241:
279:, which journeyed across the ocean to New Zealand. The statue was funded by the Manawatu Gorge Biodiversity stakeholder group and is made of steel. It was lowered to its location in the bush by helicopter, and blessed at a dawn ceremony on 11 April 2014. The artwork on the sculpture features hammerhead shark patterns and depicts elements of the story of Whatonga's sea voyage, as well as emblems of all of the Manawatu Gorge biodiversity project stakeholders.
214:
177:, is on the south side of the river, and was completed in 1872. It was the primary link between the two sides of the lower North Island, before being abandoned in 2017 due to the number of slips. Other than Saddle Road and the Pahiatua Track, both narrow winding local roads a few kilometers north and south of the Manawatu Gorge, the gorge was the only east-west road connection between the
19:
206:
In 2011 the gorge was closed after several massive landslips. It did not reopen until August 2012, and parts of the highway were still limited to one lane. In
October 2012 it was temporarily closed so contractors could destroy large rocks that posed a threat to traffic. Restoration was completed in
199:. The rail connection is mainly used by goods trains; there are currently no scheduled passenger rail services through the gorge. Occasional railway excursions, typically with steam trains, also make use of the scenic Manawatu Gorge Railway line with its two tunnels and several small bridges.
259:
The walking track passes several lookout points, one of which is above the site of the 2015 landslide, aptly called the "Big Slip
Lookout". The majority of the track leads through native bush, with the lookouts offering views overlooking the gorge and towards the
202:
The Old Gorge
Cemetery lies on the north side of the Manawatu Gorge. Public access is available, but the cemetery was closed many years ago to further burials. The road is located just a few kilometres out of Woodville on the north side of the gorge.
92:
Like many important geographic features in New
Zealand, the creation and exploration of Manawatū Gorge is an embedded part of traditional Māori history. According to tradition, the first Māori to discover the gorge was Whātonga, an explorer from the
221:
In April 2017, the
Manawatu Gorge was closed again due to a large slip. Contractors were pulled out of clearing the slip in July 2017 due to ongoing geological movement in the hill, closing the road indefinitely.
121:, meaning coming to a halt. This comes from traditional Māori history, in which it is said that Haunui-a-nanaia uttered the phrase when he caught sight of the river in his search for his wife Wairaka.
154:
The
Manawatu River is the only river in New Zealand that starts its journey in the Tararua District on one side of the main divide, and finishes it on the other side near Foxton in the Tasman Sea.
725:
89:; the road has been closed since 2017. Recreationally, the gorge is part of the Manawatū Gorge Scenic Reserve, with various walking tracks through the surrounding native bush.
229:
decided to close the Gorge route permanently. The authority investigated long-term options to bypass or replace the gorge route, with their final list having four options.
165:
113:
The
Manawatū Gorge takes its name from the river which cuts through it, the Manawatū River. The river's name, which means 'heart standing still', is derived from the words
232:
The chosen new route option, delayed from
December 2017 and announced in March 2018, will be above the Gorge, but below the Saddle Road, and will bypass Ashurst.
217:
The sign says the road is closed to all, including pedestrians, under the
Government Roading Powers Act 1989. The Manawatu Gorge Track goes under the bridge
1197:
127:
is the Māori name for the gorge, which is usually translated to mean 'the narrowing', or 'the narrow passage'. The gorge was also sometimes given the name
711:
1202:
749:
669:
729:
1069:
1158:
1008:
596:
697:
500:
98:
196:
82:
860:
479:
97:
canoe, who found the gorge in about the 12th century. Europeans began to traverse the
Manawatū Gorge around the 1840s; in 1842 Bishop
563:
642:
225:
A further slip in July 2017 at the Ashhurst end of the Manawatu Gorge left an additional 10,000 cubic metres of rock on the road.
195:
A single track rail connection was established on the northern side of the gorge; it was completed in 1891 and is now part of the
683:
802:
454:
545:
81:
As one of the few links between the eastern and western North Island, the gorge is an important transport link, with the
151:
at the same time as the gorge was eroded by the river, instead of the more usual erosion of an already existing range.
249:
182:
174:
86:
821:
521:
1120:
773:
777:
355:
147:, that is it runs directly through the surrounding ranges from one side to the other. This was caused by the
617:
1114:
267:
Also along the track, in the midst of native bush, stands the 6 metres (20 ft) tall metal sculpture of
240:
1212:
1084:
953:
853:
525:
102:
75:
968:
261:
59:
973:
907:
888:
168:), set to open in mid 2025. The existing route (Saddle Road) is visible to the north of the new road.
