Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro

Il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro (pronunzja: /ˈtɒŋɡərɪroʊ/; bil-Māori: [tɔŋaɾiɾɔ]), li jinsab fiċ-ċentru tal-Gżira tat-Tramuntana, huwa l-eqdem park nazzjonali f'New Zealand. Tniżżel fil-lista tas-Siti ta' Wirt Dinji tal-UNESCO kemm għal kriterji kulturali kif ukoll għal kriterji naturali tal-għażla tal-UNESCO.

Ix-xmara Mahuia fil-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro.

Il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro kien is-sitt park nazzjonali li ġie stabbilit fid-dinja. Il-muntanji vulkaniċi attivi ta' Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe u Tongariro jinsabu fiċ-ċentru tal-park.

Hemm għadd ta' siti reliġjużi tal-Māori fi ħdan il-park, u ħafna mill-qċaċet tal-park, inkluż Ngauruhoe u Ruapehu, huma tapu jew sagri. Il-park jinkludi bosta rħula madwar il-konfini tiegħu, fosthom Ohakune, Waiouru, Horopito, Pokaka, Erua, il-Villaġġ tal-Park Nazzjonali, iż-żona tal-iskijjar ta' Whakapapa u Tūrangi.

Il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro fih ukoll il-Mogħdija Alpina tal-Mixi ta' Tongariro, li b'mod wiesgħa titqies bħala waħda mill-aqwa mixjiet fid-dinja li jdumu jum sħiħ.

Rabta tal-Māori mal-muntanji

Skont leġġenda tal-Māori, il-vulkani fil-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro huma personifikati. Jeżistu diversi verżjonijiet tal-ġrajja bażika: Tongariro u Taranaki t-tnejn li huma kienu jħobbu lil Ruapehu jew Pihanga u kellhom battalja kbira bejniethom. Taranaki tilef il-battalja u ħarab lejn il-kosta fil-Punent, u fi triqtu naqqax il-passaġġ tax-xmara Whanganui. Il-Lagi ta' Tama (bil-Māori: Ngā puna a Tama), żewġ lagi fil-krateri bejn il-muntanji Ruapehu u Ngauruhoe, jingħad li jirrappreżentaw id-distakk li tħalla meta telaq Taranaki.

Fl-2017, id-Dipartiment tal-Konservazzjoni ħareġ avviż biex ix-xabbaturi ma jibqgħux jixxabtu sal-qċaċet tal-muntanji fil-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro peress li huma sagri għall-iwi lokali. Xi Māori jqisu l-muntanji bħala l-antenati tagħhom, u l-qċaċet jitqiesu bħala l-irjus tal-antenati, u b'hekk iħossu li mhux sew li wieħed jitla' fuq l-irjus tagħhom. L-avviż talab ukoll lill-operaturi turistiċi biex "ineħħu kull referenza għal mawriet sal-qċaċet fil-park, ineħħu kull stampa ta' nies imissu jew jgħumu l-lagi sagri, u ma jibqgħux jirreferu għall-muntanja Ngāuruhoe bħala l-Muntanja Kiebja (bl-Ingliż: Mount Doom). Wara li nħareġ dan l-avviż, il-persunal tad-Dipartiment tal-Konservazzjoni nnota tnaqqis sinifikanti fl-għadd ta' xabbaturi fil-qċaċet tal-muntanji tal-park.

Il-park jinsab fiż-żoni tribali (rohe) ta' żewġ iwi prinċipali: Ngāti Tūwharetoa u Ngāti Rangi. Il-partijiet tat-Tramuntana u tal-Punent tal-park, san-Nofsinhar sal-quċċata ta' Ruapehu, huma tal-iNgāti Tūwharetoa filwaqt li ż-żona tal-iNgāti Rangi tinkludi x-xaqliba tan-Nofsinhar u tal-Lbiċ ta' Ruapehu. Iwi oħra b'interessi tradizzjonali fil-park huma l-iwi Whanganui iwi Ngāti Hāua u Te Korowai o Wainuiārua minn naħa ta' fuq tax-xmara Whanganui.

