dale Moseley, Georgina Maud, Malcolm Hurley, Oscar and Larin van Riemsdijk, Jocelyn Baldwin, and intergenerational families like the Corrigan's, Brewer's and Turner's.

Special thanks to the Executive Committee: Ben Abbott, Tom Butler, Mark Nicholas, Matthew Dickey, Andrew and Alex Corrigan, David Turner, Georgina Maud, William and Richard Brewer, Walter Smyth, Malcom Hurley, Dale Moseley, and Angela Pennefather-Office Manager.

I can film positive content like this for free thanks to the support of Primo.

22/01/2024

Dozens of overseas visitors trekked to the Pouakai Tarn today (Monday, January 22, Wellington Anniversary Day).

Regrettably those at the Tarn around 10.30am didn't get a view of our beautiful Taranaki maunga, as it was shrouded in mist. However, some of the visitors improvised and pretended to be the mountain, for the sake of a photo.

I am always struck by the vivid colours and unique scenery of the Pouakai Tarn. I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

18/01/2024

Indigenous film festival in Taranaki for first time over Waitangi weekend

NPDC’s Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre is partnering with Wairoa Māori Film Festival to present the KIRIATA MĀORI Cinema Showcase in Taranaki for the first time over Waitangi weekend from 2 to 6 February.

The showcase will present a stunning selection of documentaries, short films and moving image artworks made by Māori filmmakers, with a programme specially curated by Wairoa Māori Film Festival Director Leo Koziol (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rakaipaaka) to respond to the Gallery’s acclaimed exhibition Te Hau Whakatonu – A Series of Never-Ending Beginnings, which closes on 11 February.

“Kiriata Māori 2024 [Kiriata means ‘film’ or ‘cinema’] is a special programme for the Wairoa Māori Film Festival, as the full festival was unable to go ahead last year because of the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle on the East Coast. Many of the planned films will now be able to screen at the KIRIATA MĀORI Showcase,” Leo says.

"The showcase comprises two feature documentaries and 35 short films and moving image art works, all directed and/or written by Māori screen artists, to provide a 'survey' of the state of Māori cinema today."

Partners to the event include CIRCUIT Artist Moving Image Aotearoa, which has commissioned the Rematriation moving image artwork programme curated by Tanya Te Miringa Te Rorarangi Ruka, CIRCUIT’s Kaitiaki Kiriata for 2024, a new curatorial position which helps present artist video in contexts framed by Te Ao Māori.

There is also a special programme of short films by filmmakers who whakapapa to Taranaki, Me He Maunga Teitei, including films by Aroha Awarau, Katie Wolfe and Rachel House. A special focus work is Heather Randerson's Te Whenua Tupu Ora, a film by the Hokianga-based Niniwa Collective which saw Kauri die-back images projected onto the sand dunes of the Hokianga.

The Gallery has welcomed the festival as an important addition to the year-round film festival programme presented in the Len Lye Cinema.

“Being able to support the flood-hit community associated with the Wairoa Māori Film Festival and elevating and championing all forms of Toi Māori is important to the Gallery,” says NPDC Ringatohu Cultural Experiences Dr Zara Stanhope.

“The alignment to Te Hau Whakatonu, which presents Toi Māori from the Gallery’s collection is critical, and we look forward to these films extending kōrero around the collection and current practice of Taranaki Iwi artists, as well as inspiring the whole Taranaki community.”

The KIRIATA MĀORI Cinema Showcase is on at the Len Lye Centre Cinema from 2-6 Feb 2024. For screening times and ticket purchases, please visit the Gallery website at www.govettbrewster.com or call into the Gallery store.

Fast Facts

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery opened in 1970 and was founded by Monica Brewster.
Len Lye Centre opened in July 2015 and is a joint initiative by NPDC, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and the Len Lye Foundation.
The Gallery attracts around 60,000 visitors a year, with most coming from outside the district.
The centre has reached international acclaim and won awards for its design.

Image: A still from Katie Wolfe's (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Mutunga), This is Her, 2008.

ENDS

17/01/2024

Music legend Colin King plus Sheyrl and David Page talking to Bryan Vickery about the importance of (Otuapaii) Marine Park in Waitara, and the Waitara Beach CAR'NIVAL. Sunday, Jan 28, 10am until 3pm.