1207:
1102:
1059:
1003:
978:
917:
226:
1013:
407:
1054:
381:
1144:
869:
846:
581:
268:
213:
39:
31:
432:
1138:
963:
912:
902:
178:
67:
63:
210:
SH3 was blocked again for one month by further slips after severe weather on 9 April 2015.
1090:
1023:
148:
272:
252:, the Manawatu Gorge Track, runs parallel to the gorge on the south side through native
1132:
1033:
1018:
329:
140:
55:
51:
1191:
1126:
1108:
1078:
881:
475:
1096:
983:
43:
94:
1028:
938:
47:
188:
The road through the Manawatu Gorge had a history of sometimes being closed by
994:
943:
1173:
1160:
933:
282:
Up to date information on all walking and biking tracks is available on the
189:
144:
18:
303:
958:
253:
71:
712:"The final decision: what replaces the slip-plagued Manawatu Gorge Road"
948:
781:
647:
139:
The Manawatu Gorge is significant because, unlike most gorges, the
239:
212:
50:. At 6 km (3.7 mi) long, the Manawatū Gorge divides the
17:
838:
22:
Manawatu Gorge viewed from a lookout on the Manawatu Gorge Track
842:
408:"Manawatū and Horowhenua places – Manawatū River and Gorge"
330:"European exploration – William Colenso and the east coast"
833:
283:
185:
150 kilometres (93 mi) north of the Manawatu Gorge.
597:"Manawatu Gorge fully reopens after slip site cleared"
582:"Manawatu Gorge recovery effort officially finished"
1068:
1042:
992:
926:
895:
618:"Manawatu Gorge to remain closed 'for some time'"
584:. New Zealand Transport Agency. 16 November 2012.
164:The route of the new highway under construction (
105:passed through the gorge to reach the Wairarapa.
670:"Thirteen alternative routes to Gorge discussed"
501:"Frustration mounts over Manawatu Gorge closure"
354:Bennik, Nicole; Oliver, Stacey (26 April 2011).
181:, 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the south, and
927:Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)
993:Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by
854:
684:"Alternatives to Gorge carry heavy price tag"
455:"Alternatives to Gorge carry hefty price tag"
244:Whatonga sculpture along Manawatu Gorge Track
8:
264:continuing on the hills north of the gorge.
74:and its eastern end is close to the town of
70:. Its western end is near the small town of
643:"Another huge slip falls in Manawatu Gorge"
166:Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway
861:
847:
839:
192:, especially following inclement weather.
803:"Whatonga sculpture watches over walkers"
522:"Manawatu Gorge Steam Railway Excursion"
412:Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
334:Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
1043:Other features (upstream to downstream)
295:
66:Districts. It lies to the northeast of
38:) is a steep-sided gorge formed by the
85:passing through the gorge, as well as
672:. Stuff (Fairfax). 25 September 2017.
564:"Rock blasting closes Manawatu Gorge"
173:The road through the Manawatu Gorge,
7:
700:. Stuff (Fairfax). 11 October 2017.
805:. Manawatu Standard. 12 April 2014
480:New Zealand Automobile Association
14:
1203:Canyons and gorges of New Zealand
822:2011 landslides in Manawatu Gorge
714:. Stuff (Fairfax). 16 March 2018.
686:. Stuff (Fairfax). 28 April 2015.
750:"Manawatu Gorge Tracks brochure"
453:Mathew Grocott (28 April 2015).
1198:Landforms of Manawatū-Whanganui
499:Janine Rankin (14 April 2015).
386:Rangitāne o Wairarapa Education
227:Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency
546:"Manawatu Gorge to open today"
382:"The Story of Haunui-a-nanaia"
248:A 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
197:Palmerston North–Gisborne Line
83:Palmerston North–Gisborne Line
1:
641:Fraser, Cleo (24 July 2017).
595:Thomas Heaton (15 May 2015).
356:"Pushing for Manawatu macron"
755:. Department of Conservation
698:"Four alternatives to Gorge"
183:SH5 between Taupo and Napier
476:"Manawatu Gorge on AA Maps"
433:"Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge"
1229:
1070:Longest New Zealand rivers
730:Department of Conservation
271:, one of three recognised
876:
834:Te Apiti – Manawatu Gorge
778:Horizons Regional Council
308:Te Āpiti – Manawatū Gorge
774:"The Story of Whatonga"
726:"Manawatu Gorge Track"
526:The New Zealand Herald
435:. Destination Manawatu
245:
218:
99:George Augustus Selwyn
35:
23:
913:Palmerston North City
243:
216:
149:ranges moving upwards
129:Te Au-rere-a-te-tonga
117:, meaning heart, and
21:
1174:40.3184°S 175.7980°E
1121:Waiau Toa / Clarence
896:Administrative areas
889:South Taranaki Bight
275:chiefs on board the
236:Manawatu Gorge Track
1170: /
1004:Mangatewainui River
918:Horowhenua District
599:. Manawatu Standard
503:. Manawatu Standard
457:. Manawatu Standard
406:McKinnon, Malcolm.