L-inkjesta tal-park nazzjonali tat-Tribunal ta' Waitangi fl-2004 sal-2013 investigat il-jeddijiet tat-Trattat ta' Waitangi b'rabta mal-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro. F'Lulju 2018, il-Kuruna (il-gvern u l-popolazzjoni) ltaqgħet mar-rappreżentanti ta' xi iwi u qablet li n-negozjati kienu se jiddewmu sakemm il-gruppi kollha b'interess fil-park kellhom progress fit-talbiet tagħhom, biex imbagħad jiġi żviluppat rimedju kulturali. Il-proċess tar-rimedju kulturali jipprova jipproteġi s-siti importanti spiritwalment, jirrikonoxxi r-relazzjonijiet tradizzjonali tal-iwi mal-ambjent u jagħtihom iktar setgħa biex jipparteċipaw fil-ġestjoni tal-postijiet ikkonċernati.

Storja

Storja bikrija

Skont l-istorja bil-fomm tal-Māori, l-antenat tal-iNgāti Tuwharetoa, Ngātoro-i-rangi, ixxabbat mal-vulkani 30 ġenerazzjoni ilu, u ta l-ismijiet ta' Tongariro u ta' karatteristiċi oħra tal-pajsaġġ u stabbilixxa l-jeddijiet taż-żona għad-dixxendenti tiegħu. Għall-ħabta tal-1750, Te Rangihiroa, iben il-kap lokali Pakaurangi, jingħad li esplora l-inħawi ta' madwar il-vulkani fil-park. L-isem bil-Māori għal-Lag il-Blu (qrib il-Mogħdija Alpini tal-Mixi ta' Tongariro), Te Wai-whakaata-o-te-Rangihiroa, jista' jiġi tradott bħala l-"mera ta' Rangihiroa". Oħt Te Rangihiroa kienet Te Maari, u isimha ngħata lill-krateri ta' Te Maari fuq Tongariro.

Huwa maħsub li John Bidwill kien l-ewwel Ewropew li xxabbat sal-quċċata tal-muntanja Ngauruhoe f'Marzu 1839. Il-gwidi Māori tiegħu rrifjutaw li jeħduh sal-quċċata peress li għalihom kienet sagra jew tapu, u għalhekk Bidwill ixxabbat waħdu. Meta reġa' lura lejn il-villaġġ minn fejn kien beda t-traġitt tiegħu kellu jiffaċċja l-korla tal-komunità. Bidwill jaf ixxabbat ukoll sal-quċċata tal-muntanja Tongariro. Il-kap Mananui Te Heu Heu Tūkino II imbagħad iddikjara li l-inħawi kienu sagri, u ma tax permess lil Dieffenbach, il-Gvernatur George Grey u Hochstetter biex jitilgħu sal-quċċata tal-vulkani, u l-artist George French Angas ma tħalliex jagħmel skizzi tal-muntanji. Mananui u ħafna membri tal-familja tiegħu mietu minħabba ċediment tal-art fl-1846. Il-katavru tiegħu tpoġġa f'post sigur f'Pūkawa, u iktar 'il quddiem ittieħed lejn għar funebri fuq il-muntanja Tongariro. Fl-1910, il-fdalijiet ta' Mananui ndifnu f'qabar f'Waihī.

Henry Dyson tela' sal-quċċata ta' Tongariro f'Marzu 1851, u mar kontra t-tapu ta' Mananui bl-appoġġ ta' Te Herekiekie ta' Tokaanu. Pierce Connelly, artist, ixxabbat fuq Ngauruhoe fl-1877 u William Collie, fotografu, ixxabbat fuq Ngauruhoe fl-1878. It-tnejn li huma tilfu kull ma kellhom magħhom talli kisru t-tapu tal-muntanja. Donald Manson, bejjiegħ tal-arloġġi tal-idejn mill-Istati Uniti, ixxabbat fuq Ngauruhoe fl-1881 wara li ħallas lill-Māori £10 biex jingħata l-permess.