I am able to film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

14/01/2024

There's plenty of places to visit in Taranaki, especially during summer.

Today it was fishing in Waitara at high tide, Taranaki Cycle Park in Bell Block and Tarata Tunnel.

14/01/2024

My sister from Perth was surprised by the high volume of passing traffic going through Waitara's main street this afternoon, as we enjoyed our outdoor cafe experience.

The increased traffic, is of course, due to detour on SH3 between Nelson St and Bayly St (from 11 December to 2 February).

14/01/2024

10/01/2024

NPDC plans smoother travels for Tukapa Street users

NPDC is about to start rebuilding and resurfacing a section of New Plymouth’s Tukapa Street.

Starting from Sunday 14 January, a series of road closures on Tukapa Street will be in place to renew the road surface from Maratahu St and through the roundabout at the Tukapa Street/Sanders Ave.

“Tukapa St has become a patchwork of repairs along this stretch of road, so we’re rebuilding it for a stronger, smoother ride for road users,” says NPDC Infrastructure Manager Rui Leitao.

“The bulk of the work will be finished before schools return for the new school year, weather permitting, but parents and caregivers can expect some disruption at the intersection to Westown School so will need to use Clawton Street for the first couple of days of the term.”

Tukapa Street will be closed to traffic:

From Sunday 14 January to Friday 19 January: a 24/7 closure of Tukapa Street at the Sanders Avenue roundabout. Access and parking for residents and businesses maintained at all times.
From Friday 19 January to Wednesday 31 January: a 24/7 road closure of the Sanders Avenue access to Tukapa Street (both entrances) at the intersection with Tukapa Street. Access and parking for residents and businesses maintained at all times.
From Sunday 28 January to Friday 2 February: a 7pm to 6am closure of Tukapa Street between Sanders Avenue (including the roundabout) and Maratahu Street. Parking along Tukapa Street might be affected but access to residential properties maintained.
“We’ll put a temporary roundabout back in afterwards while we continue to plan future road safety improvements at the Tukapa-Sanders intersection,” he says.
Fast facts:

NPDC looks after 1,309km of roads in the district.
Our 2023/24 maintenance, operations and renewals budget for roads is $26.9m (excluding emergency works), compared to $23.5m in 2022/23.
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10/01/2024

This week I have been showing my Australian based brother and sister (Ivan and Diane) around Taranaki. Not surprisingly they love the scenery.

We also ended north and visited Mt Ruapheu, Taupō, Hamilton and the Three Sisters at Tongapōrutu.

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

08/01/2024

Bravo to Lynn Putt and the organisers of the 2024 Egmont Country Music Festival.

It was very successful and well run. Lucky me I I got to emcee the Saturday evening concert. Below is a sampler of some of the singers.

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

31/12/2023

Ironically Taranaki's last day for 2023 ended up being a wet one. At this stage, Taranaki will lose its sunshine capital title to Nelson for the year 2023. But NIWA will confirm that in the next few days. The latest figures on-line showed Nelson with 2133 sunshine hours compared to Taranaki's 2042 hours (so far for 2023).

Even though it was wet on the mountain today, I enjoyed the hydrology of our maunga. Taranaki is lucky having so many fast flowing streams that empty into the sea.

Taranaki has plentiful rainfall, and yet very few people have rainwater tanks. As an expatriate Aussie this puzzles me. Are New Zealanders fearful of rainwater tank contamination? Is it akin to people not properly cleaning their fish tanks etc? Suffer the poor goldfish! Perhaps Governments' historically have not shown leadership in this space?

Anyway, enjoy the beauty of Dawson Falls and Wilkie Pools.

30/12/2023

The Mangakotukutuku Falls (off the Maude Track) after heavy rain (Saturday, 2pm, 30 December 2023).

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

27/12/2023

Queen Elizabeth entering Port Taranaki (Thursday, 28 Dec 2023)

Enjoy the video. It was a magnificent sight.

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

27/12/2023

Video footage of the Upper Lake Dive and Brames Falls Track (Wednesday, 27 December 2023).

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

24/12/2023

Merry Xmas Hāwera. Early this morning I was privileged (along with more than 120 people) to witness the re-opening of St Mary's Anglican Church Hāwera. It had been closed for more than eight years while the church was being earthquake strengthened.

St Mary's has one of best stained glass window collections in NZ. Enjoy the video, which captures the magic of community.