1179:-40.3184; 175.7980
1014:Mangatainoka River
570:. 30 October 2012.
262:Te Āpiti Wind Farm
246:
219:
101:and Chief Justice
24:
1153:
1152:
908:Manawatū District
552:. 29 August 2012.
360:Manawatū Standard
1220:
1185:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1180:
1175:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1166:
1163:
1085:Clutha / Mata-Au
1060:Manawatū Estuary
964:Palmerston North
903:Tararua District
863:
856:
849:
840:
814:
813:
811:
810:
799:
793:
792:
790:
789:
780:. Archived from
770:
764:
763:
761:
760:
754:
746:
740:
739:
737:
736:
722:
716:
715:
708:
702:
701:
694:
688:
687:
680:
674:
673:
666:
660:
659:
657:
655:
638:
632:
631:
629:
628:
614:
608:
607:
605:
604:
592:
586:
585:
578:
572:
571:
560:
554:
553:
542:
536:
535:
533:
532:
518:
512:
511:
509:
508:
496:
490:
489:
487:
486:
472:
466:
465:
463:
462:
450:
444:
443:
441:
440:
429:
423:
422:
420:
418:
403:
397:
396:
394:
392:
378:
372:
371:
369:
367:
351:
345:
344:
342:
340:
328:Phillips, Jock.
325:
319:
318:
316:
314:
300:
284:Te Āpiti website
179:Akatarawa Valley
68:Palmerston North
1228:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1218:
1217:
1188:
1187:
1178:
1176:
1172:
1169:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1149:
1064:
1055:Manawatū Plains
1038:
1024:Pohangina River
988:
922:
891:
872:
867:
830:
818:
817:
808:
806:
801:
800:
796:
787:
785:
772:
771:
767:
758:
756:
752:
748:
747:
743:
734:
732:
724:
723:
719:
710:
709:
705:
696:
695:
691:
682:
681:
677:
668:
667:
663:
653:
651:
640:
639:
635:
626:
624:
616:
615:
611:
602:
600:
594:
593:
589:
580:
579:
575:
562:
561:
557:
544:
543:
539:
530:
528:
520:
519:
515:
506:
504:
498:
497:
493:
484:
482:
474:
473:
469:
460:
458:
452:
451:
447:
438:
436:
431:
430:
426:
416:
414:
405:
404:
400:
390:
388:
380:
379:
375:
365:
363:
353:
352:
348:
338:
336:
327:
326:
322:
312:
310:
304:"Māori History"
302:
301:
297:
292:
238:
207:November 2012.
175:State Highway 3
171:
170:
169:
160:
137:
111:
87:State Highway 3
12:
11:
5:
1226:
1224:
1216:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1190:
1189:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1141:
1135:
1129:
1123:
1117:
1111:
1105:
1099:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1074:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1063:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1050:Manawatū Gorge
1046:
1044:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1034:Tokomaru River
1031:
1026:
1021:
1019:Mangahao River
1016:
1011:
1009:Tiraumea River
1006:
1000:
998:
990:
989:
987:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
930:
928:
924:
923:
921:
920:
915:
910:
905:
899:
897:
893:
892:
877:
874:
873:
870:Manawatū River
868:
866:
865:
858:
851:
843:
837:
836:
829:
828:External links
826:
825:
824:
816:
815:
794:
765:
741:
717:
703:
689:
675:
661:
633:
609:
587:
573:
555:
537:
513:
491:
467:
445:
424:
398:
373:
346:
320:
294:
293:
291:
288:
277:Kurahaupo Waka
250:tramping track
237:
234:
163:
162:
161:
159:
156:
141:Manawatu River
136:
133:
110:
107:
103:William Martin
58:, linking the
56:Tararua Ranges
40:Manawatū River
28:Manawatū Gorge
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1225:
1214:
1213:Tararua Range
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1195:
1193:
1186:
1183:
1146:
1142:
1140:
1136:
1134:
1130:
1128:
1124:
1122:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1110:
1106:
1104:
1100:
1098:
1094:
1092:
1088:
1086:
1082:
1080:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1071:
1067:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1047:
1045:
1041:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1001:
999:
996:
991:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
931:
929:
925:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
898:
894:
890:
887:
883:
882:Ruahine Range
880:
875:
871:
864:
859:
857:
852:
850:
845:
844:
841:
835:
832:
831:
827:
823:
820:
819:
804:
798:
795:
784:on 2016-02-11
783:
779:
775:
769:
766:
751:
745:
742:
731:
727:
721:
718:
713:
707:
704:
699:
693:
690:
685:
679:
676:
671:
665:
662:
650:
649:
644:
637:
634:
623:
619:
613:
610:
598:
591:
588:
583:
577:
574:
569:
565:
559:
556:
551:
547:
541:
538:
527:
523:
517:
514:
502:
495:
492:
481:
477:
471:
468:
456:
449:
446:
434:
428:
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413:
409:
402:
399:
387:
383:
377:
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361:
357:
350:
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335:
331:
324:
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309:
305:
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296:
289:
287:
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280:
278:
274:
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265:
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257:
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242:
235:
233:
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211:
208:
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193:
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186:
184:
180:
176:
167:
157:
155:
152:
150:
146:
142:
134:
132:
130:
126:
122:
120:
116:
108:
106:
104:
100:
96:
90:
88:
84:
79:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
20:
16:
1155:
1049:
984:Foxton Beach
885:
878:
807:. Retrieved
797:
786:. Retrieved
782:the original
768:
757:. Retrieved
744:
733:. Retrieved
720:
706:
692:
678:
664:
652:. Retrieved
646:
636:
625:. Retrieved
621:
612:
601:. Retrieved
590:
576:
567:
558:
549:
540:
529:. Retrieved
516:
505:. Retrieved
494:
483:. Retrieved
470:
459:. Retrieved
448:
437:. Retrieved
427:
415:. Retrieved
411:
401:
389:. Retrieved
385:
376:
364:. Retrieved
359:
349:
337:. Retrieved
333:
323:
311:. Retrieved
307:
298:
281:
276:
266:
258:
247:
231:
224:
220:
209:
205:
201:
194:
187:
172:
153:
138:
128:
124:
123:
118:
114:
112:
91:
80:
44:North Island
27:
25:
15:
1177: /
1165:175°47′53″E
1029:Oroua River
939:Ormondville
886:Flows into:
654:28 December
48:New Zealand
1208:Water gaps
1192:Categories
1162:40°19′06″S
1139:Rangitaiki
1103:Rangitīkei
995:confluence
944:Dannevirke
809:2016-02-17
788:2016-02-17
759:2016-02-17
735:2016-02-17
627:2017-07-10
603:2016-02-17
531:2016-02-17
507:2016-02-17
485:2016-02-17
461:2016-02-17
439:2016-02-17
290:References
1091:Whanganui
954:Woodville
934:Norsewood
622:NZ Herald
568:3 News NZ
550:3 News NZ
158:Transport
145:water gap
135:Geography
109:Etymology
95:Kurahaupō
76:Woodville
1145:Manawatū
969:Tokomaru
959:Ashhurst
269:Whatonga
125:Te Āpiti
72:Ashhurst
60:Manawatū
36:Te Āpiti
1127:Waitaki
1109:Mataura
1079:Waikato
974:Shannon
949:Kumeroa
879:Source:
648:Newshub
417:4 April
391:4 April
366:4 April
362:. Stuff
339:4 April
313:4 April
64:Tararua
52:Ruahine
42:in the
1097:Taieri
979:Foxton
115:manawa
1133:Ōreti
1115:Waiau
753:(PDF)
273:Māori
190:slips
143:is a
32:Māori
1143:12:
1137:11:
1131:10:
656:2021
419:2021
393:2021
368:2021
341:2021
315:2021
254:bush
62:and
54:and
26:The
1125:9:
1119:8:
1113:7:
1107:6:
1101:5:
1095:4:
1089:3:
1083:2:
1077:1:
46:of
1194::
884:.
776:.
728:.
645:.
620:.
566:.
548:.
524:.
478:.
410:.
384:.
358:.
332:.
306:.
286:.
256:.
131:.
119:tū
78:.
34::
997:)
862:e
855:t
848:v
812:.
791:.
762:.
738:.
658:.
630:.
606:.
534:.
510:.
488:.
464:.
442:.
421:.
395:.
370:.
343:.
317:.
30:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