Stabbiliment tal-park

Peress li l-qċaċet tal-muntanji huma ta' importanza kbira għall-Māori lokali, u sabiex il-muntanji ma jinbigħux lill-insedjaturi Ewropej, fl-1886 l-iNgāti Tūwharetoa rnexxielhom jiksbu l-istħarriġ tal-muntanji fil-Qorti tal-Artijiet Nattivi u mbagħad stabbilew żona (whakatapua) bħala riżerva f'isem ċerti kapijiet. Wieħed minn dawn il-kapijiet kien Te Heuheu Tūkino IV (Horonuku), iben Mananui Te Heuheu Tūkino II u l-iżjed kap sinifikanti tal-iNgāti Tūwharetoa. Iktar 'il quddiem, il-qċaċet tal-muntanji Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, u partijiet mill-muntanja Ruapehu, ingħataw lill-Kuruna fit-23 ta' Settembru 1887, bil-kundizzjoni li hemmhekk tiġi stabbilita żona protetta.

Din iż-żona b'erja ta' 26.4 km² ġeneralment kienet titqies bħala żgħira wisq biex fiha jiġi stabbilit park nazzjonali skont il-mudell tal-Park Nazzjonali ta' Yellowstone f'Wyoming, l-Istati Uniti, u b'hekk ġew akkwistati żoni oħra. Meta l-Parlament ta' New Zealand għadda l-Att dwar il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro f'Ottubru 1894, il-park kien ikopri erja ta' madwar 252.13 km², iżda l-art ġiet akkwistata fl-1907.

Fl-1908, tim xjentifiku li kien jikkonsisti mill-botanist Leonard Cockayne, mill-espert tal-istħarriġ tal-foresti Edward Phillips Turner u mill-ġeologu Robert Speight qatta' diversi xhur jesplora u jistħarreġ il-park. Ir-rapport tagħhom lill-Parlament ippreżenta l-flora u l-fawna kif ukoll il-ġeoloġija tar-reġjun, u rrakkomanda t-tkabbir tal-konfini tal-park. Cockayne nnota wkoll li kien ikun importanti li l-ambjent jiġi protett mill-iżvilupp u mill-introduzzjoni ta' organiżmi qerrieda.

Meta l-Att iġġedded fl-1922, l-erja tal-park ġiet estiża għal 586.8 km². Estensjonijiet oħra, speċjalment tar-Riżerva Xenika ta' Pihanga fl-1975, kabbru l-park għad-daqs attwali ta' 786.23 km². L-aħħar modifika fl-Att għaddiet fl-1980. Il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro ilu taħt il-kontroll tad-Dipartiment tal-Konservazzjoni ta' New Zealand mill-ħolqien tad-dipartiment fl-1987. Plakka fiċ-Ċentru għall-Viżitaturi ta' Whakapapa tfakkar id-donazzjoni ta' Te Heuheu lil New Zealand.

Id-dokument tad-donazzjoni ta' Tongariro bejn Te Heuheu Tūkino IV tal-iNgāti Tūwharetoa u l-Kuruna (1887).

Żvilupp

L-ewwel attività fil-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro kienet il-kostruzzjoni ta' akkomodazzjonijiet għat-turisti fil-bidu tas-seklu 20, iżda għadd sinifikanti ta' nies bdew iżuru l-park wara l-ftuħ tal-linja ferrovjarja tas-sezzjoni prinċipali tal-Gżira tat-Tramuntana bejn Auckland u Wellington fl-1908 u l-kostruzzjoni tat-toroq fis-snin 20 tas-seklu 20. Dan l-iżvilupp turistiku bikri jispjega l-eżistenza pjuttost mhux tas-soltu ta' villaġġ abitat b'mod permanenti u ta' żona tal-iskijjar żviluppata sew fi ħdan park nazzjonali. L-iskijjar fil-muntanji tal-park sar popolari għall-ħabta tal-1914, meta ġie stabbilit il-Klabb tal-Iskijjar ta' Ruapehu. L-ewwel għorfa tal-iskijjar inbniet fuq il-muntanja Ruapehu fl-1923 f'elevazzjoni ta' 1,770 metru, u fl-1938–1939 inbena lift għall-iskijjar. It-tieni Att dwar il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro fl-1922 wassal għal xi sforzi attivi ta' konservazzjoni, u fl-1923 inħatar ranger tal-park.