I can film positive content like this thanks to the support of Primo.

22/12/2023

19/12/2023

Taranaki schools acknowledge this year’s recipients of the Prime Minister’s Award for Vocational Excellence.
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(Photos below. Apologies I can't format this press release into a more user friendly format)
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“This award recognises outstanding students enrolled in vocational programmes who have shown they have what it takes to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes they need to
perform a specific role and build a career in an industry,” says Careers and Transition Education Association (CATE) Executive Member for Taranaki, Warwick Foy.

Introduced in 2019, the Prime Minister’s Award for Vocational Excellence, and the $2,000 monetary prize, can be awarded to the top Year 12 or 13 secondary student enrolled in vocational programmes of learning. One student is eligible per school or wharekura.

“The purpose of the award is to enhance parity of esteem for non-university tertiary pathways such as polytechnic's, apprenticeships and work-place training. In the fifth year of
the award, it has evolved, especially in Taranaki. We have schools that have introduced cups for the award and they are placing it nearer to the bigger prizes. This is great as young people can have huge success in non-university tertiary pathways and deserve recognition for this.” Says Foy.

Taranaki is the only region that collectively recognises award winners. Foy hopes that other regions will follow suit.

2023 Taranaki Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award Winners
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Patea Area School

Riria Ejay Helen Christein Wright is the winner of the 2023 Prime Minister’s Vocational Award for Patea Area School.

Riria transferred to Patea Area School in September 2021 and since then has immersed herself into the culture of our school family, displaying all the qualities of our school values
of Manaakitanga – Generosity, Respect, Kindness; Kaitiakitanga – Guardianship,

Sustanibility, Protection; Rangatiratanga – Self Determination, Leadership, Mana. Riria has always strived to excel in all aspects of school life showing leadership and an eagerness to learn.
Riria has been participating in Gateway this year which saw Patea Area School piloting the Noel Leeming Programme for Taranaki. During Riria’s work placement she learnt important skills in line with industry standards including effective communication, personal presentation, product knowledge, technology expertise and teamwork, which she excelled in.

A prefect in 2022 and 2023, Riria has gained part time work and is saving to support herself next year during her tertiary education.
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Te Pae Pae Aotea, Hawera

This year’s recipient is Charlie Wolland. Charlie had a great year working at Paul Jones Construction. He has shown, responsibility, reliability, and a willingness to learn. Next year
Charlie is returning to school to complete his NCEA Level 3 before joining the workforce. We are very proud of all his achievements this year.
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Opunake High School

Rylan Cremen is a Year 13 student who has excelled in Gateway, completing his work placement at DeLaval Farm Services, displaying a positive, humble and hard-working attitude. Rylan has led our popular OHS Barista crew, keeping staff well caffeinated and has shown initiative, passion and great people skills! Rylan has well considered his options for next year, with a local apprenticeship offer, as well as full time course at WITT/ Te Pūkenga.

But, he has decided to take up a painting and decorating apprenticeship in Masterton, where he will no doubt build a successful career in the trades.
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Coastal Taranaki School

Deakin's Phillips-Sinto’s excellence has been demonstrated by his commitment and enthusiasm towards his passion in the Motor Vehicle Trades sector. This excellence has been noted by Deakin’s tutors at WITT Te PūKenga and teachers at Coastal Taranaki School and is illustrated by a high level of attendance and achievement. Deakin is a very industrious and determined student who has willingly participated in studies and activities in and around Automotive studies for the past 2 years. As a Level 2 student he is currently participating and achieving in Level 2 programmes. His exceptional ability to develop and
build on skills in the Automotive industry pathway is driven by a genuine passion for car mechanics both at Home and in Trades Academy programmes.

Over the past 2 years, he has demonstrated knowledge of engineering equipment, components and how to perform basic machining, fabrication and welding techniques.
Deakin has learnt about workshop practices, hazardous materials and knowledge of toolsand equipment in an automotive workshop. He has also performed wheel balancing, general
automotive engineering and learnt about components and petrol fuel systems. Under supervision, Deakin is able to disassemble and reassemble an engine.
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Stratford High School

Amber Cox was awarded the Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award for 2023.

