Page 17 - The Waioeka Journey Booklet
P. 17
“This fi ne and beautiful land carved out of impossibility” “…one of the most treacherous, dangerous and steepest roads in New Zealand”
QUOTE FROM A SPEECH GIVEN AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING IN 1962 GISBORNE PHOTO NEWS - 1962
Maori have accessed this densely bush-covered landscape for hundreds of years. The memorial plaque at this site was also established at Opato Bridge,
unveiled on 15 December 1962 when
They created tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access
They created tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access eated tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access unveiled on 15 December 1962 when Sandy’s Bridge and “Chinatown”
They cr
the Waioeka Gorge highway was offi cially aioeka Gorge highway was offi cially
the Waioeka Gorge highway was offi cially
gardens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.
gar
gar
gar
gar the W (near Matawai). At this time
gardens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.
gar
the Waioeka was a hive of
opened. The event drew a crowd of over
opened. The event drew a crowd of over
400 people with one paper reporting,
400 people with one paper reporting, activity with these “temporary”
By the 1800s many people were travelling in CUTTING TRACKS settlements springing up at
“The occasion marked the end of one of
this area including missionaries who covered “The occasion marked the end of one of different points along the banks
the most rugged road reconstruction jobs
great distances, enduring considerable hardship Access was diffi cult but early settlers were the most rugged road reconstruction jobs of the river.
great distances, enduring considerable hardship
done in New Zealand…that of carving a
to spread the word of God. determined to cut tracks to their sections. done in New Zealand…that of carving a
The work was dangerous and in places there full-width highway through the 25 miles It was a dangerous undertaking
full-width highway through the 25 miles
of unstable, near vertical gorge which
As the area opened up to settlement, the very
As the area opened up to settlement, the very was a vertical cutting above the track with a of unstable, near vertical gorge which requiring rock-blasting and
follows the tortuous path of the Waioeka tuous path of the Waioeka
follows the tor
thing that created this gorge, the river, provided
thing that created this gorge, the river, provided straight drop to the river below. follows the tortuous path of the Waioeka working on steep and unstable
the greatest barrier to creating a road. In River.” terrain. Rock falls were
fact, for a long time, the Motu Road was the By the early 1900s there was a dray (cart) common. The
Earlier, in 1959, the Ministry of Works
preferred route when travelling between Bay of
preferred route when travelling between Bay of road from Opotiki to the mouth of the Earlier, in 1959, the Ministry of Works three men who
began work to convert the gravel road
Plenty and the East Coast. Waioeka Gorge. Access from Gisborne began work to convert the gravel road tragically lost
became a priority and so a rough track to a sealed two-lane highway. A camp their lives while
to a sealed two-lane highway. A camp
was formed through to Opato in 1909. was built at Oponae and at one building the road
By the end of World War I (1918), a road point had over 20 single are commemorated
point had over 20 single
mens’ huts and four
had been formed reaching Oponae, with a mens’ huts and four at this site.
track on to Matawai. It was hard going but houses. Camps were
houses. Camps were
eventually a link was completed through the
Waioeka from the Bay of Plenty to Gisborne.
Photos courtesy Whakatane Museum.
QUOTE FROM A SPEECH GIVEN AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING IN 1962 GISBORNE PHOTO NEWS - 1962
Maori have accessed this densely bush-covered landscape for hundreds of years. The memorial plaque at this site was also established at Opato Bridge,
unveiled on 15 December 1962 when
They created tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access
They created tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access eated tracks and used the often treacherous Waioeka River to access unveiled on 15 December 1962 when Sandy’s Bridge and “Chinatown”
They cr
the Waioeka Gorge highway was offi cially aioeka Gorge highway was offi cially
the Waioeka Gorge highway was offi cially
gardens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.dens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.
gar
gar
gar
gar the W (near Matawai). At this time
gardens and establish temporary settlements on its banks.
gar
the Waioeka was a hive of
opened. The event drew a crowd of over
opened. The event drew a crowd of over
400 people with one paper reporting,
400 people with one paper reporting, activity with these “temporary”
By the 1800s many people were travelling in CUTTING TRACKS settlements springing up at
“The occasion marked the end of one of
this area including missionaries who covered “The occasion marked the end of one of different points along the banks
the most rugged road reconstruction jobs
great distances, enduring considerable hardship Access was diffi cult but early settlers were the most rugged road reconstruction jobs of the river.
great distances, enduring considerable hardship
done in New Zealand…that of carving a
to spread the word of God. determined to cut tracks to their sections. done in New Zealand…that of carving a
The work was dangerous and in places there full-width highway through the 25 miles It was a dangerous undertaking
full-width highway through the 25 miles
of unstable, near vertical gorge which
As the area opened up to settlement, the very
As the area opened up to settlement, the very was a vertical cutting above the track with a of unstable, near vertical gorge which requiring rock-blasting and
follows the tortuous path of the Waioeka tuous path of the Waioeka
follows the tor
thing that created this gorge, the river, provided
thing that created this gorge, the river, provided straight drop to the river below. follows the tortuous path of the Waioeka working on steep and unstable
the greatest barrier to creating a road. In River.” terrain. Rock falls were
fact, for a long time, the Motu Road was the By the early 1900s there was a dray (cart) common. The
Earlier, in 1959, the Ministry of Works
preferred route when travelling between Bay of
preferred route when travelling between Bay of road from Opotiki to the mouth of the Earlier, in 1959, the Ministry of Works three men who
began work to convert the gravel road
Plenty and the East Coast. Waioeka Gorge. Access from Gisborne began work to convert the gravel road tragically lost
became a priority and so a rough track to a sealed two-lane highway. A camp their lives while
to a sealed two-lane highway. A camp
was formed through to Opato in 1909. was built at Oponae and at one building the road
By the end of World War I (1918), a road point had over 20 single are commemorated
point had over 20 single
mens’ huts and four
had been formed reaching Oponae, with a mens’ huts and four at this site.
track on to Matawai. It was hard going but houses. Camps were
houses. Camps were
eventually a link was completed through the
Waioeka from the Bay of Plenty to Gisborne.
Photos courtesy Whakatane Museum.