L-ewwel vettura bil-mutur waslet fil-villaġġ ta' Whakapapa permezz ta' Bruce Road f'Awwissu 1925, wara l-immodernizzar ta' mogħdija preċedenti għall-karrijiet mill-ħabsin u wara li nbena pont fuq ix-xmara Whakapapa. Dan wassal għal influss ta' turisti u għal talbiet għal iktar akkomodazzjoni f'Whakapapa. Il-lukanda Chateau Tongariro f'Whakapapa nfetħet fl-1929 b'95 kamra tas-sodda flimkien ma' akkomodazzjonijiet assoċjati inqas għaljin għat-trampers. It-triq ġiet estiża lil hinn mill-villaġġ ta' Whakapapa wara t-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. L-aċċess bit-triq għall-park ittejjeb iktar fis-snin 60 tas-seklu 20 bl-iżvilupp ta' toroq meħtieġa għall-kostruzzjoni tal-Iskema tal-Enerġija ta' Tongariro.

Sit ta' Wirt Dinji

Fl-1990, New Zealand innominat il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro biex isir Sit ta' Wirt Dinji tal-UNESCO. In-nomina tal-gvern iddikjarat li l-park kellu jitniżżel fil-lista minħabba l-katina ta' vulkani tiegħu allinjati tul plakka tettonika, li joħorġu fid-dieher l-istorja tal-evoluzzjoni tad-Dinja; il-proċess ġeoloġiċi kontinwi tiegħu u l-ambjenti tal-pjanti assoċjati; u l-fenomeni naturali u s-sbuħija straordinarji tal-park. Il-muntanja Ruapehu ngħad li kienet "l-iżjed vulkan kompożitu attiv fid-dinja", u b'hekk kienet ideali għall-osservazzjoni xjentifika. Il-Lag tal-Krater fuq il-muntanja Ruapehu ġie ddikjarat li kien uniku minħabba l-pajsaġġ glaċjali u l-iżbroffar frekwenti, u b'hekk setgħet tiġi studjata l-interazzjoni tal-magma u l-ilma tal-lag.

Il-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro ġie ddeżinjat bħala Sit ta' Wirt Dinji tal-UNESCO fl-1993 kemm għall-karatteristiċi naturali tiegħu kif ukoll għall-importanza kulturali u spiritwali tas-sit għall-Māori. Dan kien l-ewwel park nazzjonali fid-dinja li kellu l-importanza spiritwali tiegħu rrikonoxxuta bħala "pajsaġġ kulturali", li kienet inizjattiva appoġġata minn Tumu Te Heuheu tal-iNgati Tuwharetoa.

Il-valur universali straordinarju tas-sit ġie rrikonoxxut abbażi ta' tliet kriterji tal-għażla tal-UNESCO: il-kriterju (vi) "Assoċjazzjoni diretta jew tanġibbli ma' avvenimenti jew ma' tradizzjonijiet ħajjin, ma' ideat jew ma' twemmin, jew ma' xogħlijiet artistiċi jew letterarji ta' valur universali straordinarju"; il-kriterju (vii) "Post fejn iseħħu fenomeni naturali tal-għaġeb jew fejn hemm żoni ta' ġmiel naturali u ta' importanza estetika eċċezzjonali"; u l-kriterju (viii) "Eżempju straordinarju li jirrappreżenta stadji importanti tal-istorja tad-dinja, inkluż it-trapass tal-ħajja, il-proċessi ġeoloġiċi kontinwi sinifikanti fl-iżvilupp tat-tipi differenti ta' art, jew il-karatteristiċi ġeomorfiċi jew fiżjografiċi sinifikanti".

Iż-żerniq fil-Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro.

Veduta panoramika tal-muntanji Ruapehu u Ngauruhoe mill-Punent.

Ġeografija

Pożizzjoni u daqs

Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro covers 786 km² stretching between 175° 22' and 175° 48' East and 38° 58' and 39° 25' South in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand. It is just a few kilometres west-southwest of Lake Taupō. It is 330 km south of Auckland by road, and 320 km north of Wellington. It contains a considerable part of the North Island Volcanic Plateau. Directly to the east stand the hills of the Kaimanawa Range.