She successfully achieved 46 credits since February while undertaking a Gateway placement with Energy Vets Taranaki in Inglewood. To achieve these credits, she has attended Health
and Safety and Advanced First Aid Courses, completed Primary Industry unit standards through Telford and online Animal Care units with Southern Institute of technology Te Kūpenga. Her academic work, time management and self-direction skills to
complete this work have been exemplary.

In school this year, she has been secretary of the student council, house leader of Amess, member of the school sports council and has been a key member of the school TeenAg Club
of which she helped establish and coached Year 9 and 10 Netball teams.

Outside of school, she volunteers at Lake Rotokare Reserve working bees, umpires for Netball Taranaki and was awarded Most Improved Umpire for Centre Badged Umpiring for
2023. She is a member of the Taranaki Quad Bikes and Central Taranaki Young Farmers Clubs and still finds time to work on the family farm.

Working on the family farm ignited her passion to learn, understand and help large animals. This year that led to Amber securing her own Gateway work experience at Energy Vets
Taranaki where the team there have been so impressed by her entire work ethic that she has already secured work there while she starts her Diploma studies in Rural Animal Veterinary Technology next year.
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Taranaki Diocesan School

Shanika Spragg was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Vocational Excellence.
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Inglewood High School

Ethan Brocklehurst has participated in the Inglewood High School Gateway programme for two years, completing work experience at the Inglewood Golf Club where he made a valued
contribution as Greens Assistant. In his own time, he has also spent many hours contributing to the Inglewood Cricket Club as Pitch Curator. The skills and knowledge he has gained both
through this practical experience and relevant study mean he is confident in his decision to pursue a qualification and career in Sports Turf Management in 2024.

A Whanau Leader and Sports Captain at Inglewood High School in 2023, Ethan knows how to set goals and he has shown he has the focus and determination necessary to achieve them. He has the aptitude and attitude necessary for success in his chosen field and we wish him well.
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Waitara High School

Waitara High’s Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award recipient is Year 12 Ashton Oakes. Ashton is a positive and friendly young man who always works hard. He has consistently related well to his peers and teachers, demonstrating hisstrength as a team member who is always reliable, polite and dedicated and consistently won awards in both Metal Technology and Wood Technology since Year 9.

He is constantly positive and practical. This year, Ashton has completed work experience with EnergyWorks. In this Gateway placement, Ashton has worked so well that there that he
has been offered an apprenticeship starting in 2024.
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Spotswood College

The Spotswood College Prime Ministers Vocational Excellence recipient for 2023 is Harry Harkness.

Harry was a very deserved winner of the prestigious award after two years of dedicated and carefully planned career-based study through the New Plymouth co-ed schools Vocational
Pathways department.

The Year 12 student was an integral team member, and awarded top student, in his Level 2/3 Engineering Trades Academy course. The very popular and publicly celebrated Build a Trailer course at WITT Te Pūkenga helped to develop his practical skills and industry knowledge. He also completed a highly successful Gateway work experience placement at Coastal Services in New Plymouth, with his dedicated and eager to learn attitude seeing him obtain full time employment.

Harry has completed a number of industry specific Industry Training Organisation courses to support him reach his career goals, completing both his Level 2 and 3 NCEA qualifications
during his Year 12 schooling. He has shown a fantastic attitude to make the most of the opportunities afforded to him and we are all very proud of his growth, development and achievement. Harry speaks highly of the real-world context opportunities on offer in
vocational study and is very proud of his accomplishments that have fast tracked his career in engineering.
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Sacred Heart Girls’ College

Myah Newton is a fabulous Sacred Heart wāhine toa. She is innovative, resilient and hardworking. She has a lovely, warm personality with exemplary manners.

Myah’s senior years at high school have been dotted with many highlights. Her Pathway to Beauty Therapy began with a Western Institute of Technology (WITT) Year 11 Star course in 2022. Myah thrived on the course and literally found her passion. For Year 12, she designed her own timetable which included Trades Academy Salon and 3+2 Makeup and Skincare. 3+2 is normally for Year 13 students but WITT welcomed Myah because they could see the
talent and drive that she had.

Myah’s CV was starting to look rather good at the start of 2023 so she applied for a job at the Caci Clinic. Up against some older and very capable girls, she won the job and has been very successful there. Paid employment helped to cement the idea of a Beauty career pathway for Myah.

Myah faced some battles on the 3+2 course. Being a year younger than everyone else and having some of her old learning challenges return, she had to fight. Fight she did and with
the wonderful supportive staff at WITT Te Pūkenga and her admirable resolve, Myah made it through the course.

Most girls stay until Year 13 at our school. However, sometimes it’s not how high you fly but where you jump off that counts. Myah has got what she needs from school and she has a
plan. She will leave school at the end of Year 12 and become a full time Beauty student at WITT Te Pūkenga.

Myah has been a superb role model for vocational education pathways and she is a deserving recipient of the 2023 Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award. All of us who
have worked with Myah at school and at WITT Te Pūkenga are so proud of what she has achieved.
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Francis Douglas Memorial College

Will Julian has been an outstanding student this year in our Francis Douglas Memorial College Careers Pathway Programme. He has been an exceptional Gateway Hospitality Student, who clearly has a real passion for this industry. Will has also been a WITT Te Pūkenga Trades Academy student completing 3+2 NZ Certificate in Cookery Level 3. Will’s motivation, work ethic and attitude at his work experience placement were a real credit to
him. He demonstrated all the skills and attributes that are needed to enable him to succeed in the workplace. He is courteous, reliable and is what we refer to as ‘A Good College Man’.
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New Plymouth Girls’ High School

As a Year 11 student, Te’a Kemp clearly identified her desire to become a Forestry Manager as her main career pathway and she has never drifted away from this direction. Her Gateway placement in 2023 as Year 13 student convinced Te’a that she was destined to forge a career in a male-dominated environment, by pursuing a degree at University of Canterbury in Bachelor of Science - majoring in Forestry.
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New Plymouth Boys’ High School

Ryan McNab is an outstanding young man with an incredibly bright future. He worked with ICE Electrical for Gateway and had great success. The feedback from his placement employer told us his communication, punctuality, and ability to complete tasks given was exceptional. As a result, Ryan has been offered an apprenticeship that he has accepted.

18/12/2023

NPDC looking after our maunga this summer holiday season.

People planning get a closer look at Taranaki Maunga this summer need to be prepared for delays with summer traffic controls back in place at the Egmont Road entrance from this Saturday (23 December).

The ‘one car out, one car in’ system helps ease congestion road on the road up to the North Egmont Visitor Centre during the busy summer season.

First introduced in 2019, the system was put in place due to the visitor centre’s car park and the road leading up to it regularly becoming congested on public holidays and weekends. The overcrowding creates a significant safety hazard and poses a threat to the fragile alpine landscapes beside the parking areas.

“When we’ve used this system in previous years, we’ve successfully managed the limited numbered of parking spaces available at the maunga’s north entrance while keeping Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki (the national park) accessible for visitors.

Our maunga is precious to everyone who lives in Taranaki, and we want to make sure that its special character is preserved,” says NPDC Manager Infrastructure Rui Leitao.

The one in and one out system be introduced once the 82 parking spaces around the visitor centre are full, which in previous years was about 6.30am until late afternoon on the following dates:

Daily from 23 December 6 February (except Christmas Day).
Taranaki Anniversary Weekend.
Easter weekend.

People wanting to drive to the national park this summer need to be prepared for delays and groups should look at other options, such as hiring a commercial shuttle which will be allowed to bypass queues to drop-offs and pick-ups.
Portaloos and water will be available to those waiting in the traffic queue and on days with low demand, such as when it is raining, there will be no traffic management in place.

“If people find there’s a wait to access the national park, they could look at one of the other park entrances or explore walks in other areas of the district, such as around Lake Mangamahoe or at Purangi Reserve – the New Plymouth i-SITE at Puke Ariki has lots of recommendations for outdoor activities,” says Rui.

NPDC is working on a long-term solution to the traffic issues by building a public car park on Egmont Road (outside the national park) that will have facilities for commercial shuttles.

Construction is currently being planned to start in 2025/2026 subject to gaining consent and funding through next year’s 10-year Plan (2024-2034).



Fast facts

NPDC looks after 1,278km of roads in the district, including 960km of rural roads.
We are investing $23.5m on road maintenance and renewals for 2022/23.
In 2019, DOC counted 22,000 vehicles on Egmont Road in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki/Egmont National Park.
Caption: Once the North Egmont Visitor Centre car park is full, cars will be stopped at the gatehouse on Egmont Road on the one car out, one car in system.

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