Most of the park is located in the Ruapehu District (Manawatū-Whanganui region), although the northeast is in the Taupō District (Waikato Region, or Hawke's Bay Region to the north).

Konfini tal-park

Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro stretches around the massif of the three active volcanoes Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Tongariro. The Pihanga Scenic Reserve, containing Lake Rotopounamu, Mount Pihanga and the Kakaramea-Tihia Massif, though separate from the main park area, is still part of the national park.

On the park borders are the towns of Tūrangi, National Park Village and Ohakune. Further away are Waiouru and Raetihi. Within the park borders, the only settlements are the tourism-based village at Whakapapa Village which consists mainly of ski accommodation. Two Māori settlements, Papakai and Otukou, are not part of the park but lie on the shores of Lake Rotoaira between the Pihanga Scenic Reserve and the main park area.

The bulk of Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro is surrounded by well-maintained roads that roughly follow the park borders and provide easy access. In the west, State Highway 4 passes National Park Village, and in the east, State Highway 1, known for this stretch as the Desert Road, runs parallel to the Tongariro River. State Highway 47 joins these two highways to the north of much of the park, although it bisects the Pihanga Scenic Reserve. The southern link is State Highway 49. The North Island Main Trunk railway from Auckland to Wellington passes National Park village.

Ketetahi hot springs is an area of 39 ha on the northern slope of Mount Tongariro which, although lying within the park boundaries, has never been part of Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro. Hikers on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing were formerly allowed to pass by the hot springs, but the Māori owners, Ketetahi Springs Trust, closed the route because they objected to commercial guides making money from their land. In 2010, the Department of Conservation agreed to re-route the Tongariro Alpine Crossing so that it didn't cross the private land.

Klima

Like the whole of New Zealand, Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro is situated in a temperate zone. The prevailing westerly winds gather water over the Tasman Sea. As the volcanoes of Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro are the first significant elevations that these winds encounter on the North Island, besides Mount Taranaki, rain falls almost daily. The east–west rainfall differences are not as great as in the Southern Alps, because the three volcanoes do not belong to a greater mountain range, but there is still a noticeable rain shadow effect with the Rangipo desert on the eastern leeward side receiving 1,000 mm of rainfall annually. At Whakapapa Village (1119 m) the average annual rainfall is about 2200 mm, in Ohakune (610 m) about 1250 mm and at higher altitudes, such as Iwikau Village (1770 m), about 4900 mm. In winter there is snow to about 1500 m. Temperatures vary dramatically, even within one day. At Whakapapa, they can fall below freezing point all year round. The average temperature is 13 °C, with a maximum of 25 °C in summer and a minimum of −10 °C in winter. In some summers the summits of the three volcanoes are covered with snow; on top of Mount Ruapehu, snow fields can be found every summer and the summit is glaciated.

Xmajjar

Many rivers originate in the park, including the Waikato, Whangaehu and Whanganui. The Waikato River, which is sacred to Māori, rises on Mount Ruapehu. Also rising on Ruapehu are the Wahianoa River, Whangaehu River and Mangawhero River. To the west the Whanganui River and its tributary the Mangatepōpō Stream rise on Mount Tongariro, flowing eventually into the Whanganui National Park, and the Tāwhitikuri Stream rises in the park and flows into the Mangatepōpō. Water from streams and rivers which rise in the park is diverted into the Tongariro Power Scheme outside the park.

Ġeoloġija

The park's volcanoes are at the southern end of a 2500 km long range of volcanoes, below which the Australian Plate meets the Pacific Plate. These volcanoes have resulted from internal tectonic processes. The Pacific Plate subducts under the Australian plate, and subsequently melts due to the high temperatures of the asthenosphere. This magma, being less dense, rises to the surface and goes through the weak parts of the Earth's crust (the faults) resulting in volcanic processes in the area.

Volcanic processes have been building the mountains of Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro for over two million years. Three volcanoes (Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu) remain active, while the park's two northernmost volcanoes (Pihanga and the Kakaramea-Tihia Massif) last erupted over 20,000 years ago. They have however produced significant historic mudflows.

Erosion and deposition by mountain glaciers has also played an important role in shaping Tongariro and Ruapehu volcanoes. Small glaciers are present on the summit of Mt. Ruapehu today, however there is abundant geomorphological evidence for more extensive glaciation in the recent geological past. Glaciers were last present on Tongariro during the Last Glacial Maximum.

Ekoloġija

Flora

Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro is a rough and partly unstable environment. In the north and west of the park, a podocarp-broadleaf rain forest near Lake Taupō stretches over an area of 30 km², and up to an elevation of 1000 m. In this rainforest live Hall's totara (Podocarpus laetus), kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), kāmahi (Weinmannia racemosa), pāhautea (Libocedrus bidwillii), and numerous epiphytic ferns, orchids, and fungi. Pāhautea trees can be found further on up to a height of 1530 m, where they cover 127.3 km². On this level, one can also find a 50 km² beech forest, containing red (Nothofagus fusca), silver (Nothofagus menziesii) and mountain beech (Nothofagus solandri var cliffortioides). Understorey species within the forests include ferns such as crown fern (Blechnum discolor) as well as shrub species. There is also a 95 km² area of scrubland, containing kānuka (Leptospermum ericoides), mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium), celery-top pine (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius), inaka (Dracophyllum longifolium), woolly fringe moss (Rhacomitrium lanuginosum), small beeches and introduced heather.

To the northwest, and around Mount Ruapehu, between an altitude of 1200 and 1500 m, large areas (around 150 km²) are covered with tussock shrubland and tussock grass. This tussock consists mainly of New Zealand red tussock grass (Chionochloa rubra), inaka, curled leaved neinei (Dracophyllum recurvum), wire rush (Empodisma minus), and bog rush (Schoenus pauciflorus), as well as heather and grasses like hard tussock (Festuca novaezelandiae) and bluegrass (Poa colensoi).

Above 1500 m, the terrain consists of gravel and stone fields and is accordingly unstable. Nevertheless, some plants occasionally settle there, such as curled leaved neinei, snow tōtara (Podocarpus nivalis), mountain snowberry (Gaultheria colensoi), bristle tussock (Rytidosperma setifolium), bluegrass and Raoulia albosericea, which cover an area of 165 km². Between 1700 and 2020 m there are some isolated Parahebe species, Gentiana bellidifolia and buttercups. Above 2200 m live only crustose lichens.

Fawna

There are 56 significant species of birds in the park, including rare endemic species like the North Island brown kiwi, kākā, blue duck, North Island fernbird, double-banded plover and New Zealand falcon/kārearea. Other bird species common in the park are tūī, New Zealand bellbird, morepork/ruru, grey warbler/riroriro, fantail, whitehead/pōpokotea and silvereye. The park also features the only two native mammals of New Zealand, the short- and long-tailed bat. Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro also teems with insects like moths and wētā. Also present in the park, as well as the whole of New Zealand, are animals introduced by Europeans, such as black rats, stoats, cats, rabbits, hare, possums and red deer.

Konservazzjoni

Ħaxixet il-mikinsa

In the early 20th century, park administrators, including John Cullen, introduced heather to the park to make it suitable for grouse hunting. Grouse were introduced in 1924, but within a few years had disappeared. The heather thrived, leading to criticism of its introduction as early as the 1920s because it threatens the ecological system and endemic plants of the park. In 1996, the heather beetle, Lochmaea suturalis, was imported to deal with the invasive heather but initially this was not very successful. Between 1996–2018, only 5,000 ha of heather was damaged by the beetles.  However research in 2021 showed that the heather beetles were spreading and had been killing the heather. Since 2018 the beetles have damaged more than 35,000 ha of heather, reducing cover in affected areas by up to 99% and thereby allowing native plants to recover. The New Zealand Defence Force no longer needs to spray herbicide on large parts of its training ground next to the national park. A 2024 study of heather in the park found that it was causing the disappearance of native ferns, sedges and rushes and affecting the growth pattern of red tussock. An underground fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with the tussock was also affected by the spread of heather.

Siġar taż-żnuber

Pine trees were introduced into New Zealand in the 1930s for forestry and control of erosion, but wilding pines, coniferous trees grown from wind-blown seeds, have become a nationwide problem. Volunteers and the government have been working since the 1960s to eradicate wilding pines on Mount Ruapehu, since they shut out native plants, consume water and degrade the environment. Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro received funding from the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme which was set up in 2016 to produce a coordinated nationwide effort at pine control. By 2023 the Conifer Control Programme had stopped the spread of wilding pines in the Tongariro area including the national park and removed most sources of seeds.

Żwiemel Kaimanawa

Until the mid-20th century, wild horses descended from animals brought to New Zealand in the 1800s roamed in the national park and surrounding areas. After the population declined due to hunting and habitat changes, the horses, today known as the Kaimanawa horses, came under government protection in 1981. The population is managed by the Department of Conservation to ensure the horses' current range does not extend back into Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro.

Ċriev, mogħoż u ħnieżer

Red deer were released periodically in Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro from the late 19th century, and sika deer introduced to the Kaimanawas in 1905 later spread to the park. By the 1940s deer were recognised as a menace to local plant life, and the government made efforts to reduce the population through culling. During 1962, deer were regularly sighted within metres of the Chateau, a sign that the population was higher than officials had thought. Private hunters can shoot deer in the park as a means to keep the population down.

Alongside a goat control programme in Tongariro Forest adjacent to Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro, the Department of Conservation (DoC) is vigilant about detecting feral goats within the park. In 2024, a helicopter using thermal imaging technology searched 16,000 ha of the park for goats, but none were found. DoC states that regular surveillance and early action is more cost-effective than trying to root out a population that has already become established.

Pigs are found in low numbers in the Rotopounamu-Mount Pihanga area and the northern slopes of Mount Tongariro. Pigs affect plant life by eating seedlings and berries and rooting up the roots of trees and plants. Disturbance of plant roots also increases erosion and sends sediment into rivers. Pigs have also been known to eat the eggs of ground-dwelling birds such as kiwi. The Department of Conservation keeps numbers down by hunting, and private hunting is allowed.

Proġett ta' Tongariro

The Tongariro Natural History Society (known as Project Tongariro) is a conservation group set up by volunteers in 1984 as a memorial to national park staff lost in a 1982 helicopter accident. Since the 1980s the group has undertaken many projects in Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro, including ecological restoration at Lake Rotopounamu, restoration of sites used in filming the Lord of the Rings, surveys of blue duck habitats, and restoration of the Hapuawhenua Viaduct in the park.

Turiżmu eċċessiv

In the period July 2022 – March 2023, 9% of international visitors visited Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro. Over-tourism is a problem in the park, particularly on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing where visitor numbers increased from 10,000 in 1990 to 125,000 in 2015. In addition to the difficulties of managing greater numbers of vehicles, rubbish disposal and toilet facilities, the environment becomes degraded and park staff face more callouts for visitors needing rescue. In an attempt to manage the situation, in 2023 the Department of Conservation put in place a booking system for those wishing to walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Attivitajiet

The main recreational activities in the park are hiking and climbing in summer, and skiing and snowboarding in winter. There are also opportunities for hunting, game fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, rafting and scenic flights.

Mixi

The most popular track in Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Most of the track is also part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit, a two- to four-day hike, which is one of New Zealand's ten Great Walks. Side trips to the summits of Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe are possible on these tracks. Another route is the three- to six-day Round the Mountain Track around Mount Ruapehu. Besides these, there are numerous shorter tracks appropriate for day tramps. With this track net, three camp sites, two emergency shelters, nine public and four private huts and the facilities in Whakapapa, the park is well developed for tourism. These tracks also serve as winter routes, as well as the track to the summit of Mount Ruapehu. Rock-climbing is also an option.

Mogħdija tal-mixi u taċ-ċikliżmu ta' Te Ara Mangawhero

The first stage of Te Ara Mangawhero, a cycling and walking track between Mount Ruapehu and Ohakune, opened on 4 November 2024. The iwi Ngāti Rangi, the Department of Conservation and Ruapehu District Council collaborated to build the 11.4 km loop track which is expected to bring tourists to the area. The track passes through sub-alpine forest along an old bush tramway. Eventually the track is expected to extend towards Turoa ski field and form part of the Mountains to Sea trail from Mount Ruapehu down the Whanganui River to the sea.

Skijjar

Snow season is from late June to early November. The biggest ski area, Whakapapa, is on the north-western slopes of Mount Ruapehu. It has 15 lifts, covering an area of 5.5 km². Directly next to the ski field are 47 ski club huts: most of them also accommodate non-club members. The next settlement is at the base of the mountain, in Whakapapa Village. A slightly smaller ski field called Turoa is on the south-western slope. Though it has only nine lifts, the 5 km² skiing area is almost as large as Whakapapa's. There is no accommodation at the ski field: the nearest town is Ohakune. These two ski fields came under common management in 2000. The company later went into receivership, and in November 2023, Pure Tūroa, a Māori collective, took over a 10-year lease of Turoa. Management of Whakapapa remained with the receivers.

Besides these major ski fields, there is also the Tukino ski area, a club ski field open to the public. This ski field is run by Tukino Mountain Clubs Association which is made up of Desert Alpine Ski Club, Tukino Alpine Sports Club and the Aorangi Ski Club on the south-eastern slope. The ski clubs each have a 32 guest club on the field accessed by a 4WD road from State Highway 1. Tukino Ski Area has three nutcracker rope tows and covers 1.7 km².

Siti storiċi

Several publicly-accessible historic sites can be visited within the park.

Waihohununu Hut is located on the north-east slope of Mount Ruapehu near the Desert Road. It was built by the Tourist and Health Resorts Department on its current site in 1904, was the first hut built in Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro and is New Zealand's oldest existing mountain hut. It was built to house tourists travelling to the park by coach, but use declined somewhat after the Main Trunk railway line was constructed at the other side of the park. The hut was used regularly until 1968, when it was replaced by a new hut with the same name, and since 1979 the original hut has been maintained as a historic site. It was registered as a Historic Place Category 1 by the Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand) in 1993.

The Taonui Viaduct (1907) and Hapuawhenua Viaduct (1908), located between Ohakune and Horopito, were constructed as part of the North Island Main Trunk railway line. Together they form a pair of large curved steel truss railway viaducts, which is unique in New Zealand. At 284m long, the Hapuawhenua Viaduct is the longest of the existing viaducts that were built on the NIMT (The Mangaweka Viaduct was longer, but was demolished in the 1980s). Both viaducts were in use until 1987, when the Horopito Deviation opened. The railway tracks on both viaducts were lifted, and a walkway of old sleepers was created along the centre of the deck of the Hapuawhenua Viaduct. A. J. Hackett briefly operated a bungy jumping business from the viaduct in 1988. The Hapuawhenua Viaduct was listed as a Historic Place Category 1 in 1995, and in 2009 the Taonui Viaduct was also listed as a Historic Place Category 1. In 2009, the newly conserved Hapuawhenua Viaduct opened to the public as a walking and cycling track.

Fergusson Cottage at Whakapapa Village was listed as a Historic Place Category 2 by Heritage New Zealand in 2005. It was built in 1924 and is the oldest extant structure in the village. As the third hut built in the area for visiting hikers and skiers, it was initially known as 'No. 3 Hut' and was also known as 'Ladies Hut', accommodating women in mixed parties. After Lady Fergusson stayed there in August 1926, the hut's name was changed to Fergusson Cottage. The cottage was later extended and modified several times. It was used as accommodation for Chateau Tongariro staff until 1993, when it became a café.

Fil-kultura popolari

A 1984 feature film, Wild horses, was filmed in the park. The plot centres around conflict between Kaimanawa horse wranglers, deer cullers and park rangers.

Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe were one of the several locations where Peter Jackson shot The Lord of the Rings film trilogy; tours to view these places are commonly arranged by the tour's operators and lodges.

Mount Ngauruhoe was also featured in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Park Nazzjonali ta' Tongariro landscapes were used as backgrounds for Queen Bavmorda's castle in the 1988 film Willow.